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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Beauty is a Lack of Warts
Posted by: bkrantz Jun 17 2022, 09:28 PM
I don't mean to restart an old argument (well, maybe a little), but I love the front corner of the 914, especially without the US side marker light wart. For me, some isolated design details are really what makes the car, like the curve of the rear side window on a 911.
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Posted by: KELTY360 Jun 17 2022, 09:50 PM
That looks so right! When I had mine removed I found that the fender looked to have a curvature that wasn’t apparent with the wart in place.
Posted by: autopro Jun 17 2022, 10:43 PM
I agree, the car looks much better to my eye without the warts.
Posted by: Puebloswatcop Jun 18 2022, 06:06 AM
Yep a 914 without warts takes on so much more beauty.....
Posted by: Cairo94507 Jun 18 2022, 06:54 AM
Yes, I agree. On my first 2 914-6's I removed the warts, welded patches in and loved the look. I could not bring myself to have the warts removed on this 6. 
Posted by: 914e Jun 18 2022, 07:07 AM
That is one of the two things I wish I did, remove the marker lights and remove the antenna.
Posted by: Ansbacher Jun 18 2022, 11:52 AM
Would Teddy Roosevelt still be Teddy without the signature mustache? Would the Chrysler Building still be the same without its art-deco top? Of course not. Then why remove the signature elements of U.S.A.-imported 914s? The warts are part and parcel to the 914 story and testify to their 1970s heritage when safety regulations were in flux and on-the fly adaptions to meet them were being made by the auto manufacturers. I am not a fan of the 75-76 big rubber bumpers, but if I owned one of those model years I would not remove them- its part of the story. I own a '74 with rear tits, another safety adaptation some people don't like, but I will not remove them, as it makes the '74 unique and readily identifiable.
Ansbacher
Posted by: Front yard mechanic Jun 18 2022, 01:26 PM
Here's ten bucks Now go downtown and have a rat chew that off your face
Posted by: Shivers Jun 18 2022, 01:52 PM
Guess this is one of those elective surgery things. It does not need to be done, maybe it shouldn't be done as it is part of the personality, but you're sure glad you did it afterwards. 
Posted by: Ansbacher Jun 18 2022, 01:54 PM
Here's ten bucks Now go downtown and have a rat chew that off your face
I was just voicing my own opinion. I will assume your comment was said in jest...?
Ansbacher
Posted by: Van B Jun 18 2022, 02:25 PM
I’m really surprised no one in the community has developed a low profile side marker light… seems like something spoke and 914 rubber should collaborate on!
Posted by: Front yard mechanic Jun 18 2022, 03:28 PM
Here's ten bucks Now go downtown and have a rat chew that off your face
I was just voicing my own opinion. I will assume your comment was said in jest...?
Ansbacher
Just a uncle buck quote
Posted by: Big Len Jun 18 2022, 03:59 PM
I’m really surprised no one in the community has developed a low profile side marker light… seems like something spoke and 914 rubber should collaborate on!
I agree. Something that is frenched.
Posted by: wonkipop Jun 18 2022, 04:34 PM
give it a few more years and wart cars will be rare = desirable? 
isn't that how it works with car collectors?
30 years ago i used to look at the warts and tits on my 74 and sideways at a flat chested euro 73 a mate of mine owned and think surgically.
these days i am with @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=17589 .
i get a kick out of being one of the last ugly americans in australia. 
but i got nothing against plastic surgery.
Posted by: Van B Jun 18 2022, 07:17 PM
I’m just saying guys: flush mount lens and housing from 914 rubber and a thin LED board from spokeworks…
Posted by: wonkipop Jun 19 2022, 02:23 AM
I’m just saying guys: flush mount lens and housing from 914 rubber and a thin LED board from spokeworks…
thats the 924 (944?) genes you once owned coming out?
but.......you are right. the flush mount on the 924 usa markers is pretty good.
no side markers on aussie 924s!
warts or not. i was out for a run this arvo and its pretty cold down here right now.
had the top off.
heater on full.
smile from ear to ear.
pulled into servo to top up the gas.
had some old guy about my age in a subaru forester in front of me at the pumps.
he was all over the car.
almost beside himself at seeing one.
the warts did not seem to bother him.
i tell you these cars, whether surgically enhanced or not are coming into their own.
--------FINALLY. (my taste 30 years ago cannot now be questioned
)Posted by: B3owulf Jun 19 2022, 11:15 AM
That looks great, really wished I had done that before I painted mine!
Posted by: Shivers Jun 19 2022, 04:51 PM
Something like the old dodge side light.
https://fpautoparts.com/Exterior-Body/1968-Plymouth-Full-Size-Car-Front-Flat-Amber-Side-Marker-Light-Assembly-Each-MP4150? gclid=Cj0KCQjwkruVBhCHARIsACVIiOwAGCadt2EycqTyWp1ethC3IFHuvvxtSUVJnRrmtxZOe6jCvn
vUfecaAsaWEALw_wcB
Posted by: oakdalecurtis Jun 19 2022, 07:31 PM
Posted by: bbrock Jun 21 2022, 05:33 PM
I’m really surprised no one in the community has developed a low profile side marker light… seems like something spoke and 914 rubber should collaborate on!
