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Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 2 2010, 12:08 PM

Well we have purchased probably the most famous Limited Edition model of all, the Matsuda collection black and yellow Limited edition. http://www.2-shores-classics.com/garage/current-offers.html?car_id=133&lang=us Thanks to Jeff Bowlesby, we were able to negotiate the purchase. I am leaving for Germany monday June 7th to take delivery and drive through Europe, visiting the original vwporsche914 factory along the way. We will add it to our current collection which features the matching car: http://porschebahn.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/1974-porsche-914-best-of-class-winner-at-the-hilton-head-concours/

Please look for upcoming photos of the trip and the delivery of the car to the U.S.

Posted by: tat2dphreak Jun 2 2010, 12:18 PM

awesome!

but the nardi steering wheel is "100% original and correct"? (as the ad states?

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 2 2010, 01:03 PM

Nice!


Now all you need to finish that collection is a Grasshopper LE ...
Andy

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 2 2010, 01:19 PM

that is a frisbee to me! First thing to be taken off of the car.

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 2 2010, 01:19 PM

I guess that we could make one. Guy did a good job!

Posted by: BigDBass Jun 2 2010, 01:20 PM

Dibs on the incorrect euro tail lights!

Posted by: kkid Jun 2 2010, 01:22 PM

OMG, it has "Leaded Fuel Only" sticker on it. I haven't see that for a long time. It reminds me of my dad's 510 in the 70's.

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 2 2010, 01:25 PM

That 'Guy' was Jeff Bowlsby

I'm not sure what he did with his Grasshopper, i haven't seen it in years but the car was done very well. It actually looked great in person, the pictures don't do it justice.

Andy

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 2 2010, 02:21 PM

So that is a pic of the car! Jeff made one and sold it to a guy in Canada. I had never seen a pic of the actual car and thought that you posted a pic of another one that someone made. Neat looking though.

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 2 2010, 02:24 PM

This is a Japanese equipped car. The rear euro lenses are correct for it and the front side markers are different than the usa type and made just for the japanese market. notice that it does not even have retractible seat belts!

Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 2 2010, 02:56 PM

Nice score George!

Posted by: tat2dphreak Jun 2 2010, 03:21 PM

I think it's really cool!

Posted by: MDG Jun 2 2010, 03:31 PM

Nice George!

Don't know if it's the same car that Jeff did but there has been a 'Grasshopper' for sale in New Brunswick for about 2 years . . . not sure if it finally sold or not. I think it was a small dealership who also sold 550 and 356 replicas

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 2 2010, 03:36 PM

Posted by: MDG Jun 2 2010, 03:50 PM

Ha! I was actually searching for it. It was on autotrader.ca for like 2 years and now I can't find it. Maybe Ian Stott in Moncton will know who this company is. I believe they were in Fredericton. The replicas they sell aren't Beck or Intermeccanica. It was *something* Ranch . . . Thunder ranch maybe

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 2 2010, 04:56 PM

Probably something more like "Rust Haven Ranch" up in Canada!

... I should talk - with my sunny SoCal Rust Maven!

Posted by: Drums66 Jun 2 2010, 05:09 PM

Cooool.....914 brother,I can go along?
I'll even let you buy my ticket

P.S. forgot, have to be in traffic court that day(june 7th)

Posted by: MDG Jun 2 2010, 05:13 PM

Actually, Thunder Ranch is an American company - these guys were sales agents I believe.

Of the three 914s that I own(ed) the most rusted, by far, is the one that came from San Francisco. In fact I just pulled some of the California junk from the passenger footwell on the weekend. Some box that the speedo cable routed through that's part of the CA emission system I think. It's somewhere in the field behind my garage - if you want it I'll go find it before the wolves and polar bears get it.

Don't discount what salt air does to your cars down there. Now Arizona on the other hand . . . .

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 2 2010, 05:27 PM

Well Mike, you've seen what happened to my 73 2L just sitting in my dry SoCal garage for the last 25 years, going in just 3 years after a rustoration & repaint!

