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914/4: 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 914/6: 70 71 72

> The Legend of the "914 S" & "914 SC", Myth or Fact?
Tom_T
post Jun 3 2010, 09:06 PM
Post #1


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<edit update>
For the ADHD crowd & reading challenged & the just impatient....

The `73 MY's "914S" is a "Trim Designation" or "Trim Package" - the same as was the "914 LE" in the `74 MY.

It was official by Porsche & Porsche+Audi/Volkswagen of America for North America, & likewise for th Porsche distributors of the "914S/914SL" in Japan & "914SC" in the UK.

However, in the case of North America, Porsche Germany made Porsche+Audi/VoA drop the "914S" designation after running the program for over a year - from early -1972 in the pre-release campaign - through about March 1973 - apparently after pressure from the 911 crowd at PCA objecting to it confusing them over their911S's. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Period!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

See my Post #205 on page 11 for more details - or just read on below & through the ensuing facts, then debate by the naysayers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)


<edit>
CLIFF NOTES VERSION: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
- for those not interested in looking at cool old 914 stuff from back in the day"!

1. Porsche+Audi marketed the 914/4 2.0 "fully loaded" as the "914 S" in ads & sales brochures from Summer 1972 to about Jan/Feb 1973, then Porsche made them stop.

2. The British Distributor similarly marketed the 914/4 2.0 from Summer 1972 through 1976 as the 914SC, but was never told to stop.

3. Neither was ever badged as either a 914S or 914SC.

4. If one is interested, read the stuff posted here from that 1970's period.
<end edit>


There has been talk from time to time on here & elsewhere, about whether there ever really was a "914 S" &/or "914 SC"? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
- especially amongst those of us with USA 1973 MY 914-2.0's from the first half of the 73 MY production!

Well - as many things 914 - the answer is an unequivocal "Yes & No"!

I can answer more definitively regarding the "914 S" in the USA & Canada/North America, since I researched that recently to better plan for the restoration of my early-73 914-2.0. However, I was already well aware of the "914 S" terminology back in 1975 & it's having been dropped unceremoniously at PAG's insistance during early 1973, because I'd reviewed MT & R&T road test articles on the "914 S"/914-2.0 which bracketed the change & made mention of PAG's forcing it to be dropped while researching the purchase used (3 yrs. old) of my one & only 914-2.0 which I bought in Dec. 75 & still own (2nd owner).

I also had 3+ years before that, gotten a "free" copy of the 12 page early 1973 MY 914 sales brochure from the Downtown LA Porsche+Audi dealership, from a classmate whose parents eventually bought him one for his graduation (oh to be so lucky! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ). In it, it referred to the "914 S", as shown in the pix on the following posts here of the similar current brochure which I had to buy last year, having misplaced the other! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

But we will have to ask that some of our Brit Teeners out there (both of you! - just kidding! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ) to add in regarding your "914 SC".
- Yes, the Brits had "something completely different," as in the Monty Python bits!

First - "No" - 914's were never officially badged as either a "914 S" nor "914 SC" by either the Porsche+Audi US/Canada nor the British Isles distributors, and definitely NOT EVER by the factory.

North American 914s with the GA 2.0 motor were badged with the familiar separate "914" & "2.0" badges on the right rear body panel above the rear bumper & to the left of the right taillight.

Whereas the rest of the world's 2L's with the GB engine were badged with the familiar long "914-*-Porsche" between the rear trunk lock/button & right taillight (where "*" is the VW roundel Logo), with the 2.0" badge below that & aligned with the first long badge next to the right taillight.

USA/Canada - Porsche+Audi 914 2.0 Badging:
Attached Image

.

Rest of the World's 914 2.0 Badging:
Attached Image

.

<edit>
For many, this above is enough to know & take/keep the position on "no" - but it is NOT the whole story, much of which is not known today unless you were around then. If you're in the no camp, your point is taken & no need to torture yourself by reading on - unless you want to add some other documentation/pix from the period which relate to this subject - then please do so.

However, this post isn't here for a debate - although it seems that we have a lot of "master debaters" logging in here with a burning desire to prove someone - anyone - wrong. Even to the point of agreeing with me then saying I'm wrong, and one re-posting information which I'd already posted in an effort to prove me wrong! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

I'm just presenting some factual documentation here on what the "914S" thing was all about - so others will know that there is some basis to it, even if it was not a "real" 914 model nor badge name. I have also thrown in some of my own thoughts, speculation & opinions, which I hope are clear from the way I've stated things (IMO, IMHO, I speculate or suspect or estimate that ... , etc.) that they are just that - which is not to claim that they are "facts".

