White headlight surrounds, thru '73 model year? Options

[Pat Garvey]

Sorry, but my memory isn't what it once was.

Headlight surrounds - I know they were white through '72, but thought they went to black in '73.

Brett Johnson says they were white through '73.

Can anyone verify this?
Pat

[tod914]

Mid 73 they switched to the black plastic thresholds. Maybe the same transition time for the surrounds?

[Pat Garvey]

Mid 73 they switched to the black plastic thresholds. Maybe the same transition time for the surrounds?

Todd,
No, according to Johnson, the black surrounds didn't become standard until the '74 models.

I've found more than a dozen errors in the original version of this book, so I have my doubts.
Pat

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

Mid 73 they switched to the black plastic thresholds. Maybe the same transition time for the surrounds?

Todd,
No, according to Johnson, the black surrounds didn't become standard until the '74 models.

I've found more than a dozen errors in the original version of this book, so I have my doubts.
Pat

maybe you could share with us the errors in the book Pat.

[Pat Garvey]

Mid 73 they switched to the black plastic thresholds. Maybe the same transition time for the surrounds?

Todd,
No, according to Johnson, the black surrounds didn't become standard until the '74 models.

I've found more than a dozen errors in the original version of this book, so I have my doubts.
Pat

maybe you could share with us the errors in the book Pat.

George,

The last thing I want to do is "diss" Brett's book. It is an invaluable resource for 914 people, and Brett is a great guy (though I haven't seen him in 25 years).

But there are some (not many) "issues", paricularly with transition models.

Any, and all comments I make, are based on the original 1989 release of the book. And, all comments are based on the late '72 production 914 that I've lived with for 36 years.

p27 - "rear quarter panels". .."unmodified through the end of the 1972 model year". No so. The lips on my rear '72 quarter panels are notched for wider tires.

p31 - "For the 1972 model year, the valence was shortened...." No so. My late '72 model has, and was originally equipped with the "snow plow" rear valence.

p25 - "originally, 914's did not have a cover over the battery". "A recall of these early cars was made to install a small plastic cover over the battery". My '72 came with the small plastic cover (as pictured in the book). It was subsequently replaced under the recall with a cobbled-up Audi battery cover.

p59 - "The ash tray and seal were not altered during production". Not so. The '75-76 914's had a differently constructed ash tray. Have pic's to prove.

I have four or five other issues, but no substantiation. So, they remain unlisted.

I do not have any subsequent issues of Brett's book, so these issues may have been settled. I also have a late '72, and cannot/will not attest to any other issues that others may have.

Look, I'd be the last person to denigrate this worthy tome, and I'm not complaining. Just thought I'd bring to light some inconsistencies.

It still remains, in my opinion, the bible of 914's. Just needs some tweaking (that';s not Tweeking).

Pat