Targa differences, early vs late Options

[aircooledtechguy]

I'm thinking of picking up a spare targa to restore while I drive my car. I have a '75, but the targa I'm looking at is I believe a '72. Will the early targas fit on a late car and vise versa or do I need to get a late one?? Also what's the year break between the two tops?? Thanks.

[Tom_T]

I don't know about the mold for the FG top itself being changed - since there would be no point to do so unless the tooling wore out, unless it was to fit the following changes IIRC -

1. Seals changed - primarily at the L & R front-sides/corners to reduce/eliminate leaks down the side windows when it rains. That was early in the 73 MY (say 73.25 MY?), so some early 73's which were 72 builds have the "old seal tops".

2. Rear latch mechanism as noted above, although I'm not sure about that since I'd never heard that before (just the seal changes).

Also IIRC, starting in the 73 MY they made the perlon grey felt headliner standard fitment, or it may have been 72 MY. Before that it was an extra cost option.

IMHO - the best course of action is to always first test fit the top on your own particular 914 for fit & water test for the seals, since any top could've been retrofitted with other seals &/or latches over the past 34-41 years, not to mention warp, splits/caracks/chips/etc. repaired, latch hole atttachemtn screw points stripped, etc., etc.! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) !