As you can tell by my edits here, I'm getting a bit frustrated with the "master debaters," conspiracy police, & those who consider "914S talk" as heresy - but it did exist - to a point, as the following explains & provides period documentation to back it up. To the point - it is an indisputable fact that Porsche+Audi in the USA & Canada marketed the then new 914/4 2.0L model as the "914S" from Summer 1972 through about December 1972 or January/February 1973 -period! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)
<end edit>

.

Today, one of our member vendors here - RJMII - makes custom aluminum badges in a "914 S" design, and could customize anything else - including "914 SC" - should someone want one for display purposes or fun in a temporary attachment/placement. However, IMHO I would not recommend placing one in the rear badging position, because you'd have to weld/braise/putty to fill in the mounting stud holes, which is NOT a good idea nor an acceptable "Originality" approach.

.

.

Second - "Yes" - The Porsche+Audi US/Canada distributor did in fact initially market the "new for the 1973 model year" (MY) 914/4 with the GA 2.0 engine as the "914 S" from mid-72 through early 1973.

While the British Isles distributor marketed their GB engined 2.0's as the "914 SC" from mid-72 through the end of the 914's run in 1976.

Oddly - according to both the period articles in the left book below & commentary by the second book's author - Porsche never asked them to drop the "SC" nomenclature - even after the "911 SC" was introduced later. Whereas their almost immediate objection to the US Porsche+Audi arm using the "914 S" in marketing, what that they were concerned that it may confuse the public with the 911S & detract for that far more expensive car's sales (more than 2x the 914-2.0' price in 73 MY).

A fair amount of factual back up for both of these "914 S" & "914 SC" marketing programs can be found in the 2 books whose covers are pictured below - both of which are still currently available in print from numerous sources - so I won't duplicate that information here.

Attached Image Attached Image

.

.

Additionally, Porsche+Audi printed both 4 page & 12 page 914 full color sales brochures for the US & Canadian dealerships, both of which clearly & unequivocally referred to the "914 S" - not a "914 2.0" at that point in time (although the terminology was eventually changed to "914 2.0" by the 74 MY as seen later).

Front & Rear Covers of 4 page Porsche+Audi 914 Sales Brochure referring to "914 S":
Attached Image Attached Image

.

