Know anything about the 914S? Options

[BKLZ]

Hi there,
I used to own a 914 which was titled as a 914S.
Thinking about it this morning i did a google search and found basically nothing on the car.
Does anyone know anything about these?
Mine only had a 2.0 tag on the back, had a sideshifter transmission, adjustable height coilovers in the rear, the center console guages, and not sure what else. It didnt have flares like the 6. Unfortunately i sold the car in Ohio after throwing a bearing or something on a cross country trip. Just curious what the s included as an option. The car seemed stock to me however i had no idea that they didnt have coilovers in the back until looking at one years later. Not sure what it had up front for suspension. Just curious. This had 'S' on the title, so i imagine it was factory.
Thanks,

[rgalla9146]

My comment was about the wishful thinking of the original poster regretting the loss of a car that only existed on paper and in the imagination of the marketers.

[Tom_T]

My comment was about the wishful thinking of the original poster regretting the loss of a car that only existed on paper and in the imagination of the marketers.

Well it was a real car .... a 914 of any flavor .... & who hasn't regretted selling one or more of their past cars!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

And a "914S" is more of a fun factoid & unicorn that an owner can use to play with the uptight "all-no-ing" folks, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

... or amaze the unknowing, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

... or ... just tell the story of what it really was! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

To clarify .... the "914S" was what's called a "Trim Designation" .... NOT a "marketing ploy" as some No-No-ers are saying here - even if that is the net end effect, just as is ANY model name or sub-designation etc. - & NOT something that "just existed on paper"! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Another similar case in point .... We're currently looking for a Cayenne S to pull our vintage trailer, and one of the early & more problematic Series 1 `06 models is on our list due to our really liking an otherwise unavailable bluish silver color (Iceland Silver) only available on the carry-over Titanium Edition version (2006.5 or 1st half 2007 MY - since the `08's started "early" with 1/07 production & sales), & which was marketed as the "Titanium Edition."

It too was "only on paper" with no special badging nor VIN nor other model designation! Those papers likewise bear PAG's & PCNA's official seal, etc., as did Porsche's world region divisions for the "914S" (P+A/VoA in NA), 914SC (UK) + "914S" & "914SL" (JDM).

It's only difference from other Cayenne S's was that it included a set "of the most popular options," had 2-tone upholstery, was only available in 4 paint colors, & filled the gap past the usual end of the `06 MY until the new revised Series 2 (1.5) 2008's were out.

In other words, it's what automakers call a "Trim Designation" - rather than a "Model Designation" - and is the same as "for the 914S" & "914 LE"!

There - I said it - broke the crystal bubble - disrespected the holy grail - demeaned the LE effete - by putting the "914S" & "914 LE" in the same sentence as "Trim Designations" or "Trim Packages"!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

But in the case of the Cay-S TI - Porsche grew up & grew some cajones to name it themselves & stand by the name despite protestations from others out in Porsche-la-la-land - mostly those who don't think anything but a sports car should carry the Stuttgart Crest!

Interestingly enough too - The Cayenne is & was the second VW-Porsche joint venture or joint project (or any other semantic name you wish to apply for the hair splitters) which saved Porsche's bacon financially - the 914 being the first! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Although one could argue that VW started saving bacon with the first Pre-A 356's powered by a warmed-over 1100cc VW engine & a mess of other parts from the VW parts bin to get Porsche started in the first place! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

As I stated - another 914 "Trim Package" is the 914 LE or "Limited Edition" or CanAm or Anniversary Edition (?? in Europe/UK, Jeff can correct me if I have that one's name wrong) or 914SL (Japan/JDM) - which only has a differing PAINT CODE & marketing materials to distinguish the 2 limited Orange-on-White or Yellow-on-Black paint schemes with painted sail/roll-bar trim to match the accent color, painted Mahle 4-lug wheels to match, & a few of the other AG & PG options - but not all of those options were included as in the "914S" trim package!

