Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

3 Pages V  1 2 3 >  
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> green dash knob, What was the green knob for?
fastfingers
post Mar 13 2011, 10:31 AM
Post #1


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 24
Joined: 13-March 11
From: Omaha, NE
Member No.: 12,819
Region Association: Upper MidWest
This is my first post.

First a little history.

I'm a long ago Porsche 914 owner and long time Porsche enthusiast, having owned two 914s, a 924 and an amazing '91 911 C4 Targa. I once owned 2 914's at the same time. One was a '73 2.0 and the other was a '74 2.0. The '73 had an interesting history. It was originally black from the factory and had the anti-sway bars, chrome bumpers, fog lights and appearance group. It also had those wonderful Fuchs. Very fast and fun to drive car. I loved it and miss it to this day. Didn't realize until many years later that the '73 2.0's were the coveted 4-bangers.

About the history of that car; I purchased it used from Century Porsche Audi in Dayton Ohio in 1975 or 1976. The previous owner was a Priest, believe it or not. The car had been repainted Corvette gray metallic and looked fabulous. The dealer told me that the car was a pace car driven by Mark Donohue before it was sold to the original owner. Not sure about that part but it seems possible. I had the car for maybe 160,000 miles and it proved to be a very reliable car. I had to replace the clutch twice (I think) and even rebuilt the heads on it once.

Recently I started looking at restored 914s and found this place. Hope to own one again some day.

On to my question. Both my 914s had fog lights and a yellow knob to activate them. I remember I modified both my 914's so that you could turn them on with only the running lights active too. On some of the pictures of 914s I see a green knob instead. Are those driving lights or what? Were they a substitute for the fogs? Just curious. I don't remember a driving lights option for 914s back when I paid attention to them.

- Steve
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Sleepin
post Mar 13 2011, 10:40 AM
Post #2


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,647
Joined: 20-November 07
From: Grand Junction, Co.
Member No.: 8,357
Region Association: Rocky Mountains
Green switch should be rear window defrost IIRC.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
MDG
post Mar 13 2011, 10:47 AM
Post #3


Wolf in wolf's clothing.
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,652
Joined: 3-February 09
From: Toronto
Member No.: 10,018
Region Association: None
Yep, rear window defroster. Here's a pic of it in my '73 during disassembly

Attached Image

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
McMark
post Mar 13 2011, 11:40 AM
Post #4


914 Freak!
***************

Group: Retired Admin
Posts: 20,179
Joined: 13-March 03
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Member No.: 419
Region Association: None
Aren't the early car foglight knobs green as well? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Pretty sure they are.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
underthetire
post Mar 13 2011, 11:48 AM
Post #5


914 Guru
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 5,062
Joined: 7-October 08
From: Brentwood
Member No.: 9,623
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(McMark @ Mar 13 2011, 10:40 AM) *

Aren't the early car foglight knobs green as well? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Pretty sure they are.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
fastfingers
post Mar 13 2011, 11:48 AM
Post #6


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 24
Joined: 13-March 11
From: Omaha, NE
Member No.: 12,819
Region Association: Upper MidWest
I knew about the green knob for the rear defroster, although neither my '73 nor '74 had one. The rear defogger knob has that looping wire icon.

But that's not what I'm talking about. These knobs clearly show a light icon.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.preeminent.org-12819-1300038531.1.png)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jgara962
post Mar 13 2011, 11:52 AM
Post #7


Yo, this is how I roll
***

Group: Members
Posts: 823
Joined: 5-April 05
From: Napa, CA
Member No.: 3,879
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(fastfingers @ Mar 13 2011, 10:48 AM) *

I knew about the green knob for the rear defroster, although neither my '73 nor '74 had one. The rear defogger knob has that looping wire icon.