... continued ....
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Posts in this topic
Tom_T   The Legend of the "914 S" & "914 SC"   Jun 3 2010, 09:06 PM
Tom_T   ... continued from previous post ... Inner Pages ...   Jun 3 2010, 09:14 PM
URY914   Explain this..... :D   Jun 3 2010, 09:16 PM
Tom_T   Explain this..... :D Sorry - NARB on a NAR...   Jun 3 2010, 09:27 PM
zymurgist   Explain this..... :D 914-6 badge + a Dreme...   Jun 4 2010, 05:34 AM
ME733   Explain this..... :D 914-6 badge + a Drem...   Jun 4 2010, 06:44 AM
URY914   [quote name='zymurgist' post='1327709' date='Jun ...   Jun 4 2010, 08:38 AM
Tom_T   [quote name='zymurgist' post='1327709' date='Jun ...   Jun 4 2010, 11:19 AM
SirAndy   914-6 badge + a Dremel? :agree: The 914-S badg...   Jun 4 2010, 07:44 PM
Tom_T   914-6 badge + a Dremel? :agree: The 914-S bad...   Jun 5 2010, 05:48 AM
Tom_T   ... continued from previous post .... ... contin...   Jun 3 2010, 09:21 PM
Tom_T   Back to the documentation, after that sidetrack .....   Jun 3 2010, 11:09 PM
Tom_T   ... continued .... More legible detail pix from H...   Jun 3 2010, 11:15 PM
Tom_T   ... continued .... More legible detail pix from H...   Jun 3 2010, 11:17 PM
Tom_T   ... continued .... So when did the "914 S...   Jun 3 2010, 11:37 PM
Tom_T   ... continued .... ... continued 1/73 MT .... Art...   Jun 3 2010, 11:41 PM
Tom_T   ... continued .... ... continued 2/73 R&T ......   Jun 3 2010, 11:45 PM
Tom_T   ... continued .... ... continued 2/73 R&T ......   Jun 4 2010, 12:04 AM
ME733   I purchased my 914-S about two years ago.....This ...   Jun 4 2010, 07:15 AM
Tom_T   I purchased my 914-S about two years ago.....This...   Jun 4 2010, 12:46 PM
Pat Garvey   If you want my opinion....well, you'll get it ...   Jun 4 2010, 06:55 PM
Tom_T   If you want my opinion....well, you'll get it...   Jun 5 2010, 05:04 AM
ME733   ........PAT, ...I disagree with your perspective o...   Jun 4 2010, 07:38 PM
MDG   Here's my perspective. As someone who has owne...   Jun 5 2010, 07:20 AM
Tom_T   Here's my perspective. As someone who has own...   Jun 5 2010, 09:25 AM
MDG   To be honest Tom, I just skimmed through all that....   Jun 5 2010, 02:31 PM
Tom_T   To be honest Tom, I just skimmed through all that...   Jun 6 2010, 11:16 PM
carr914   Shortsighted in not seeing that the "914 S...   Jun 5 2010, 03:13 PM
Tom_T   Shortsighted in not seeing that the "914 S...   Jun 6 2010, 11:25 PM
Bleyseng   Porsche didn't "kill" the 914, VW di...   Jun 7 2010, 03:17 AM
Bleyseng   sorry, stupid Surinamese provider did it! I   Jun 7 2010, 03:17 AM
Bleyseng   double post I   Jun 7 2010, 03:17 AM
Bleyseng   double post   Jun 7 2010, 03:17 AM
Tom_T   Porsche didn't "kill" the 914, VW d...   Jun 7 2010, 03:38 AM
Bleyseng   Porsche didn't "kill" the 914, VW ...   Jun 8 2010, 04:22 AM
Tom_T   About the 924, it was a VW sports car that Porsch...   Jun 8 2010, 06:03 PM
ME733   ............You people are overlooking , sidestepp...   Jun 5 2010, 10:57 PM
Tom_T   ............You people are overlooking , sidestep...   Jun 6 2010, 11:35 PM
MDG   . . . . and the point is? Tom starts this thread ...   Jun 6 2010, 06:35 AM
Tom_T   . . . . and the point is? Tom starts this thread...   Jun 6 2010, 11:55 PM
URY914   Frankly, I'm confussed by all this. :WTF: Is ...   Jun 6 2010, 07:51 AM
MDG   Frankly, I'm confussed by all this. :WTF: Is...   Jun 6 2010, 08:59 AM
Tom_T   Frankly, I'm confussed by all this. :WTF: Is...   Jun 7 2010, 12:04 AM
URY914   Frankly, I'm confussed by all this. :WTF: I...   Jun 7 2010, 11:10 AM
Tom_T   [quote name='Tom_T' post='1329056' date='Jun 6 20...   Jun 7 2010, 01:38 PM
MDG   1. Porsche+Audi marketed the 914/4 2.0 "fu...   Jun 7 2010, 12:44 PM
ME733   ..........MDG, I see, understand your point. I thi...   Jun 6 2010, 07:54 AM
MDG   Hmmm. It's common practice in automobile produ...   Jun 6 2010, 08:48 AM
carr914   [quote name='Tom_T' post='1328275...   Jun 6 2010, 08:48 AM
ME733   [quote name='carr914' date='Jun 5 201...   Jun 6 2010, 01:46 PM
Tom_T   [quote name='Tom_T' post='1328275...   Jun 7 2010, 01:18 AM
