Settled - Side Valences are affixed with plastic button head rivets, 'Rocker panel' rivets Options

[JeffBowlsby]

We know of two docmented original 914s, both have side valances attached with plastic buttonhead rivets, not aluminum rivets.

Black rivets for cars with black valances
Clear rivets for the 1974 LE cars with the yellow or orange valances

PET also only lists the plastic button head rivets.

All the photos of 914s with aluminum rivets are not original, are commonly available and have been replaced at some point.

Thanks to George Hussey, Steve Gaglione (2nd owner of very orignal Sahara Beige) and Alberto Favilla (original owner) and to Rich Daunhauer (914Werke) for their knowledge.

[DBF]

Only half way there - well let's get going!

An aircraft mechanic friend of mine said it is easy to see when rivets are replaced on a plane - they never looks quite factory. I've noticed that on cars as well - one can often tell when someone has removed and replaced something on a car - it never looks quite factory. Every photo we are seeing of aluminum riveted valances sure looks good - like the factory did it - as opposed to someone trying to put the valance on themselves with a pop-rivet gun in one hand while trying to hold the valance with the other.