 Rare pics of the JaideCar "Meras" 914 and..., why I bought my conversion from them... |
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| neo914-6 |
 May 1 2004, 02:24 AM
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neo life  Group: Members Posts: 5,086 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Willow Glen (San Jose) Member No.: 159  |
In the early 80's, the Archibald brothers - Jeff and Jim had lots of 914 ideas with their JaideCar company and a VW tranny business called Transform next door. They produced nice stuff like raised spindles and beefed up transaxles for VW sand rails. They wanted to market a modular car with a new body and V8 conversions. They only built two cars and several V8 kits. One of the cars was wrecked and the other is in storage of which Jeff would sell for $20k. He said that was a fraction of what they put into it. They ended these 914 projects and continued to make VW parts now sold through So Cal Imports. The major difference with them and Renegade or Simpson at the time was they had a cast aluminum bellhousing and a Chevy ring gear that allowed use of a stock Chevy starter. (No KEP adapters) Most conversions used a high torque Porsche starter. They also mounted a GM big block water pump to the side but later changed to the typical impeller type. One of the ideas they prototyped was dual rabbit radiators in the engine compartment to eliminate front trunk modifications. They couldn't make that design work so they used a laid down Camaro radiator in the front trunk that exhausted through the bottom. This allowed for a spare tire and retained some luggage space. Some have made that design work but I couldn't. Another unique product they designed for high horsepower engines was a shortened 915 tranny with a patented internally and externally splined intermediate shaft housed in a 3.75" cast housing to use a Chevy clutch.
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| neo914-6 |
May 1 2004, 02:42 AM
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neo life Group: Members Posts: 5,086 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Willow Glen (San Jose) Member No.: 159 |
The car was very well made and the design was unique for it's time. Apparently they exhausted the air up the hood on their car. I'm not sure if the headlights raised in the front or lowered at the back. You can see the rounded CanAm type windshield which is expensive to tool. Yes, I asked Jeff what happened to them and he said the tooling was destroyed. Everything on the car has been redesigned except for the side glass and targa top. They didn't appear to do much with the interior either.
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| neo914-6 |
May 1 2004, 02:47 AM
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neo life Group: Members Posts: 5,086 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Willow Glen (San Jose) Member No.: 159 |
In this view you can see how forward the windshield extended. You can also see the 924 back glass. I forget what tail lights were used. It's too bad they didn't continue producing these products...
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| Mueller |
May 1 2004, 11:31 AM
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 17,150 Joined: 4-January 03 From: Antioch, CA Member No.: 87 Region Association: None 
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that is neat....this has got to go under "classics"
it would be nice to have pictures of your Jaide custom cast parts as well as pictures of how RH and RS do thier adaptors for comparison. |
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| neo914-6 |
May 1 2004, 11:52 AM
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#5
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neo life Group: Members Posts: 5,086 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Willow Glen (San Jose) Member No.: 159 |
Here's a pic at Brad's. He said it was the only good thing about the Jaide conversion. I have the basic kit. The 915 bellhousing adapter was cast much deeper for the intermediate shaft. I'll have to scan those from the brochure...
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| neo914-6 |
May 1 2004, 02:27 PM
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neo life Group: Members Posts: 5,086 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Willow Glen (San Jose) Member No.: 159 |
Renegade billet adapter...
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| neo914-6 |
May 1 2004, 02:28 PM
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#7
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neo life Group: Members Posts: 5,086 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Willow Glen (San Jose) Member No.: 159 |
KEP adapter...They tell me they supply to Rod Simpson.
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| neo914-6 |
May 1 2004, 02:46 PM
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#8
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neo life Group: Members Posts: 5,086 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Willow Glen (San Jose) Member No.: 159 |
Here's the Jaide 915 setup...
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| skline |
May 1 2004, 04:52 PM
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Born to Drive Group: Members Posts: 7,910 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Costa Mesa, CA Member No.: 17 Region Association: Southern California |
So is this car going to be at the WCC? It would be cool to see it in person.