They have flash floods in AZ & the Southwest too! No place is truly safe from rust on any of the pre-77/pre-rust-treated Porsches unfortunately!

... Oh & Coyotes too - both the animal & drug/illegals runner types, & Havalinas/Peccaries & Rattlesnakes - Oh my!!!!

Fortunately mine is a pre-EGR & smog exempt 73 2.0 - so I won't need the rust-box .... Thanx anyway though!

Posted by: scotty b Jun 2 2010, 07:13 PM

Feel free to throw that frisbee my way !!

Posted by: FourBlades Jun 2 2010, 07:24 PM

That is very nice!

Did you remember to check the hell hole before buying it? I have heard they
sometimes have a little bit of rust there.



John

Posted by: hot_shoe914 Jun 2 2010, 11:51 PM

Posted by: hot_shoe914 Jun 3 2010, 12:04 AM

My LE Bee has that sticker on it still and also some kind of tag from Belgium. I wonder if that makes it worth more? George.......



Shoe

Posted by: nsr-jamie Jun 3 2010, 05:32 AM

I actually visited the Matsuda collection around 10 years ago or so and it was absolutely incredible!! I couldn't believe all the cars and there was not even a single customer in there. I was the only person in there for hours. I remember he had a yellow 916 too and the other cars were so incredible. He also had a Ferrari museum too which closed down....

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 3 2010, 12:18 PM

Funny how years ago we all wanted this aftermarket "STUFF" for our 914s and now we want to get rid of it! Scotty you really want that nardi? I was going to put it on e bay!

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 3 2010, 12:20 PM

so yours is a euro limited edition??

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 3 2010, 12:20 PM

So was the limited edition there?

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 3 2010, 12:22 PM

Thank you for the suggestion. Please what is the hell hole and what should I be looking at when first purchasing a 914? "HELL" and "914" should not go together!!!!

Posted by: watsonrx13 Jun 3 2010, 12:37 PM

Congratulations George... Enjoy your trip in Europe.

--Rob

Posted by: hot_shoe914 Jun 3 2010, 01:02 PM

I have no idea, was hoping you would know. I will get pics of the tags under the hood & post them or send them to you.

Posted by: tomeric914 Jun 3 2010, 01:43 PM

What is the red box under the glove compartment for?

Posted by: kkid Jun 3 2010, 03:04 PM

That's a standard equipment in order to survive in the blood thirsty metro Tokyo traffic.
A flare and a flashlight?

Posted by: Nürburg Nomad Jun 3 2010, 03:43 PM

Am i the only one who noticed the 70-71 sliding carpeted footrest block in a 74 that has a sliding passenger seat from the factory?

Posted by: bandjoey Jun 3 2010, 08:19 PM

http://bowlsby.net/914/CanAm/
Check it out Don. You might be a rich man!

Posted by: Dr Evil Jun 3 2010, 10:10 PM

Posted by: hot_shoe914 Jun 3 2010, 10:32 PM

I am definately already rich Bill, I have a great group of 914 enthusiast for friends and I know Buttercup's mommy!

Posted by: bandjoey Jun 3 2010, 11:57 PM

Posted by: nsr-jamie Jun 4 2010, 12:33 AM

YES, and other 914's too

Posted by: stephenaki Jun 4 2010, 01:33 AM

So, where in Germany is the car at?

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 23 2010, 01:52 PM

Posted by: copersucar Jun 23 2010, 02:01 PM

Wow..wow..keep those pictures comming !!!!

Alex.

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 23 2010, 03:54 PM

Looks like a fun trip, but where's the Liederhosen (sp?) & Suspenders & Little Brimmed Felt Hat??

Somebody needs to get George a pack of white Haynes crew socks or something - STAT!!!!

Seriously though - I'm no CanAm expert, & I thought that the LEs came with painted Mahle 4-lugs, but those are painted Fuchs 2L alloys - wussup wid dat!!??

