I’m restoring a 1975 that came with this tan interior, which appears to be original.
I’d like to make things as period-correct as possible — any thoughts on how to handle these door panels? The speakers definitely do not look factory. Is it worth preserving the original material, or better to reupholster without the speaker holes?
Also, any thoughts on the torn seat vinyl? Better to patch/stitch or is matching new material available?
Finally, any advice about repairing or replacing the cracked door pocket?
Thanks,
Gord
914s came in a few different shades of 'tan'. Maybe its the lighting or photo conditions but it does not look like those are a matched set. The backpad looks good. The seats are a different shade than the back pad and the brick pattern is only correct through 1974, not 1975-76. The door panels are yet another different shade.
I have not found that tan upholstery especially in the brick patterns, is available from any source. Sheet material is available that is close in color (not sure about the texture), but not the patterns. If someone knows of a source please post it. Please, no speculation or "ask x, y, z supplier" unless you know of certain availability.)
J Bugs lists the later style pattern vinyl in several colors, including tan: https://www.jbugs.com/category/vw-squareweave-vinyl-colors.html
They also have another VW pattern that isn't right, but color choices look good. https://www.jbugs.com/category/Basketweave-vinyl.html
I haven't inquired
Nice find Perry.
My garage lightning is indeed awful, so that could be affecting the photo colours. Once the weather stabilizes a bit more here, I’ll take them outside and examine them in daylight.
If it’s not a matched set, it just becomes an exercise in sourcing the correct materials — so thanks for links to JBugs.
Can anyone tell me how close a match to original colour/texture the seat covers sold by 914 Rubber are?
See what they say, this should let Mark know you have a question. Might take him a day or so to reply.
@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=3348
The tan interior is my favorite. My metallic green 6 (sold) has a smooth light tan that was somewhat rare for early cars. I think tan pairs much better with most exterior colors and is cooler with the top off
of course it is worth saving.
some things can not be renovated/restored/reproduced.
in my field of work this is being confronted with.
you have to make the choice.
do you make it go on (in the state it is in).
or do you "remake" it.
i would make it go on.
because its the real thing.
and it can never come back.
if you remake it......well, its now not then.
hope that helps.
as an observation.
looks like you have the driver's seat in the passenger seat position in that photo mockup/setup. it amazing the size of the scoop out for the handbrake when you put the seat in that context. but then again the seat handles are in the right place. whats going on?
Wow, thanks everyone for all the info!
I can confirm that my door panels appear to be the correct 75 "brick weave / square weave" — the colour seems to shift depending on the camera angle, but here's a closeup shot:
As far as restoring to factory condition, the only issue is the door panels is that they've been butchered for speakers, which I guess I'll have to decide if I want to keep or not.
Can anyone tell me what the correct seat covering should be for this 1975 door-panel/back-pad combo?
Gord
re - cracked door pocket.
have noticed with brown/beige interiors sometimes the door handle lower portion and door pocket match the door card vinyl and sometimes not. don't know if this is a year dependent thing or installs at the factory depending on what was in the assembly parts stock. i definitely have an original interior, its brown, and door handles and door pockets have black lower portions. the car came with a black central cushion fitted by the dealer at point of sale, (original receipt). would all have been dependent on what was lying around at the dealers on the shelf back then. the black cushion makes sense in mine with the black door handle and black pocket.
if your door pocket was black rather than beige, (guessing its black from vinyl i can see stapled around edges) you could go in search of a better condition part. a good condition black one might be easier to find than the brown or beige.
pity about the door cards having been cut for speakers.
For what it's worth....this is what I did to my '76 914 with a tan interior.
The factory calls 74 tan "cinnamon". My six has a 74 LE cinnamon interior except for the carpeting, which is from AA. There are no sources that I'm aware of for this color in upholstery or carpeting
Attached thumbnail(s)
Can’t tell for sure from the photos, but the seats’ stitching between each panel changed in 74 or 75. Earlier had stitching, later had melt pressing. I have a 74 with the stitching but it has a lot of 73 parts in it.
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