But that's not what I'm talking about. These knobs clearly show a light icon.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.preeminent.org-12819-1300038531.1.png)


It's for the driving/fog lights.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
MDG
post Mar 13 2011, 01:16 PM
Post #8


Wolf in wolf's clothing.
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,652
Joined: 3-February 09
From: Toronto
Member No.: 10,018
Region Association: None
The amber knob in my '73 pictured above is also a driving light switch. As Mark said, the earlier cars from 1970, '71 and maybe '72 had the green bezel like yours.

Or is it the other way around? Maybe they started off amber and switched to green part way through '73? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Can't remember but I'm sure someone will chime in. Either way, it turns on the lights in your bumper (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Edit: just checked - '70-'72 had the green bezel; '73-76 had the amber.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
markb
post Mar 13 2011, 02:01 PM
Post #9


914less :(
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 5,449
Joined: 22-January 03
From: Nipomo, CA
Member No.: 180
Region Association: Central California
QUOTE(MDG @ Mar 13 2011, 11:16 AM) *

The amber knob in my '73 pictured above is also a driving light switch. As Mark said, the earlier cars from 1970, '71 and maybe '72 had the green bezel like yours.

Or is it the other way around? Maybe they started off amber and switched to green part way through '73? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Can't remember but I'm sure someone will chime in. Either way, it turns on the lights in your bumper (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Edit: just checked - '70-'72 had the green bezel; '73-76 had the amber.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
fastfingers
post Mar 15 2011, 06:23 AM
Post #10


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 24
Joined: 13-March 11
From: Omaha, NE
Member No.: 12,819
Region Association: Upper MidWest
I beleved the explanation until I saw this:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.preeminent.org-12819-1300191814.1.jpg)

That is not a rear defogger knob. I'm wondering, did the '75 & '76 have dual bulbs in those bumper mounted lenses?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
MDG
post Mar 15 2011, 07:15 AM
Post #11


Wolf in wolf's clothing.
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,652
Joined: 3-February 09
From: Toronto
Member No.: 10,018
Region Association: None
No - the '75-'76 did not have any kind of twin light set up. I'll go out on a limb here and say that was added by a previous owner - not factory original. I've never seen a 914 with four switches on the left of the column like that. And besides, why would the factory use both the later amber and the earlier green?

So left to right you have the black headlight switch, the red hazards switch, the amber fog light switch . . . and what appears to be an early fog light switch mounted next to it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Maybe the PO had a set of auxiliary lights mounted and wired them independently? Those top mounted Cibies or some such.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Sparky
post Mar 15 2011, 07:20 AM
Post #12


Mahna Mahna!
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,134
Joined: 21-June 03
From: Spencer, MA
Member No.: 847
Ejection seat? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
fastfingers
post Mar 15 2011, 07:22 AM
Post #13


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 24
Joined: 13-March 11
From: Omaha, NE
Member No.: 12,819
Region Association: Upper MidWest
QUOTE(MDG @ Mar 15 2011, 05:15 AM) *

No - the '75-'76 did not have any kind of twin light set up. I'll go out on a limb here and say that was added by a previous owner - not factory original. I've never seen a 914 with four switches on the left of the column like that. And besides, why would the factory use both the later amber and the earlier green?

So left to right you have the black headlight switch, the red hazards switch, the amber fog light switch . . . and what appears to be an early fog light switch mounted next to it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Maybe the PO had a set of auxiliary lights mounted and wired them independently? Those top mounted Cibies or some such.


I think this was from a photographic series taken from a concourse winner. Wouldn't that mean the car had to be original equipment only? I'll see if I can find the link for the site where this car was being shown. I saved the pictures to my library because of how beautiful that white interior looks.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
MDG
post Mar 15 2011, 07:23 AM
Post #14


Wolf in wolf's clothing.
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,652
Joined: 3-February 09
From: Toronto
Member No.: 10,018
Region Association: None
QUOTE(Sparky @ Mar 15 2011, 09:20 AM) *

Ejection seat? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


Ah. Forgot it was a '75-'76.