I ask because I bought a set of 5 Fuchs 2Ls last year to restore to 2L OE finish to "recreate" what originally came on my 73 2L - which all had been painted Phoenix Red like a Cremescicle - including a good pale green zinc-chromate primer on the wheels first - that I assumed was done by a DAPO or DAP+AD.

However, if they were a legit option on Cremescicles instead of Mahles, should I not F them up & instead save them for a LE guy needing them, & be looking for another set of Fuchs 2Ls to restore for mine??


This be they .... BTW another DAPO did paint them all over with silver & all but the one in the pic below had been stripped of the silver by the seller/PO ....



.

George, Jeff, DaveP, others - Plz weigh in & advise me before I do something stupid - if indeed these wheels need to be preserved for "the cause" as is!!??

If the latter, then I could always trade to an LE guy/gal needing them, if they sourced a comparable restorable set of OE finish Fuchs 2Ls I suppose.

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 23 2010, 04:03 PM

Jeff will give you the straight scoop but these fuchs were specially ordered for the matsuda car. All of the others had mahles. Also side vinyl was specially ordered for this car as well

Posted by: john grier Jun 23 2010, 05:30 PM

George, that is great, I hope you had a time,

I really enjoyed seeing the Georgia plates on it.
Wonder what all the europeans thought when they saw that.

John

Posted by: davep Jun 23 2010, 05:39 PM

I believe that in some markets that the Fuchs came painted as the LE Mahles did. I would not alter the painted Fuchs if I had them. Remember that the LE was really a North American version. There were other versions such as the GT in Germany, and I believe the SL in Japan.

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 23 2010, 05:50 PM

Probably "Cracker"!

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 23 2010, 06:03 PM

Thanx Dave. As George said, maybe Jeff can also shed more light. It makes sense that if the Matsushida SL could be ordered with painted Fuchs 2L wheels, then so could one from anywhere else in the world one would think.

On my 5 wheels - 3 are date stamped 11/73 & 2 12/73 - so I supposed they could've been fitted to a 74 MY LE Creamsicle.

If I don't strip & restore them to "standard OE finish (satin background with semi-polished petals & rims & anodized), then my problem will be try to trade them or sell/buy another set of "regular OE finish" Fuchs @L's for mine to restore/refinish.

That's because mine is an early-73 MY (8/72 mfgr.) 914-2.0/"914 S" which came with the wheels as part of the full compliment of the Appearance & Performance Groups' options (Sport & Comfort groups in Euro-speak).

I just don't think orange wheels will pass CW muster on my L80E 73!

Posted by: veltror Jun 24 2010, 02:49 AM

That is the first time I have seen such an empty space outside Mittelmotor...

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 24 2010, 08:19 AM

Michael is a very genuine and soft spoken guy, no wonder his business is booming. It was at the end of the day and all of the cars were inside.

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jun 24 2010, 08:36 AM

Tom, everythig I know is here:

http://bowlsby.net/914/CanAm/

The photos I have of the 2 914 SLs (Japan market) both have painted FUCHS.

USA LEs and ROW GTs have the Mahles.

I have seen other wheels painted but they all appear to be customized and not factory original.

George, you say the wheels for 14438 were special ordered? I think they were part of the factory package for Japan, but I have no proof, just the two Japan cars in photos.

The document below is from the 1974 S+T manual which depicts a prototype 914 Can Am, but the car obviously changed details when it went into production, so we cannot be sure that this document is accurate.


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Posted by: Gustl Jun 24 2010, 10:34 AM

here's a pic from the DGVWPB




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Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 24 2010, 01:54 PM

you are the authority not me. If the fuchs were standard for Japan along with the side vinyl then they were standard. The certificate of authenticity says that the only two options were m 193 standard headlights instead of halogen, and m 779 which the factory states is the can am equipment for europe and the rest of the world!!!!

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jun 24 2010, 02:09 PM

Thats how I read it too. The Fuchs/vinyl musta been part of the Japan-market 914 Can Am equipment.




