The Grasshopper LE is a myth Options

[JeffBowlsby]

Late last year I submitted a request for information to Porsche Classics Archive Research regarding their published website statement concerning the existence and rarity of the white/green trim LE 914 cars. I simply asked them to confirm or deny the accuracy of their website statement. This process is a little known and great resource for certain kinds of information about your 914. It seems that other authors merely quoted this flawed source or similar sources about the grasshopper cars, which are now admittedly in error. Their statements were the most beliveable evidence available about the 'grasshopper' LEs, considering the source.

I received their response letter today. The Grasshopper never existed. Lies...it was all lies...we have all been deceived.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) I will be revising my 914 LE website to reflect this recent information and will include their letter:

[JeffBowlsby]

I guess I need to interject a couple of thoughts here for clarity:

The PAG letter in the first post is interesting.

Point 1: I gave them the range of known 914 LE car VINS and they confirmed that no cars within that range were white with green trim. Someone here implied that ALL the cars in that VIN range were ‘confirmed’ to be LE cars and that isn’t right. I know that’s what their letter says but that is a misstatement and misunderstanding.

Point 2: Just because the VIN range I gave them did not contain any GH cars, doesn’t mean they didn’t exist, maybe they were just outside that VIN range? Maaayyyyybbbeeee, but its not likely.

Point 3: So PAG is given a VIN range and they look in their records for over 2000 cars and confirm their paint codes….THEY HAVE SPECIFIC RECORDS ON EACH OF OUR CARS! So even though their records may be incomplete or even wrong…they do have records. They COULD tell us exactly how many were produced but they don’t want to. They could give us a complete VIN number list with each LE car too.

Point 4: They have admitted that their website info was wrong re: the white/green trim cars. So they are not careful when they assemble their information and continuing to profligate incorrect information is ….is….well at least they admitted their error and will take steps to correct it.

Point 5: The Porsche Marketing Letter, a few books, and other sources indicate the white/green combo, and while that seems fairly believable on the surface…its obvious they are just regurgitating information found elsewhere or otherwise given to them, without verification.

Point 6: No doubt several of the respected people here and elsewhere have truly ‘seen’ a GH car. Hey there is one in my driveway, even. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) Not because any one person has seen it, but so many people from different parts of the USA. At best we can be assured that while there is no current proof they were built, there is also not definitive proof that they were not, but so far we have turned over all the rocks and asked a lot of questions and we are coming up dry.

For my own sanity and for the purposes of my 914 LE website, I need to simply state the known facts as they are. PAG says they were never built (at least within a certain VIN range). We have no specific vehicle, no COA, not a single part with original green paint, no official publication or any other proof, just hearsay and vague memories. The only ‘original’ green stripes we have were produced aftermarket by VOA. The fact that there were the correct front spoilers and green stripes available from the dealers means it would be simple for a dealer to install them and voila – instant GH. I am sure we will continue the hunt, but hope is fading.