ME733   .............COULD you post the entire page(s)... ...   Jun 6 2010, 01:49 PM
carr914   Full Article, some of which is on Pg1 of this thre...   Jun 6 2010, 04:07 PM
carr914   RE: The Legend of the "914 S" & "914 SC"   Jun 6 2010, 04:10 PM
ME733   .......Thank you carr914,....for the posting of th...   Jun 6 2010, 07:34 PM
Tom_T   My initial post has been edited with a "Cliff...   Jun 7 2010, 02:22 AM
carr914   Tom, 1st of all, my comment about the Facts was No...   Jun 7 2010, 06:35 AM
Tom_T   Tom, 1st of all, my comment about the Facts was N...   Jun 7 2010, 01:28 PM
carr914   .......Thank you carr914,....for the posting of t...   Jun 7 2010, 06:43 AM
ME733   ...THANKS carr914..........so what I get from the ...   Jun 7 2010, 07:46 AM
MDG   This has gone from the sublime to wa-aaaay beyond ...   Jun 7 2010, 01:20 PM
MDG   Not really wanting to belabor this . . . . but you...   Jun 7 2010, 09:27 AM
ME733   .........mgd YOU missed the point ....and intentio...   Jun 7 2010, 12:50 PM
Tom_T   ... I'd wager it was written summer/fall of ...   Jun 7 2010, 03:05 PM
carr914   So - let's put the debating of the issue of ...   Jun 7 2010, 03:48 PM
SirAndy   Also what do you think SC stands for?, because ev...   Jun 14 2010, 09:21 PM
Tom_T   Also what do you think SC stands for?, because e...   Jun 14 2010, 11:27 PM
SirAndy   [quote name='SirAndy' post='1330696' date='Jun 14...   Jun 15 2010, 01:01 AM
Tom_T   [quote name='Tom_T' post='1330747' date='Jun 14 2...   Jun 15 2010, 02:52 AM
ME733   [quote name='Tom_T' post='1330747' date='Jun 14 ...   Jun 15 2010, 06:18 AM
MDG   Tom, I'll go back on what I said about being d...   Jun 7 2010, 04:27 PM
Tom_T   Tom, I'll go back on what I said about being ...   Jun 8 2010, 12:23 AM
carr914   The 911SC started in 78, but there was a 356 Carre...   Jun 7 2010, 05:30 PM
MDG   The 911SC started in 78, but there was a 356 Carr...   Jun 7 2010, 05:39 PM
URY914   When in referance to a 914, the "SC" sto...   Jun 7 2010, 05:51 PM
carr914   :lol4:   Jun 7 2010, 06:12 PM
sixerdon   OK. Now I'll throw my .02 cents in. I have her...   Jun 7 2010, 09:29 PM
Tom_T   ... and it goes on to list all the "standard...   Jun 8 2010, 04:03 PM
sixerdon   The "SC" badging for the 356 SC and the ...   Jun 8 2010, 07:52 AM
ME733   The "SC" badging for the 356 SC and the...   Jun 8 2010, 08:11 AM
sixerdon   The "SC" badging for the 356 SC and th...   Jun 8 2010, 05:06 PM
Tom_T   The "SC" badging for the 356 SC and the...   Jun 8 2010, 05:42 PM
ME733   ..............So DOES ANYONE, ...have any idea if ...   Jun 8 2010, 08:00 AM
Tom_T   ..............So DOES ANYONE, ...have any idea if...   Jun 8 2010, 04:41 PM
carr914   Also what do you think SC stands for?, because e...   Jun 15 2010, 07:24 AM
SirAndy   [quote name='SirAndy' post='1330696' date='Jun 14 ...   Jun 15 2010, 11:00 AM
Tom_T   [quote name='SirAndy' post='1330696' date='Jun 14...   Jun 15 2010, 12:09 PM
SirAndy   A case in point for a German make of the era - we...   Jun 15 2010, 01:30 PM
Bleyseng   A case in point for a German make of the era - w...   Jun 15 2010, 01:52 PM
MDG   Bavaria is in Austria, right..... :D and the Bla...   Jun 15 2010, 04:06 PM
Tom_T   [quote name='Tom_T' post='1331007' date='Jun 15 2...   Jun 15 2010, 05:12 PM
SirAndy   or did they mean Coupe Super? ... or Super Coupe b...   Jun 15 2010, 05:22 PM
MDG   I don't recall anyone ever using the word ...   Jun 15 2010, 05:26 PM
Tom_T   or did they mean Coupe Super? ... or Super Coupe ...   Jun 15 2010, 05:39 PM
Tom_T   [quote name='SirAndy' post='1330696' date='Jun 14...   Jun 15 2010, 11:56 AM
URY914   Andy What did "T" stand for? Touring or...   Jun 15 2010, 11:59 AM
Tom_T   Andy What did "T" stand for? Touring o...   Jun 15 2010, 12:15 PM
SirAndy   What did "T" stand for? Touring or Titti...   Jun 15 2010, 01:31 PM
carr914   [quote name='SirAndy' post='1330696' date='Jun 14...   Jun 15 2010, 04:44 PM
URY914   Ask Steve G., he knows everything.   Jun 15 2010, 05:04 PM
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