Open invite and call for help., My new, preserved Oly Blue Options

[RFoulds]

As you might have seen elsewhere on this site and others, I just bought my fourth 914, this time a well preserved 1974 Olympic Blue, that has been in storage for over 20 years.

So first, this is an open invite for anyone near La Quinta CA to come by and see it anytime you like.

And second, a call out for any advice or help to put this car back to dealer showroom condition. Also, what shows I should consider entering once she is complete.

One of my first dilemnas is the side stripes. Were these dealer added? or factory? Should I leave the slightly worn originals in place?, replace them with repros, or remove altogether??

Randy

[RFoulds]

As for wheels, were the Rivieras a dealer installed option? In that accessory vrochure, it jusst states, "alloy wheels."
Since it says "8 spoke" I assume it means the Fuchs?

[Tom_T]

As for wheels, were the Rivieras a dealer installed option? In that accessory vrochure, it jusst states, "alloy wheels."
Since it says "8 spoke" I assume it means the Fuchs?

Most dealers back then would install anything to keep a customer happy & make a buck - even aftermarket wheels! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

My buddy who is the original owner of a <61k mi 71 914/4 had polished Westerns on his - which the original intended buyer requested before he backed out, so Jerry got it with them & a few other accessories already on it at little or no upcharge IIRC. The standard wheel choices of Porsche wheels for the 914s in your 914's 74 MY would've been Pedrini, Mahle or Fuchs 2Ls - all others were aftermarket. That brochure was from 72 MY - so the Pedrini in the pic & highlighted in the diagram was a Pedrini 15x5.5J, but the other 2 alloy wheels types came out for 73 MY - i.e.: in mid-1972 CY.

Take a look at the O&H nailed threads under wheels & tires, as well as "The few, the rare..." for more info & pix of original wheels in OE finishes. Steve G's Sahara beige is a late 73MY 914-2.0 in the latter nailed thread, with original finish Fuchs 2L wheels, lugs & center caps. The main difference between your 74 MY 2L & the 73 MY 2L's, was that the 73's in the US market pretty much all came "fully loaded" with the Appearance & Performance Groups' options, whereas the 74-76 MYs made everything optional at extra cost - including wheels, ergo you could choose between the 3 alloy types. Ergo, 73 MY 914-2.0's won't show those as options/groups on the COA, but the 74-76 will show them as options & window stickers for all items will generally list the "included optional items" as "N/C" on 73's.

So if yours has the chrome bumpers, sail/rollbar vinyl/bright trim & center console (IIRC chrome bumpers from the pix of its delivery), then it probably originally had one of the 3 factory alloys on it coming from the factory, then was later changed to Rivs. Many people back then preferred the look of Rivs (myself included), & now regret getting rid of the OE alloys - again, myself included - at least for not buying a set of 5 back when they were cheaper & could've stayed NIB until I wanted to swap them today! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

IIRC they were about $50 each from the local P+A dealer in 75/76 - vs. about $100-150 ea. for a decent restorable wheel today, plus $70-140 each for Reid/Weideman to restore to their new OE glory (depending on what all needs done & whether re-anodized). That's more for one in CW shape today, then a set back in the day! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I bought my 73 2L in 12/75 with Rivs, but it originally would've had the Fuchs 2L's - but I don't know if that was a dealer change, OO/buyer request, or later change - since it was one of the early 73 MY 914-2.0/"914S" which were subject to the BO wheel recall & the dealer may have substituted the cheaper Rivs to keep the more expensive Fuchs 2L exchange wheels to resell at 100% profit. They did do a spare swap for a steelie - so they got at least one of my Fuching Fuchs! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)
I'll be putting 5 Fuchs 2Ls back on mine in the resto at my own expense now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)