Up and Coming New Owner, newbie owner questions Options

[Grubeguy]

I have finally convinced my dad that his '74 914 project belongs in my garage. Years ago, he replaced the engine with an Olds aluminum engine (same as a modern Range Rover) with a 4-barrel. Everything mated together with the help of Kennedy Engineering adapters and such.

I've owned a bevvy of classic and german cars, but this is my first 914. I'm look for advice, best places to go for parts, advice on body kits if available, things to look for when getting the little guy going ...

[914_teener]

Early bumpers on a 74? Or are those 73 bumpers on a 74?

[Dave_Darling]

Early bumpers on a 74? Or are those 73 bumpers on a 74?

Either late-71 through 73 rear bumper, or a 74 with the bumperette holes welded up.

Either way, it has some interesting license plate lights added onto the middle...

--DD

[Grubeguy]

My knowledge of the 914 pedigree is exactly zero ... How does one tell the year of the car through the bumper?

[Dave_Darling]

My knowledge of the 914 pedigree is exactly zero ... How does one tell the year of the car through the bumper?

You can estimate the year that a particular bumper came off of, but as was said earlier it's not terribly difficult to change around the bumpers.

Front bumpers: 70-72 cars had either body-colored bumpers or chrome.
73-74 cars had black bumpers or chrome. (Or was the non-chrome option in 73 body colored as well?) The front bumper had rubber "tits" on it.
75-76 cars had the large black rubber-covered bumpers.

Rear bumpers: 70-early 71 had either chrome or body colored. The recess for the license plate had beveled edges with straight-line corners. This bumper was also the type used on the 914-6, and can be worth some money because of that.
Mid-71-72 cars had body colored or chrome, but the edge of the license plate recess was curved.
73 cars had bumpers that were identical to the 72 bumpers, except the non-chrome option might have been black instead of body color. Again, I'm not sure on that.
74 cars had either black or chrome bumpers, but had the rubber bumper "tits" on them as well as on the front.
75-76 cars had the large black rubber-covered bumpers.

--DD