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| neo914-6 |
May 1 2004, 05:41 PM
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#10
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neo life Group: Members Posts: 5,086 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Willow Glen (San Jose) Member No.: 159 |
Very unlikely as Jeff hasn't participated in any forums I told him about. When I tracked his number and spoke to him last year he said the car was in storage and was interested in selliing it. I believe it was in storage for many years if not over a decade. All tooling or patents were out of his possession. I don't know what drove the end of this venture but apparently he has no current interest in Porsches. If you're interested in speaking to him or seeing this car PM me and I'll give you his number. It should be close to Long Beach...
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| rick 918-S |
Oct 18 2004, 12:49 AM
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Hey nice rack! -Celette Group: Members Posts: 20,822 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Now in Superior WI Member No.: 43 Region Association: Northstar Region 
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Very interesting.... Too bad the builder lost his fire.
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| McMark |
Oct 18 2004, 01:02 AM
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914 Freak! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,179 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(Mueller @ May 1 2004, 09:31 AM) that is neat....this has got to go under "classics" it would be nice to have pictures of your Jaide custom cast parts as well as pictures of how RH and RS do thier adaptors for comparison. I've been pondering the idea of developing a 914 history. Maybe appoint a historian to collect and combine information and make a living document. With so many members and so many resources it is a prime opportunity to bring these minds together (prototype car, LE info, etc) and create an "Unabridged 914 History". Maybe even print a book someday with member car pictures and such along with the history. Could be just the sort of thing to spread the 914 obsession as well as raise our car values. |
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| Bleyseng |
Oct 18 2004, 06:49 AM
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Aircooled Baby! Group: Members Posts: 13,036 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Seattle, Washington (for now) Member No.: 24 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Get Wayne to do it as he likes to write books.
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| dflesburg |
Oct 18 2004, 07:19 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,722 Joined: 6-April 04 From: Warm and Cheerful Centerville Ohio Member No.: 1,896 Region Association: None |
Too bad they used a 914-6 to make that Mazaratti looking thing...
That whole late 70's - 80's supercar looking craze is not missed by me. Kinda reminds me of the Faraha Faucet hair thing... glad its gone! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif) |
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| rhodyguy |
Oct 18 2004, 07:33 AM
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Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out. Group: Members Posts: 22,193 Joined: 2-March 03 From: Orion's Bell. The BELL! Member No.: 378 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
nifty machining. esp when you consider the primative tooling by todays standards.
kevin |
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| GTeener |
Oct 18 2004, 11:36 AM
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#16
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914 Girl Group: Members Posts: 2,348 Joined: 25-June 04 From: SillyCon Valley Member No.: 2,249 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(dflesburg @ Oct 18 2004, 05:19 AM) Too bad they used a 914-6 to make that Mazaratti looking thing... That whole late 70's - 80's supercar looking craze is not missed by me. Kinda reminds me of the Faraha Faucet hair thing... glad its gone! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Doesn't work for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif) |
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| dinomium |
Oct 18 2004, 11:59 AM
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Git on a chair son, all the good stuff is goin over yer head! Group: Benefactors Posts: 2,777 Joined: 2-January 03 From: Bremerton, WA Member No.: 74 Region Association: Pacific Northwest  |
Is that the same Jeff that builds engines for SoCal Import Motor supply? Holding tounge for now....
<_< |
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| skline |
Oct 18 2004, 12:18 PM
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#18
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Born to Drive Group: Members Posts: 7,910 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Costa Mesa, CA Member No.: 17 Region Association: Southern California |
Hey, I was in love with Farrah Faucett back then, she was way hot. I like the big hair. I dont much care for the way that car looks though, took too much away from the 914 and made it look american.
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| Lou W |
Oct 18 2004, 12:27 PM
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#19
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"Here Kitty Kitty" my ass...... Group: Members Posts: 4,109 Joined: 9-May 04 From: Roseburg, OR. Member No.: 2,039 Region Association: Spain |
Looks to me something that you'd see David Hasselhoff driving (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif)
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| dmenche914 |
Oct 18 2004, 12:37 PM
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#20
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,212 Joined: 27-February 03 From: California Member No.: 366 |
If anyone is interested, I have a Beach Boys conversion car for sale on the want ads, it is modified but not as much as this car. There are a couple photos posted in the ad (towards the end of the ad replies, i had great trouble with the camera/computer). So search to the end of the ad for the photos.
Any interest, please let me know. dave |
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