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Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 24 2010, 02:17 PM

Wow you are fast. You have already changed ownership of this car to us!

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 24 2010, 06:26 PM

I also note that the top pic of Jeff's post, the one in the S&T doc & the one posted by Gustl/Wolfgang all show it with the sail chrome & vinyl, while the Creamsicle is the usual black trim & no vinyl but with painted Fuchs 2L pretty much exactly like the wheels I bought last year 7/09 & await resto or??

But why does the COA for George's new baby say 3/1/75 & not 74???

So is the consensus for my Phoenix Red Fuchs 2L set to try to find a user of them in that finish, & me sell/buy or swap to get another set of "standard finish" 2L wheels??

Geesh - if so, more logistics work to find a set & sell/trade those!

... Mark ???

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 24 2010, 06:51 PM

Jeff - it never fails that I learn new stuff from you & your multiple sites every time!

Anyone know if this pale green zinc-chromate (??) type primer under the Phoenix Red is the way the factory painted the Fuchs 2L for Japan or wherever?

I know that greenish zinc-chromate primer was commonly available & used in the 1970's, & commonly seen on aluminum alloy aircraft parts - but am not sure if that is indicative that te set I have was a factory prpered/painted set of Fuchs???

Here's a close up of one of my wheels where the seller "experimented" with removing some of the Phoenix Red with acetone, that full wheel set, as compared to the pic of the Creamsicle with this type which Jeff posted for comparison.

My wheels -




Jeff's pic -


.

BTW - proper restoration of these to use on any LE/SL/GT or clone would require a clean-up, rash smoothed & repaint (old paint has some staining, oil, chips, etc.).

I figured, either way it needs resto & I had planned to resto to the satin/polished OE finish as appropriate for my 73 2L - not thinking that they might be a "real factory set" for a "real" Creamsicle!

Posted by: nsr-jamie Jun 25 2010, 05:38 AM

Hey George

I have actually seen this car in person here in Japan several years ago while the Matsuda museum was still open...the next time I make a trip back home I will see if I can dig out the old pictures of the car (non digital) and try to scan them for you..from what I remember they had 2 914's and that yellow 916 in the collection not to mention the rest of the incredible cars I spent the entire day drooling over....it was awesome!! Too bad all the cars were later on sold...I do still have the original Matsuda collection book here in Japanese and a little funny English, but its black and white and has no color photos....

Posted by: type47 Jun 25 2010, 03:52 PM

??? Do you mean May 75? (Mai 75) would be in model year '74.

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 25 2010, 03:59 PM

Maybe Mai/May Jim - You've got the pre-dating bass-ackwards though, cuz either way it's 75 MY not 74.

Model Years run approx. Aug. of preceding calendar year through July of same calendar year of the MY.

For example, my early 73 MY 2L was built 8/72 & Steve G.'s Sahara Beige was Mar. 73 IIRC.

An LE 74 MY should be built Feb - May 74 according to Jeff's LE website, so something is off on that, unless it was a late importation date to Japan??

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 25 2010, 04:12 PM

So Jeff - I see you on there - so Q on pic from your LE website ...

What was up with the pic of a Cremesicle "coming home from dealer" with standard satin/polished finished Fuchs, as well as sail/rollbar vinyl & silver trim, Porsche side decal doesn't wrap the fenders, etc.?



... I suppose it could be as simple as a wheel swap at the dealer, but wondered if the current or any PO's told you what, how & why they changed?

.... or is it one of those LE-clones from the personalization program??

That was the only US example I saw of an LE with any Fuchs on there, other than the ones of the Japan 914-SL Bee & Creamsicle you posted pix above.

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 25 2010, 04:13 PM

Because none of you guys bothered to actually translate the German COA correctly.

The date in question is the "Rechnungsdatum" which simply translates into the date the vehicle was first sold ...
Andy

http://dict.leo.org/?lp=ende&search=Rechnungsdatum

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jun 25 2010, 04:13 PM

VIN 14438 has the lowest Chassis No. and is one of the earliest 914 CanAm VINs on the Registry. This car was built early in the cycle.

