NOS Front latch panel, Parts research Options

[peteyd]

I have this NOS front latch panel here. It is unique in that it has an extra lip on the front.

I also have an NOS from clip that I know is from a 70-71 car as it has the unique impressions from that MY.

I have checked my boneyard where I have MY 72, 73, 74. None of these cars has this front lip.

It also has five little square impressions when looking face on.

So I'm trying to determine what year this lip came on cars, and its actually function.

I'm thinking that it could have started in 1975?

Can anyone confirm this and also its function?

Thanks,

Pete

[wonkipop]

i have two parts books for the 914.
a euro parts book and a USA one.
if you look at your USA parts book it has the same parts diagram images as the euro edition but does not list some of the parts numbered in the listed columns.
thats because they are euro parts. it works in reverse for the euro catalogue.
the USA parts are in the diagrams but not in the listing.

euro parts catalogue for the 75 bumpers.
the dog bones are listed. the collision pistons are not.




the euro parts catalogue does not list the front latch panel as being different to the 74s.
gives it part # 914 502 031 12

the USA parts catalogue lists the front latch panel as 13 rather than 12.

mind you that does not explain the extra lip on the 75 and why they would list the 74 as the same as 75 for euro cars. they still had the big rubber cover that needed to hook on to the panel. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

but there is a bit going on with those front latch panels in the parts catalogue if you compare the two different editions of the parts book.

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there is an old german mechanic here and he has two german spec 914s that he has had in australia since the early 1980s. one of them is a mint 75. he has hardly driven it.
his pride and joy. think it is stlll left hand drive. he has another 71 he converted to rhd and used mostly. i should go and see him again. its been 20 years or maybe more since i last ran into him and his car. might be interesting to document his 75 for the interests of members. i know he is still around because he rebuilds 356 engines at his leisure in his garage at home. fantastic guy and a 914 tragic.