The Legend of the "914 S" & "914 SC", Myth or Fact? Options

[Tom_T]

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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)

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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.
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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:


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Rest of the World's 914 2.0 Badging:


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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)
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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.

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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.



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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":


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... continued ....

[MDG]

Tom, I'll go back on what I said about being done with this thread only to reply to your last post and only so you don't continue to misunderstand any of my posts.

I wasn't being hardnosed to anyone. My point about your 'pet theme 914S', frankly, is because you have brought this up more than anyone else ever has. It IS a recurring topic with you, Tom. I never said there was anything wrong with that.

I then said more power to you for putting it all down. Seems like a pat on the back to me, no?

My post you quoted - and edited - as you are well aware, was not even directed at you. I think my full response clearly shows what I was saying, to whom and why. And yes, with all due respect, for me this topic is a time waster. Just my opinion - don't expect you to share it . . .

and one question to go along with T.C.'s about the SC as I really don't remember; was the 911 even called an SC then? I thought that model name came a year or so after the demise of the 914 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I know there was a 911S when the ill-fated 914S arose but did Porsche even use the SC name during the 914 run?

Anyway, as a nice parting gift, here's a shot of my '73 2.0's ass (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tom_T]

Tom, I'll go back on what I said about being done with this thread only to reply to your last post and only so you don't continue to misunderstand any of my posts.

I wasn't being hardnosed to anyone. My point about your 'pet theme 914S', frankly, is because you have brought this up more than anyone else ever has. It IS a recurring topic with you, Tom. I never said there was anything wrong with that.

I then said more power to you for putting it all down. Seems like a pat on the back to me, no?

My post you quoted - and edited - as you are well aware, was not even directed at you. I think my full response clearly shows what I was saying, to whom and why. And yes, with all due respect, for me this topic is a time waster. Just my opinion - don't expect you to share it . . .

and one question to go along with T.C.'s about the SC as I really don't remember; was the 911 even called an SC then? I thought that model name came a year or so after the demise of the 914 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I know there was a 911S when the ill-fated 914S arose but did Porsche even use the SC name during the 914 run?

Anyway, as a nice parting gift, here's a shot of my '73 2.0's ass (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Okay, okay Mike - I give, uncle, uncle! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Nice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) ! .. now you'll have folks contacting you for where you got that badge Mike! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The 911SC started in 78, but there was a 356 Carrera SC and now there is a New 911 Model SC ( but only available in Europe)

So during the era of the 914, the 911 models consisted of 911, T, E, some leftover L, R, S, Carrera 2.7, Carrera 3.0, Carrera RS, Carrera RSR, Turbo Carrera, & Carrera RS Turbo.

Yeah - I thought the 911 SC was after the 914 era, but that the SC was a carry over from the 356 era - as I'd recently read a Hemmings "Sports & Exotics" article about a guy restoring a 911SC & it referred to the 356 Carrera SC as its predecessor.

I think the issue is really - if the SC had no conflict & had a Porsche historical context from the 50's, then why not steer everyone worldwide to that if it had more marketing cachet, or just bite the bullet on the 914S similarity to the 911S & embrace it as tying the two lines together for better sales? Not fact, just more of my pondering what if's & why not's! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Tom, you kind of opened up that can-o-worms when you originally named this Thread "Myth or Fact" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The other thing is when you talk about what Dealership Salesman called the car. I guarantee you when I walk into a Dealership, I know more about the car I'm looking at than any Salesman in the place. Car Salesman are usually the laziest dumbass's on the planet. Heck a friend of mine bought a Dodge van a couple of years ago that the Saleman & accompaning paperwork said was a V-8 when it was a V-6. Boy did they eat that.

OK back to the subject, has anybody seen a 914SC? Also what do you think SC stands for?, because even the 911 guys can't come to an agreement on that.

T.C.

Well - many people think it was just some made up myth, but it was in fact a marketing campaign, but not an actual model per se. Screwy but true! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Agree on sales staff & even managers, my point was just that was how they were trained to "up sell" from the 1.7, and that the brochures were around along with print ads for the 6+ months of the campaign's run.

914SC was like the 914S - a marketing term only, no badges .......

... my thought on this 914S & 914SC Badge debate is:
"Badges! .... We don't need no stinking Badges! Ha, ha, ha, ha....!!!!!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

TC, when I get a chance - I'll try to photo or scan the 914SC articles or parts thereof from that 914 Portfolio book I have with them in it. It was the same deal - talked up as 914SC but cars with typical Euro VW-Porsche-914 + 2.0 badges as at my first post.

OK. Now I'll throw my .02 cents in....

BTW, Tom, back in '72 it was Porsche K.G. not A.G.

Cheers,
Don

Thanx for all the info Don - just deleted repeating it here for brevity. I know it was KG then, but everyone here tends to use AG, so I was just going along with that, but probably be technically correct in these.

Clearly between what you just posted, the ads, articles, brochures & personal recollections of everybody - clearly P+A & the Brits & PKG were all over the place with the 2L 914/4 during it's first year in 73 MY!

IMHO, they should've picked something more consistent with their line-up & used either 914S or 914SC - over 914 2.0 (1.7 & 2.0 badges were only first used in 73 MY btw), so as to parallel the 911 line-up better, as well as to have the "sex appeal" of "S" or "SC" denoting the top of a particular model line - just as they did with the later 911 vs. 924, 944, 928 with similar S or SC tags, which seemed to work well for those models with no deleterious effects on the top o the 911 line S or SC. But again, just my postulating for the halibut! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Brits - where are you? We came to your aid in 1940-41, how abut returning the favor on the 914SC story!!??
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)