The Few, the rare......, As delivered, no resto, no repaint - show 'em! Options

[smg914]

Dealer installed VPC Air Conditioning under dash unit. They had to shorten the center console when AC was installed to make room for the under dash unit. Hence the altered arrangement of the three gauges. Check out the mileage on the speedo!

Steve,
How is the quality of the installation of the condenser? I've seen some that were really butchered up. In fact that's why I didn't opt for it since there was a chance that my dealer would not do a neat "factory" installation.

Dave

I know what you mean. I've seen some real butcher jobs but they really did a nice clean job on this car. Someone must have respected the car when they did the job. Some day I will remove the spare tire and take some photos.

[MDG]

I've seen so many brown interior cars that have faded to a nasty peach tone over the years; it's fantastic to see how beautiful that interior choice actually was.

The visuals on this thread are overwhelming.

[smg914]

I've seen so many brown interior cars that have faded to a nasty peach tone over the years; it's fantastic to see how beautiful that interior choice actually was.

The visuals on this thread are overwhelming.

I've actually seen some documentation referring to this interior color option as Mahogany instead of Brown.

[Pat Garvey]

Thanks to everyone that expressed positive comments. I'm not sure where to stop. I will add more photos and details but I don't want to hold up Dave C. from getting started with his car.

Mike, the original owner handed me a box that contained the original factory mirrors. For some reason, he didn't like the way they looked. I can't tell you how happy I was to find that Charles was smart enough to use the original factory holes to install the Vitaloni Tornado Mirrors. All I had to do was just unscrew the Vitaloni's and install the originals. I sold the Vitaloni's on ebay to a Ferrari guy for quite a bit of money.

For some reason my camera is beginning to screw up. This has been happening a lot lately. Some photos come out unrecognizable, all blurred.

A few photos of the engine compartment. Please keep in mind that I haven't cleaned these areas since the 2003 Parade. Note the factory original "RED" vacuum hoses. I soaked/washed them in wool-lite in the kitchen sink (don't tell my wife) and they turned out looking like new. Also note the original valve adjustment sticker on the left front of the engine tin and the original factory emission stickers on the left side of the body and the correct yellow tape on the voltage regulator.

Did the same thing with some of my 72 hoses & it works great! But the black hoses were too faded, so I soaked them in RIT dye. They're black again.

If only I could get that green hose from the vacuum advance.......
Pat

[dcheek]

Steve,
Your car is really breathtaking! And the pictures are top notch. You have really raised the bar for posting in this category. With that in mind I will have to wait until the good weather to take some pictures. We just had our first snow storm and the salt spreaders have been out. As a result I've put my car in hibernation for the winter. Ahh, to live in Florida and be able to drive 12 months a year.......... So, it's up on the skates, covered, topped off with gas and fuel stabilizer added.

[smg914]

David,
I remember those long winters up North. I play tennis 6 days a week and I'm thankful to be able to play year round outside. I play on a USTA 4.5 team for those of you that know what that means. Anyway I will be taking more photos and posting them here in a few days. My wife gave me a long list of things-to-do and taking photos and posting here was not on the list. We all look forward to spring time so we can learn more about your car and for the photo documentation of how a 1976 914 looked when it left the factory.

[JeffBowlsby]

An absolutely amazing car Steve, thanks for sharing it...hope you will post more details. No criticisms...but some thoughts out loud:

It looks like this car never received the HO warranty update? Early style battery cover...no front trunk HO sticker, yet fuel lines are not sheathed?

Hey can you show us the treasured...Rusnak hubcaps?

Does your car have any Rusnak dealership maintenance labels?

Can you explain those paper tags by the trunk latches...and where all do they occur on your car? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[smg914]

Thanks Jeff,

You know, come to think of it, I believe you're correct about the HO campaign. After I purchased the car I replaced the flexible brake lines and all the fuel lines (except the ones going thru the tunnel). It still had the original type elbows between the injectors and the fuel rails. I replaced them with the upgraded rubber elbows. I really don't have an explanation why the recall was never done to this car.

