1975 tan interior - worth saving? Options

[gord]

I’m restoring a 1975 that came with this tan interior, which appears to be original.

I’d like to make things as period-correct as possible — any thoughts on how to handle these door panels? The speakers definitely do not look factory. Is it worth preserving the original material, or better to reupholster without the speaker holes?

Also, any thoughts on the torn seat vinyl? Better to patch/stitch or is matching new material available?

Finally, any advice about repairing or replacing the cracked door pocket?

Thanks,
Gord

[JeffBowlsby]

914s came in a few different shades of 'tan'. Maybe its the lighting or photo conditions but it does not look like those are a matched set. The backpad looks good. The seats are a different shade than the back pad and the brick pattern is only correct through 1974, not 1975-76. The door panels are yet another different shade.

I have not found that tan upholstery especially in the brick patterns, is available from any source. Sheet material is available that is close in color (not sure about the texture), but not the patterns. If someone knows of a source please post it. Please, no speculation or "ask x, y, z supplier" unless you know of certain availability.)

[Tom_T]

914s came in a few different shades of 'tan'. Maybe its the lighting or photo conditions but it does not look like those are a matched set. The backpad looks good. The seats are a different shade than the back pad and the brick pattern is only correct through 1974, not 1975-76. The door panels are yet another different shade.

I have not found that tan upholstery especially in the brick patterns, is available from any source. Sheet material is available that is close in color (not sure about the texture), but not the patterns. If someone knows of a source please post it. Please, no speculation or "ask x, y, z supplier" unless you know of certain availability.)

Gord -

Personally I love the tan/beige color interior (it's much cooler in the SoCal & Southwest USA heat) - they're well worth restoring to it if it was your 914's original fitment - or if you prefer it.

Jeff is correct, although it's hard to tell from your door panel pic if they're the 75-76 "Brickweave" - but your seat inserts & backs are the 70-74 "Basketweave" & the color is different than your backpad.

But to clarify on both texture & color terminology - compare actual samples with your 75's door cards (if still in the correct original "Brickweave") for what best matches your car's correct original fitment - or to a preferred change that you like better if you're not a CW.

The seat inserts & door card textures get thrown around & re-titled all the time - some by mistake, some by later manufacturers - between: "Basketweave", "Brickweave", "Squareweave" - but I think it's best to stick with what Porsche called them in their original sales & specifications documentation - which was either 1972-74 "Basketweave", or 1975-76 "Brickweave" (leaving aside their other options for "Corduroy", Perforated" & "Plaid" etc. for your particular 1975 914)

The way I learned the terminology back in the day was "Basketweave" for the one on your seats for 1972-74 MYs, which was what I found in Porsche documents from then while researching for the resto of my `73 2L "914S" ....

See #31 in Lower Left:


And my original seats (I'm 2nd owner since 1975, & interior has been verified by a PCNA senior tech/area director as original):


The above is what appears to be on your seats, but it was a 1972-74 only color version & texture - even with the earlier & later colors being fairly close.

And "Brickweave" for 1975-76 for what I think is on your door cards (it's really hard to see even enlarged) - although you'll see it called "Squareweave" & even "Brickweave" ....

914 Rubber calls theirs Basketweave -
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/cdna3.zoeysite.com-10181-1620592990.1.jpg)

JBugs calls theirs Squareweave -
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.jbugs.com-10181-1620592990.2.jpg)

For a 1975-76 914 Porsche called it "Brickweave".


You can also see the color variances by MY at Jeff's 914 classic website here FYI -
https://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/PaintFabrics.htm

I think that Jeff has the similar 1975 or 76 MY Interior Options Ordering Spec page to my 1973 one above, in his Rare Documents or one of the other sub-sections here -

https://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/

Also keep Jeff's main website & p914.com as references, in addition to the 914 info at the top of this site's page top-right, and the O&H Forum here.


Note that the 70s era Bugs & Super Beetles had most of the same upholstery & paint colors available on them (& other parts too, and on other 70s VW & Audi models too) - so VW Bugs sources now will have stuff that works well, but check against yours.


My semi-educated guess is that a PO may have swapped out the original worn seats for a pair of nicer 72-74 Basketweave ones (70 & 71 used perforated leatherette vinyl inserts, not Basketweave) - or else had them upholstered with a more readily available at the time leatherette vinyl for the 72-74.


I procured the correct "Beige" 1973 Vinyl Leatherette by the yard in both smooth & basketweave from Lakewell in the EU, sufficient to reupholster my entire interior because no matter how close to original - you'll never get a perfect match for what's in your 914, plus the older material is more brittle & will eventually crack anyway.


I would try to get samples of both the Brickweave & Smooth Vinyl Leatherette from both JBugs & Lakewell, then see which best matches your door cards & backpad (& Center Cushion?) - as well as to see if you can possibly get away with a partial reupholstery job - or need to do the whole Magilla - based on your tastes & budget.

The guys at Lakewell have restored 914s over there, & can give you the correct yardages you'll need for the full or partial reupholstery - but I don't know if the JBugs folks will know. If they're different - & additionally to be safe - also check with your local upholstery shop &/or err on the higher one.

Also check with Lakewell for Tan/Beige & if any in Brickweave (they don't list it right now for kits, but he may have some sheet bulk material in stock or available to order from his Germany supplier, which was what he did for mine) -
https://www.lakewell.com/

While Jeff said no maybe here - the reality is that all of the sources below have had the correct or correct-ish for what we can get today Tan/Beige/etc. Brickweave at one time or another, & they have been out at various times as well - plus we're dealing with COVID related shortages now, & Germany & other parts of the EU are currently under their 3rd COVID shutdown - but that will all change.

So you'll have to do some legwork. Also note that pre-COVID shipping from a UK/EU source was generally 10-14 days at most in most cases, but during COVID everything USA & UK/EU is taking longer.

Also AI has the fabric by the yard, but their supply availability varies - plus if you need new foam for the cushions etc. - AFAIK Autos International still has them, & do CW concours level reupholstery too (but you may have customs & obvious shipping costs to Canada).

http://www.porschetopsandinteriors.net/

World Upholstery is a 3rd source that used to have brickweave & smooth, but they also vary, & they may also have the cushion etc. foam.

http://worlduph.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsK_...ASAAEgJIsPD_BwE

914Rubber was mentioned above, but I don't know if they have anything in Tan/Beige Brickweave right now, because theirs shows out of stock.

https://914rubber.com/

https://914rubber.com/914/914-chassis-inter...ts/808-00-seats


Other members may have additional sources - maybe some in Canada, and there are just a few vinyl plants worldwide which are making the material worldwide - but it all starts smooth, & then the patters are embossed onto smooth sheet (or perforated into) - so hopefully eventually we'll get all colors & patterns available again at some point.

All of these sources also sell pre-made 914 kits, but you may need to special order the Tan/Beige/Cinnamon color from some.

Also color & pattern availability for anything but Black has always been off-n-on, & it's worse now due to COVID - so be patient, but get it where you can when you can - even if you're not quite ready for it.

Hopefully this is helpful to you & others.

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