How low? I went stealth. Easy to do too.
Posted by: Van B Jun 21 2022, 07:22 PM
Looks great @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=20845 but I was talking about a flush fit in the OEM location, no body work required.
Seems our producers aren’t following this thread though…
Posted by: Literati914 Jun 21 2022, 08:57 PM
personally, I've evolved over the years to liking the warts now 
.
Posted by: wonkipop Jun 21 2022, 08:58 PM
Looks great @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=20845 but I was talking about a flush fit in the OEM location, no body work required.
Seems our producers aren’t following this thread though…
can a 924 front flush wart fit into the hole in the 914 guard.
don't see any US spec 924s down here to compare wart size to know.
but is that a possibility to simply fit a 924 unit.
down here the 924 had the side indicator unit mounted behind front wheel arch in guard.
haven't seen a 924 for ages here. almost rarer than a 914, so few are there left around.
Posted by: Van B Jun 22 2022, 02:00 PM
I just looked them up. Hard to tell without measuring or throwing down the cash to see. But you are right on with the design cue. That would be perfect for a 914. US OE looks but a more streamlined appearance from oblique angles.
Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 22 2022, 03:18 PM
Prefer the look with them removed, but wouldn't remove side markers from any 914 of significant originality. I removed them on my six conversion, but the whole 914 had already been messed with.
Also understand being able to see the marker from the side, but the front lenses seem to pop out enough they are easy to see at dusk/night from the side, even from a blind spot you can see the. Side markers, while required, seemed a bit redundant.
Posted by: bbrock Jun 22 2022, 04:30 PM
Prefer the look with them removed, but wouldn't remove side markers from any 914 of significant originality. I removed them on my six conversion, but the whole 914 had already been messed with.
Also understand being able to see the marker from the side, but the front lenses seem to pop out enough they are easy to see at dusk/night from the side, even from a blind spot you can see the. Side markers, while required, seemed a bit redundant.
I'm of like mind. Seems clear the Porsche design team preferred the cars without them and the markers were a regulatory afterthought. Still, removing them was a hard decision since I wanted to keep my car original. It is the only "non reversible" alteration I made. I was resolved to keep the markers until I stripped off some old 70s era bodywork of swiss cheesing panels full of holes and laying on Bondo a half inch thick. The rot that left behind around the side marker holes made the decision for me. Much easier to patch with fresh sheet metal than to patch and then carefully redrill holes to add something ugly to the sides.
For me, it is an either/or thing. While changing to a low profile marker would improve the look, it still breaks the beautiful curve that is revealed with their absence. My decision to install stealth markers was purely a safety decision. After contemplating the side illumination of the front signals, I decided they were probably adequate, but side visibility is definitely improved with side markers. In the land of dark mountain roads and Montana-sized trucks, my little toy car needs all the help it can get. I really like the combo of the euro signals with LED bulbs and the stealth amber side markers. It makes for a good daytime running light combo increasing visibility from front and sides while keeping the headlights down. Sure, the illusion of originality is blown when those makers light up, and I don't like the disco bling look of them, but much prefer it to being side swiped.
Posted by: wonkipop Jun 22 2022, 05:39 PM
Prefer the look with them removed, but wouldn't remove side markers from any 914 of significant originality. I removed them on my six conversion, but the whole 914 had already been messed with.
Also understand being able to see the marker from the side, but the front lenses seem to pop out enough they are easy to see at dusk/night from the side, even from a blind spot you can see the. Side markers, while required, seemed a bit redundant.
I'm of like mind. Seems clear the Porsche design team preferred the cars without them and the markers were a regulatory afterthought. Still, removing them was a hard decision since I wanted to keep my car original. It is the only "non reversible" alteration I made. I was resolved to keep the markers until I stripped off some old 70s era bodywork of swiss cheesing panels full of holes and laying on Bondo a half inch thick. The rot that left behind around the side marker holes made the decision for me. Much easier to patch with fresh sheet metal than to patch and then carefully redrill holes to add something ugly to the sides.