Yes, ejection seat. The 'light' icon on the bezel was just to lull passengers into a false sense of security. The intial icon was a pair of legs exiting through the targa but it didn't make it to the final design.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
MDG
post Mar 15 2011, 07:27 AM
Post #15


Wolf in wolf's clothing.
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,652
Joined: 3-February 09
From: Toronto
Member No.: 10,018
Region Association: None
QUOTE(fastfingers @ Mar 15 2011, 09:22 AM) *

I think this was from a photographic series taken from a concourse winner. Wouldn't that mean the car had to be original equipment only? I'll see if I can find the link for the site where this car was being shown. I saved the pictures to my library because of how beautiful that white interior looks.


Well, after 30 years with these cars I'm the first to admit I still learn new things about them. But if that's factory it would certainly be the first one I've seen.

I'd love to see the other pics you have. And I agree, the white interior in that blue looks fantastic!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
fastfingers
post Mar 15 2011, 11:56 AM
Post #16


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 24
Joined: 13-March 11
From: Omaha, NE
Member No.: 12,819
Region Association: Upper MidWest
QUOTE(MDG @ Mar 15 2011, 05:27 AM) *

QUOTE(fastfingers @ Mar 15 2011, 09:22 AM) *

I think this was from a photographic series taken from a concourse winner. Wouldn't that mean the car had to be original equipment only? I'll see if I can find the link for the site where this car was being shown. I saved the pictures to my library because of how beautiful that white interior looks.


Well, after 30 years with these cars I'm the first to admit I still learn new things about them. But if that's factory it would certainly be the first one I've seen.

I'd love to see the other pics you have. And I agree, the white interior in that blue looks fantastic!


Yea, that white interior is amazing. I keep hoping the answer is that those rectangular lights in the '75, '76 models have the option of dual bulbs.

I'll see if I can find the original link to that car. I think, it was from a car that was for sale here on this web site.

As minimum I'll see if I can find the other pictures and repost them.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jt914-6
post Mar 15 2011, 02:11 PM
Post #17


Driving & working on teeners 41 years
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,786
Joined: 3-May 08
From: Bryant, Arkansas
Member No.: 9,003
Region Association: South East States
Fog light centers were green until "72, after that they were gold... A pic from a 914 guide to authentcity...four switches on left of steering wheel....it doesn't say what the fourth one is.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
MDG
post Mar 15 2011, 03:44 PM
Post #18


Wolf in wolf's clothing.
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,652
Joined: 3-February 09
From: Toronto
Member No.: 10,018
Region Association: None
QUOTE(jt914-6 @ Mar 15 2011, 04:11 PM) *

Fog light centers were green until "72, after that they were gold... A pic from a 914 guide to authentcity...four switches on left of steering wheel....it doesn't say what the fourth one is.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)


Cool. That extra switch looks like it has a blank bezel and is obviously not a dark green one. The switches are in a different order as well.

Just throwing this out there; what switch turns on the rear fog on some of the Euro cars?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
flat4tom
post Mar 15 2011, 04:44 PM
Post #19


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 51
Joined: 6-January 10
From: Shingletown CA
Member No.: 11,207
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(MDG @ Mar 15 2011, 01:44 PM) *

QUOTE(jt914-6 @ Mar 15 2011, 04:11 PM) *

Fog light centers were green until "72, after that they were gold... A pic from a 914 guide to authentcity...four switches on left of steering wheel....it doesn't say what the fourth one is.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)


Cool. That extra switch looks like it has a blank bezel and is obviously not a dark green one. The switches are in a different order as well.

Just throwing this out there; what switch turns on the rear fog on some of the Euro cars?



I was thinking maybe a rear fog light switch too. Never seen one either.

Just my .02
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Drums66
post Mar 15 2011, 05:02 PM
Post #20


914 Rudiments
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 5,321
Joined: 15-January 03
From: Coronado,Cali
Member No.: 151
Region Association: Southwest Region
.....Fog light switch?...mine's amber!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/yellowsleep[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smoke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

3 Pages V  1 2 3 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 7th June 2024 - 08:06 AM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...