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jun 25 2010, 04:28 PM

I think that info is on the site too Tom, this is a very complicated car. Thats a photo of VIN 21331, PCNA does not recognize it as a bonafide LE. It has the correct 914 LE paint code U2V9, but PCNA records says it did not have the Can Am Equipment package...IN SPITE of the dealership window sticker that documents that it has the equipment, and as verified by the car itself. The Targa bar vinyl delete apparently was part of the equipment package, hence the vinyl/bright trim. The wheels were apparantly swapped at the dealers, perhaps at the purchasers direction, but its not known, the car currently has the correct Mahles.

According to a few on this site that worked at dealerships during the day, the side stripes were not applied at the factory but shipped unmounted with the car, which was coated in Cosmoline for the float over here. During dealer prep the cosmoline was removed, and the stripes were to be installed at the dealers...so individuals installed them differently, or not at all if the buyers did not want them installed.

There are 3-4 others cars in this category at the bottom of the LE Regostry page that have been located. Correct paint, incorrect equipment, not as well documented as 21331.

Here is a well-done wannabe (fake) or tribute Creamsicle...your choice...a 1976 model.


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Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jun 25 2010, 04:30 PM

wow that would be GREAT! Thank you very much. When I go and get the car after the 5th of July when it arrives I will have more pictures.

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 25 2010, 04:33 PM

Okay - 1st of all Andy - I didn't even try to translate it - primarily because I got indoctrinated over the past year by PCNA that they do NOT put a first sold date on the COAs, so I presumed that would be the case for Zerts. too - particularly since a first sold date a year after production makes absolutely NO sense & is useless in documenting the 914's provenance as an LE.

2nd - why would a first sold date be about a year after mfgr.?? Certainly the ship got there well before that, so were sales that slow in Japan in 74/75 so as to have one of only 20 914-SL's sit in the dealership for a year????

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 25 2010, 05:09 PM

Thanx Jeff, I did read up on all that & that "undocumented LE" last night, but wasn't sure if that was the story on the Fuchs & vinyl/chrome trim. Maybe it just "escaped" the assy. line early without the full treatment!

Those Phoenix Red Fuchs I have actually came off of a P. Red 75, but the seller wasn't sure if they were original to that 914-2.0 per se, or if later painted by a PO or dealer, or swapped. So it may have been a non-L80E "tribute" under the personalization program in 75 MY, similar to what you say for the one above in L80E, but just in the case of the wheels.

Do you know of any special option code if a buyer had wanted to order "colored" or painted Fuchs 2L alloys?

... or would it have been just a "customer request" special order write-up?

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 25 2010, 06:18 PM

German COAs do not come from PCNA ...

Andy

Posted by: Tom_T Jun 26 2010, 03:19 AM

Yeah, I know that bud!

... & I would think that the Germans would put a useful date to establish the 914-SL's date of MANUFACTURE to clearly establish the provenance & correct fitment of the car as the LE model for Japan, instead of a useless & possibly incorrect date of first sale - wouldn't you!!??

Furthermore, their Kardex records & records of sale are sometimes in error. They erroneously had mine as first sold in 9/73 - more than a year after the 8/72 build date at the VIN sticker & Chassis no. - as well as sold in Conn.! That was despite my Cal. DMV registration cards from 12/75 on showing first sold in CA on 11/9/72, & PCNA did change their records to correct that error, but not until after insisting that they were right, then getting copies of my documentation to the contrary & my taking it up with their customer care GM!

So Sir Andy - I am understandably sceptical of the "Holy Grail" info on either Zerts. or COAs, when they do not track with what common sense & logic suggests.

In this case, either there is documentation that it was not first sold in Japan until a year after mfgr., or else there is an earlier sale which makes sense & can be documented.

If it did indeed languish for a year - one of only 20 available - then the "why" is a valid question to ask.