1975 New Owner Intro. First 914. Options

[MSGGrunt]

Just closed a deal on a 1975 1.8 914 and now waiting on delivery. My search criteria was to not buy a "project" and I wanted a 914 still using the original fuel injection, no rust, and in my budget of around $20k, a tall order I know. I quickly found that finding one of these cars that had not been converted to Webers or Solex carbs was not easy. I would rather sort out any issues with the factory fuel injection than fiddling with carbs.

The car I find was enthusiast owned and appeared to be well cared for. I wouldn't be surprised if he was even a 914-world member. Still has FI, repainted, thought admittedly not a a concours re-paint, from out West so no rust. Interior is clean, suspension has been lowered slightly with Koni components, and overall, the car is in great condition and within my budget.

This is my first 914 but have owned a 1985 944 and 2017 Cayman S in the past. Other cars in my collection are older Jaguars, Mercedes, a Triumph TR6, and a Landrover Discovery 2, so brands that will test your patience.

Plans for the car are to enjoy it on sunny weather and maintain it as required. Depending on how the paint looks in person a total strip and repaint may be in the future. I do like the look and functionality of the appearance group center console, so that may be a future addition.

[MSGGrunt]

On the red car the driver's side number is 919 as is the passenger's side. What does this tell me?

[wonkipop]

On the red car the driver's side number is 919 as is the passenger's side. What does this tell me?

thanks for that number @MSGGrunt .

that number is a number we don't have yet for a 75 914 1.8.

we had 918 and 920.

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i'll explain what they are and how they work.

for 74 1.8s there were 4 numbers on USA cars.
604 = EC-B (49 states engine) without centre console.
(in other words it had a standard sump lid without oil temp sensor and wiring up to top of tins).
605 = EC-B with console. (had oil temp sensor sump lid and wiring).
606 = EC-A (california) without centre console.
607 = EC-A (cal) with console.

we also have a number for the 74 euro 1.8. 608 = ROW 1.8 without console.
609 is presumed to exist but not sighted in an example.

for 75.
this is what we have.
918 = EC-a (49 state) without centre console (standard sump lid).
920 = EC-a (49 state) with centre console. (oil temp sump lid).
these were from examples where we could identify the car/engine from emission sticker
and from whether it had a console or not.

if 75s follow a similar pattern as 74s there would be six numbers.
( say similar because another trap we discovered with 74 research is that the logic does not necessarily directly duplicate the next model year, its similar but not identical often).
i speculated the missing 4 numbers went something like this.
919 = EC-b (california) without centre console (standard lid).
921 = EC-b (california) with centre console.

and there would be two other numbers covering rest of world.

these could be 922 and 923.
it would make sense as the 2.0 L cars for 75 and 76 have 924 (49 states) and 925 (California). we don't know what a rest of world 75 had on it.

anyway, you have thrown up 919. thats a first. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
thanks for taking the trouble. @JeffBowlsby will be pleased to see this information.
if my theory is right, that 919 belongs to a 75 1.8 (calfornia) that originally came in a car that was not factory fitted with a centre console. centre console had a temp gauge.
but i could be wrong. its a theory until we get all the data.
with the 74s we connected specific numbers, with engines known to be original cars, to original factory build data (sales orders).

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what does the number mean?
lots of speculation from time to time over the years.

my own view is the numbers identify the precise spec of the engine so that the correct engine was fitted on the assembly line to the car according to the market it was ordered from.

the only differences in 74 USA engines was a very subtle difference in emission set up and the sump lid set up. the euro engines were very different - carbs not fuel injection and higher compression pistons.

the same thing happens in 75, although the emission set up difference was a little more pronounced - the cal cars had EGR.

the engines were built remotely at another VW plant, fully complete and stamped with their identifying number before being sent on to different VW plants where the different VW model cars were assembled.

all the different VW engines of that era have these three numeral code stamps on them.

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the additional I.O. stamp means "in order" or in german "in ordnung".

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)