Underbody coating, Factory or dealer? Options

[type4org]

My '76 has black undercoating that looks very professionally done, as if it came from the factory. On a German 914 board I am told no 914s ever came with undercoating from the factory. Who's right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[davep]

PVC undercoating was a factory M-option, M640.
This was applied before the paint, so you have to look for the orangepeel surface to know the paint is not is not on steel. Using a magnet, the attraction is weaker on the undercoated steel than on painted steel. Say, the inside and outside of a fender. Most Canadian cars have the PVC, and the heated rear window. The PVC is white and up to about 1/8" thick in some areas. It adds a fair bit of weight to the body.

BTW, since your undercoating is black, and hides the paint you can be sure is was applied by the dealer. Further, the undercoating is on the suspension, another clear sign it was not factory applied.