Time to Document my Survivor 1973 2.0L Options

[914Next]

I've been thinking I should start sharing the history and pics of Sara and my 914 for quite a few months now. I've hesitated because I'm not great with pics and don't have unlimited time. Finally decided to start posting and hope you all will be patient and that this may take a while.

Some of you have heard of and been involved in my story which started last July in a search for a 914. I'm not one who can say I have been committed to this quirky car for 40+ years. I admire you original owners and those who know these cars (literally) inside out. I'm a lover of vintage cars and have owned many but not a mechanic. Over the past few years, Sara and I have really gotten into survivor/preservation cars. Love to see a car that remains unchanged other than the patina and wear that comes with 40+ years.

Long story short….after developing an interest in Porsche's over the past 7 years or so, I started thinking about that quirky 914 that I used to see driving around Fond du Lac WI in the 70's. Any Porsche in Fond du Lac was a rare thing and as a teenager this one got my attention. That thinking turned to an obsession and last July we got a bug up our butts (actually it was me, not Sara, but she fortunately loves old cars too so she accepted that another would likely be on its way to us) to look for an original 914. After looking at a few -6's and posting of my interest in an original 914 on 914World, I received a PM from a guy in Minneapolis who had, two months earlier, purchased a 45k mile 1973 Bahia red 2.0 from the original owner. Erik, the 2nd owner and his father are Porsche enthusiasts. They had heard about the car being for sale through the local Barber who happened to cut the hair of the original owner also. Erik told me that he of course knew a good thing when he saw it and originally had planned to keep it as a family summer car. After getting it home and really pouring over it, however, he realized that this car was much too pristine to use it in that way. Not needing another garage queen, Erik decided to sell, saw my post, and after several weeks of discussion and negotiation the car was in an enclosed trailer and on its way to Atlanta.

Here are a few pics that Erik took. He took some great pics (and many of them) so I'll likely use quite a few of those here in documenting the car.

Steve

[JeffBowlsby]

Terrific documentation of a beautiful 914.

Noticed the black plastic threshold plates, interior door latch bezels and side window winders...those are 1974 model year features. Factory must have used 1974 model year items because this is a late VIN 1973 car, do not recall seeing another 1973 with these features.

[914Next]

Terrific documentation of a beautiful 914.

Noticed the black plastic threshold plates, interior door latch bezels and side window winders...those are 1974 model year features. Factory must have used 1974 model year items because this is a late VIN 1973 car, do not recall seeing another 1973 with these features.

Thanks Jeff. I had heard questions about the plastic threshold plates and original style rivets but I had not heard anything about window crank handles or door latch bezels. Was the bezel chrome previously?

Very interesting to see what the factory did in some of these situations. Happy to provide other info or pics if you ever need it.

Steve

[dlkawashima]

Terrific documentation of a beautiful 914.

Noticed the black plastic threshold plates, interior door latch bezels and side window winders...those are 1974 model year features. Factory must have used 1974 model year items because this is a late VIN 1973 car, do not recall seeing another 1973 with these features.

Thanks Jeff. I had heard questions about the plastic threshold plates and original style rivets but I had not heard anything about window crank handles or door latch bezels. Was the bezel chrome previously?

Very interesting to see what the factory did in some of these situations. Happy to provide other info or pics if you ever need it.

Steve

Those 3 features pointed out by Jeff - the black plastic threshold plates, interior door latch bezels and side window winders - are the same as my car, which was built in June '73.

The feature that puzzles me about your car (I might have mentioned this already) are the white headlight surrounds. I don't know when the switch was made to black surrounds but I've read that it took place mid model year and coincided with the switch to black plastic threshold plates. I couldn't find a picture of your compliance sticker but if I did my math right, your car was built April 26th, 1973 ... 9 months into the model year. I guess it once again shows how the running changes can be difficult to pin down to a specific date.

[914Next]

Terrific documentation of a beautiful 914.

Noticed the black plastic threshold plates, interior door latch bezels and side window winders...those are 1974 model year features. Factory must have used 1974 model year items because this is a late VIN 1973 car, do not recall seeing another 1973 with these features.

Thanks Jeff. I had heard questions about the plastic threshold plates and original style rivets but I had not heard anything about window crank handles or door latch bezels. Was the bezel chrome previously?

Very interesting to see what the factory did in some of these situations. Happy to provide other info or pics if you ever need it.

Steve

Those 3 features pointed out by Jeff - the black plastic threshold plates, interior door latch bezels and side window winders - are the same as my car, which was built in June '73.

The feature that puzzles me about your car (I might have mentioned this already) are the white headlight surrounds. I don't know when the switch was made to black surrounds but I've read that it took place mid model year and coincided with the switch to black plastic threshold plates. I couldn't find a picture of your compliance sticker but if I did my math right, your car was built April 26th, 1973 ... 9 months into the model year. I guess it once again shows how the running changes can be difficult to pin down to a specific date.

Agree Dave. I'm still learning about these cars. Your build date calc was pretty good. Which means the oddity would be the white surrounds?

Steve