Funny that you remembered those Rusnak Logo Center Caps. I still have them but when I attempted to take a photo of them today, my Cannon digital camera totally crapped out on me. The screen is just a blur and so are the photos it takes. So for now I do not have a working camera.

My car does not have any of the Rusnak dealership maintenance labels. Based on the Maintenance Record book, Rusnak did the initial inspection but Charles had the car serviced at NEUFELD P/A in San Carlos, CA. The first receipt shows 521 miles. I have a total of 11 receipts from Newfeld P/A. The 12th receipt and all the rest are from the town in Florida where Charles lived.

Tomorrow I will identify where all the white paper stickers are located. Some of them you can still see they were stamped. I will attempt to document what the stamp shows. I always assumed that these stickers were some kind of factory inspection sticker.

[smg914]

I blew the dust off up my old elcheapo 3.2 mega pixel camera.

As Jeff knows, at one point in time Rusnak P/A use to place these stickers on the center caps of the 914's they sold. Mine was no exception.

[smg914]

I don't have the time to completely open up the car today. Not only would I have to take the cover off, I would also have to pull it out of the garage but with a 40% chance of rain today and tomorrow, I will not be taking it out of the garage.

This morning I opened up the rear trunk and found 2 of the white paper (inspection?) stickers. One near the latch on the lid and the other on the back right side between the karmann number and the factory welded in sway bar brace thingie.

The sticker is stamped in ink with a Circle with IL-2 inside the circle.

[smg914]

The sticker on the inside of the rear trunk lid near the latch also has the circle with the IL-2 inside the circle. This sticker is in a similar location to the one on the inside of the front trunk lid that I documented in an earlier post.

[smg914]

Rear trunk "thick black rubber insulating pad" that was used beginning with the 1973 MY and into the 1974 MY before being changed mid year to a cheaper looking plastic covered pad.

[smg914]

Nice original (yes original) cad plaiting on the bumper bolt and washer and rear light assembly nut and washer.

[smg914]

Bingo!! I just found another sticker. Its located on the back left side of the engine compartment lid. Its a little yellowed probably caused by the heat from the engine.

[smg914]

The left rear trailing arm has a white painted circle with the letter K inside of it. The right rear trailing arm doesn't have the circle but it does have the letter K painted in white. Please excuse the dirty trailing arms and wheel wells (not cleaned since Parade in 2003).

[Tom_T]

You know, come to think of it, I believe you're correct about the HO campaign. After I purchased the car I replaced the flexible brake lines and all the fuel lines (except the ones going thru the tunnel). It still had the original type elbows between the injectors and the fuel rails. I replaced them with the upgraded rubber elbows. I really don't have an explanation why the recall was never done to this car.

Steve (& Jeff), many 914s didn't "officially" have the HO Campaign done, with some having their trusted indy mechanics or do it themselves instead. However, you can verify it & any other recall campaigns' status at any Porsche dealership - & if never done per their records, you can still contact PCNA & get a work order to have it done....

....if you want to trust some young guy used to the new Porsches who is half the age of your 914 to do it right!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

My early 73 2L had never been done, & PCNA sent out a field tech rep. on 12/2/09 to verify that neither HO (fuel/battery) nor BO (proper Fuchs 2L wheels for hub-centric fitment on 73 2L up thru Dec 72 build date) were done. Probably more for my history, unless I cannot find a particular hose or fitting. The wheels are n/a, since the PO/OO or dealer replaced the Fuchs with Rivieras.

GREAT pix - Thanx again!!!! ...& again!!! ...well, you get the idea! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[Tom_T]

Although there are at least 10 different versions of this interior light available, this is the only one ever used (except some of the very, very early 914s had a version made by SIDLER).

The face of the lens should show: VW, Made in Germany and HELLA all etched into the plastic. The on off switch should be flat (flush with the lens) and it should be white. And of course the all important chrome bezel.

