Recommisioning a '73 Driver Project, making another 914 roadworthy again Options

[Literati914]

Couple months back I bought a Phoenix Red 1.7L '73 that I planned to do a "quick resto/refresh" on. The idea was to get it back on the road as a very descent driver, no rotisserie work or complete strip down for repaint. Mainly wanted to make it structurally and mechanically sound. I've been working on it and snapping a few pic as I go, so I thought I'd go ahead and post a thread about it here.

[Literati914]

Basic Appearance:
First of all, it obviously needs paint. There are nick, chips and scratches as well as some hail damage. Also, a previous owner applied a clear coat to the paint (Phoenix Red) and it has flaked off in large areas. So paint is needed.. not sure if I'm gonna do that for a while or not. It's not as bad in person as the picture, and could be seen as a descent patina car for now, in imo. The Targa surface is in bad shape and I will do addressing that soon. Black steelies with all hub caps and beauty rings present (I kinda like the look tbh). All glass is good though the front windshield has been replaced at some point with an aftermarket one.. it was glued in but the trim did not make it back on the car (nor was it included). On the interior door cards need work, carpets were missing and seats could stand a re-do - all things I plan to address. The stock fuse panel has been replaced with a modern style and there is a working push button start button on the dash. For some reason the Fresh Air Defrost controller unit has been removed from the dash and lost (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) , but the box is still present under cowl. Luckily I have extras. Oh, and there is an interesting steering wheel (let me know if anyone knows anything about it) with a Porsche crest horn button. I may paint it and have it recovered.

[wonkipop]

Basic Appearance:
First of all, it obviously needs paint. There are nick, chips and scratches as well as some hail damage. Also, a previous owner applied a clear coat to the paint (Phoenix Red) and it has flaked off in large areas. So paint is needed.. not sure if I'm gonna do that for a while or not. It's not as bad in person as the picture, and could be seen as a descent patina car for now, in imo. The Targa surface is in bad shape and I will do addressing that soon. Black steelies with all hub caps and beauty rings present (I kinda like the look tbh). All glass is good though the front windshield has been replaced at some point with an aftermarket one.. it was glued in but the trim did not make it back on the car (nor was it included). On the interior door cards need work, carpets were missing and seats could stand a re-do - all things I plan to address. The stock fuse panel has been replaced with a modern style and there is a working push button start button on the dash. For some reason the Fresh Air Defrost controller unit has been removed from the dash and lost (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) , but the box is still present under cowl. Luckily I have extras. Oh, and there is an interesting steering wheel (let me know if anyone knows anything about it) with a Porsche crest horn button. I may paint it and have it recovered.

yeah that steering wheel is interesting if it is what i think it is.

at first look i think its a formuling wheel. a french company that made aftermarket sports steering wheels - very popular cult item during late 60s, 70s and into the 80s.
big in the VW modding crowd back then. company closed in the 90s.

reason i say its a formuling is they are recognizable by the spoke hub pattern around the centre boss. at top a curve matching circular steeing hub and at bottom two inverse curves to bottom wheel spoke.



this is mine. has been on the car since the 70s.

second reason is i am looking at what appears to be the brending name on it and its hard to tell from your photo as the brand name looks heavily worn or dirty and difficult to distinguish clearly.

but it sure looks like this? or am i mistaken.
at one point during formuling's time manufacturing the branding looked like this.




lastly its interesting because it also looks like it was branded porsche on one of its spokes. never seen one like that before. probably super rare. most formuling steering wheels were sold with a horn button that carried particular car model you were fitting it two. VW or Renault or Porsche---- whatever.

definitely keep that wheel and restore it. suspect its been on the car for a long time.
i can't identify which era it dates from. could be 70s. could be 80s. suspect its 70s.
and i think pretty rare formuling model.

cult item. VW crowd is still searching these things out.