See: http://bowlsby.net/914/CanAm/

Just as the "914S" trim package was used to try to offset the feared loss of sales due to the 914-6's discontinuation & replacement of its more powerful Porsche sourced 2.0L flat-6 making 110 HP, with the VW originated & Hans Mezger/Porsche tweaked VW originated Type IV flat-4 2.0L motor only making 95 HP (91 SAE or 100 in RoW) - the "914 LE" was a trim package to try to reinvigorate flagging sales now that the 914-2.0's price had ballooned to over $7500 due to DM vs. $ inflation!

Also of note - all 3 of the Cayenne V6 gas, gas/electric hybrid & diesel motors are VW, VW & Audi powerplants respectively, which were similarly tweaked by Porsche, and all 3 were also used in the Panamera as well! Yet another VW helping hand of today! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

In the "914S"'s case - the US/Canada North American branch - then Porsche+Audi division of VW of America came up with a Trim Designation for the then new & otherwise then also still undistinguished by Porsche Germany themselves as anything BUT a 914 - for the 914 equipped with the 2.0L motor + the Appearance Group (AG) & Performance Group (AG - in RoW it was called Sport Group or SG for short by me) option packages within the base price - and proceeded to market it as such from the pre-release days of early 1972 as "the upcoming model" through March-ish 1973.

So the "914S" trim designation existed in the USA & Canada for about a year or a little more, from the pre-model-release build up campaign in early 1972 to the August `72 release, thru about March 1973 of the actual MY - or about 2/3's of the `73 MY + 6 months of the pre-release build-up. Furthermore, it was consistently promoted as such by the official arm here of Porsche Germany - the Porsche+Audi division of VoA - in all types of media & within Porsche+Audi dealerships, in ALL official model brochures & collateral marketing materials, at auto & trade shows, with the automotive press, etc.

However, apparently the tail-dragging snobs at PCA were the culprits behind lobbying Porsche Germany to put the kabash on the USA/Canada only use of "914S" - which in fact does NOT negate that it existed .... nor that it only existed on paper! It just means that it was shorter lived in the USA & Canada, than in other markets & relative to the Cay-S TI, 914 LE etc. - Any more so than the Cayenne S Titanium Edition of recent times, or the "914 LE," nor of any other "Trim Designation" used by Porsche nor any other car maker!

IMHO - Porsche PAG & PCNA should in fact be recognizing any & all 914-2.0 produced from the start of the 73 MY to at least March 1973 - if not the entire `73 MY - with the model designations of:

473644 - North America (non-CA), Appearance/Performance Pkgs., 2.0L, 914/12 trans.

473664 - California-only, Appearance/Performance Pkgs., 2.0L, 914/12 trans.

- as a "914S" - including on the COA's - in the same way as they currently do with the "914 LE" is recognized in the following 74 MY!

Oh my god ... he did it .... heresy!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

Likewise, they should also recognize the other similar RoW AG+PG/SG 2.0L models in the list at Jeff's link below in those markets where they had the similar "914S/914SL" & "914SC" "Trim Designations."

http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/ModelNumbers.htm

Why not do the same for the later 74-76 MY 914-2.0's with AG+PG/SG?

Because ONLY the 1973 MY INCLUDED the AG+PG/SG in the model's base price, & was marketed as a specific "Trim Designation" - whereas those later 74-76 cars' COAs will actually shown the options at extra cost on their COA's.

While the 1973 "914S" will NOT show any of the included options & otherwise has NO other model number nor other identifier to show what came on the car originally! So it's confusing as to what was actually on the car from the factory.

BTW - the 911RS & a bunch of other Porsche "Trim Package" cars have the very same problem, & Porsche needs to correct that shortfall or failing, if the COA is ever to be a truly credible document, as it is with other car makers' COAs that are more complete!

FYI - for those interested (except of course Mike/MDG, who's happy in la-la-land with his non-descript `73 914-2.0 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ), I know of at least a few 73 914-2.0 "914S" owners who have been successful in getting PCNA to include the above model number on their COA, which can at least then trace back to the AG+PG/SG optional equipment set being included on their cars, with the help of something like Jeff's model numbers info. & whatever else "official" from Porsche to document them.



I may make a stab at that myself, since PCNA is supposed to correct their COA's at no additional charge!

(FYI for those not familiar - JDM = Japan Domestic Market - in other words in Japan itself.)

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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