Can you post a better pic of the interior light showing the chrome bezel you're talking about?? ...where & what exactly do you mean by the "bezel"?

Mine has no chrome bezel on the outside rim (if that's what you mean??), and came with a flush black button & never replaced since I got it used in 12/75 (maybe PO did??). It's marked as you noted, & has some sort of notching on the underside of the edge of the light's lens as your pic shows.

Mine is the way I recalled all the 914s I'd seen back in the day," but I looked thru some of my older period pix (73 sales brochure, Brian Long book, R&T & MT articles of the day, etc.), & those where I could see something of a button, they were white (none are close nor clear though), but cannot make out anything bezel-wise.

Anyone have a source for this "proper OE" 914 light, as I think PP, AA, SMC, etc. all sell the black button Hellas now????

[smg914]

Tom,
Here is the best photo I could get for you with my 3.5 mega pixel camera. By chrome bezel I'm referring to the groove that goes around the entire inner perimeter of the lens that is filled in with some kind of chrome which is visible on the front face of the lens. Although you can't see it in the photo, the white knob has horizontal grooves in it so its easier for your finger to slide it on and off.

Notice on the face of the lens from Left to Right: Hella logo, Made in Germany and the VW logo.

By the way, there are no cracks in this lens. What appears to be a crack in this photo (to the left of the switch opening) is actually the plastic piece on the back of the lens that the switch mechanism is attached to which is reflecting thru the lens.

This lens has been NLA for a very long time. Just keep you eyes open for someone selling an NOS one or one that is in excellent condition.

I'm positive that the lens you say you purchased on 12/75 is not the original lens to your 914, if in fact its the one with the flush black on off switch knob and no chrome bezel. I could be wrong but I don't think your lens has the VW logo on it.

[Tom_T]

Tom,
Here is the best photo I could get for you with my 3.5 mega pixel camera. By chrome bezel I'm referring to the groove that goes around the entire inner perimeter of the lens that is filled in with some kind of chrome which is visible on the front face of the lens. Although you can't see it in the photo, the white knob has horizontal grooves in it so its easier for your finger to slide it on and off.

Notice on the face of the lens from Left to Right: Hella logo, Made in Germany and the VW logo.

By the way, there are no cracks in this lens. What appears to be a crack in this photo (to the left of the switch opening) is actually the plastic piece on the back of the lens that the switch mechanism is attached to which is reflecting thru the lens.

This lens has been NLA for a very long time. Just keep you eyes open for someone selling an NOS one or one that is in excellent condition.

I'm positive that the lens you say you purchased on 12/75 is not the original lens to your 914, if in fact its the one with the flush black on off switch knob and no chrome bezel. I could be wrong but I don't think your lens has the VW logo on it.

I can see now what you mean by the chrome bezel - Thanx! And I know what you mean about the inside part looking like a crack....it's not & same on mine.

Is it open on the back inside with an exposed bulb holder, wiring etc.??

My lens is the same as yours except it has "DOT" between "Hella" & "Made in Germany" then "VW" (in a circle), & same grooved button but black. Wonder if they could only sell the DOT approved replacements here in the USA at some point?

....but no chrome bezel behind & a clip on the right to snap it in (very similar to our 88 Westfalia dome light), which ugly snap I presume the chrome bezel serves the same function in a much cleaner look.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) ...wouldn't that 70's period say "Made in W. Germany", since there was no "Germany" per se then???? ... either East or West Germany back then.

Sounds like I need to take some pix this weekend when it stops raining & post it as a separate O&H question thread, not to clutter your beauty's pix! Please add your pic to it to for everyone's reference there.

I always thought they used black buttons because most 914s had black interiors, and.....well, it was VW! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I just cannot get over hot good yours looks - it's both encouraging & intimidating in trying to do a reasonably accurate resto on mine! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[Tom_T]

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