For me, it is an either/or thing. While changing to a low profile marker would improve the look, it still breaks the beautiful curve that is revealed with their absence. My decision to install stealth markers was purely a safety decision. After contemplating the side illumination of the front signals, I decided they were probably adequate, but side visibility is definitely improved with side markers. In the land of dark mountain roads and Montana-sized trucks, my little toy car needs all the help it can get. I really like the combo of the euro signals with LED bulbs and the stealth amber side markers. It makes for a good daytime running light combo increasing visibility from front and sides while keeping the headlights down. Sure, the illusion of originality is blown when those makers light up, and I don't like the disco bling look of them, but much prefer it to being side swiped.
yes - interesting thing about the USA side markers is that they are also passive reflectors.
i do like your stealth side markers. very very neat.
my old type 3 squareback i owned back in the 80s was a german manufacture import.
they sold both aus assembled type3s down here and german manufactured fully imported. the german ones were neat as they had little parking lights incorporated into the belt line chrome on the sides of the car. this was a split lens light with a red rear section and a white front section. when you parked the car on the side of the road at night in low vis situations you could flick the indicator switch up or down with the ignition off and the light would come on just on that side of the car to help make it visible.
i can't remember anymore if this was also how the original side marker USA lights worked as i rewired my 914 thirty years ago to get it to conform enough to aus standards.
do the side markers also come on just on one side with USA lights if you have ignition off and indicator stalk up or down?
Posted by: Rick986 Jun 22 2022, 05:54 PM
Would Teddy Roosevelt still be Teddy without the signature mustache? Would the Chrysler Building still be the same without its art-deco top? Of course not. Then why remove the signature elements of U.S.A.-imported 914s? The warts are part and parcel to the 914 story and testify to their 1970s heritage when safety regulations were in flux and on-the fly adaptions to meet them were being made by the auto manufacturers. I am not a fan of the 75-76 big rubber bumpers, but if I owned one of those model years I would not remove them- its part of the story. I own a '74 with rear tits, another safety adaptation some people don't like, but I will not remove them, as it makes the '74 unique and readily identifiable.
Ansbacher
In full agreement. They're only "original" once.
Posted by: Morph914 Jun 22 2022, 07:44 PM
I would never remove my warts. I don’t disagree that it looks cleaner with out them, but it is part of the cars funky personality.
Posted by: bkrantz Jun 22 2022, 07:48 PM
Prefer the look with them removed, but wouldn't remove side markers from any 914 of significant originality. I removed them on my six conversion, but the whole 914 had already been messed with.
Also understand being able to see the marker from the side, but the front lenses seem to pop out enough they are easy to see at dusk/night from the side, even from a blind spot you can see the. Side markers, while required, seemed a bit redundant.
Since almost every panel on my car was either straightened, patched, or replaced, I did not feel resistant to shave the warts. I probably would not do that on an "all original" car. But I still would think that the warts are ugly.
Posted by: wonkipop Jun 22 2022, 08:47 PM
@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=23343 - yep your car looks great without them.
not like its a customization, just reduced it back to its pure european form. very nice.
in defence of warts. i think there is a kind of happy german functionalism to the way they did them thats dead on with the spirit of the era. at least with the narrow body cars.
however............they got into strife with the 914/6s with the flared guards from the factory. those warts ended up in a really bad spot visually? i'd be removing those if i had one. they just don't look happy.
Posted by: SKL1 Jun 22 2022, 09:02 PM
Whatever floats your boat but I removed them on both of mine and have euro lenses and lights F & R thanks to Spoke. Just prefer the euro look even though I know they're not original to the USA. Not planning on entering a national PCA concours anytime soon. Did enough of that in the '70's and '80's and I've run out of Q-tips...
Posted by: gereed75 Jun 23 2022, 05:55 AM
I also have always thought the compromize solution would be a low profile lens. The 924 light is an intriguing possibility.
Any 924 owners willing to take a few measurements?
Posted by: Shivers Jun 23 2022, 09:09 AM
This might be possible, went out a pulled a tape and it will cover everything. Large center hole on body would need to be enlarged to 2".
Posted by: mlindner Jun 24 2022, 05:29 AM
Agree, I like the clean look, no warts.
Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 24 2022, 02:17 PM
Was trying to find a picture of a flared 914 with side markers. They are slightly lower and more forward I think?
Anybody have a picture?
Posted by: SKL1 Jun 24 2022, 03:16 PM
I've got a picture of Peter Gregg's 916 my BIL took at Daytona many years ago somewhere... yes, they are slightly lower and more forward because of the fender flares.
I think that car is now in GA, so George should be able to provide a newer picture...
Posted by: wonkipop Jun 24 2022, 05:21 PM
Posted by: bkrantz Jun 24 2022, 07:48 PM
Ouch--that looks worse.
Posted by: wonkipop Jun 24 2022, 07:59 PM
@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=23343 - no its not a good look at all is it.
Posted by: PCH Jun 26 2022, 11:42 AM
Seems like low profile side markers would be pretty easy to fabricate. I'm in for a pair if they are ever produced.
Posted by: Literati914 Jun 26 2022, 01:14 PM
When I did my P1800 (restomod) I eliminated the huge and hideous side marker lights with simple LEDs from eBay… that were inspired by modern side markers I’d seen on certain Ferraris. These are at the front, the rears completely gone.
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