COA help.. Options

[tod914]

Hey gang, just ordered a COA for Das Frog. Seen in some other posts that these can be rather inaccurate and incomplete. Just got a phone message from the women whom is working on it, saying they are checking into a "490" option code. Electric antenna? Car was purchased with no radio. Would the dealership take that out if the client didn't want a radio and install a standard antenna? What else should I ask for on the COA when I call her back? Trans #, Engine #, ? And, is there a way to distinguish which alloy wheels came with the car; fuchs or mahle? John (orginal owner), had them swapped out for steelies.

Thanks, Tod

[JeffBowlsby]

M490 is the electric antenna.

http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/OpEq.htm

You'll get the engine # on the COA, but probably not the trans. Sometimes you can provide the trans # and if it matches the # on their Kardex, then then they might indicate it on the COA, its happened in the past.

If you are talking to Krinstina Lucas, she has replaced Kristen Richford...she seems equally as nice and very helpful.

If the options indicate 'pressure cast' alloys, that would be the Fuchs. Plain cast wheels would be Mahles for a '74.

[tod914]

Thanks Jeff. Yes, the women's name is Kristina. She seems very pleasant judging by the message she left. Said she was inquiring with Germany about the option code/s. I'll touch base with her tomorrow. Kudos on your site again. Great resource of info you compiled.

[carr914]

COA's are usually Worthless as they are mostly Incorrect & the Girls at PCNA are clueless when it comes to our cars.

I have never Seen a Power Antenna! & if your car didn't come with a Factory Radio (very few did) it didn't come with any antenna - Dealers Installed them.

Jeff, "Pressure Cast" equals Fuchs? They are Forged

[tod914]

Just got off the phone with Kristina. Based on the information she has from their database, enigine number checked out, no record of the trans number but she is going to add it on, correct paint code Ravenna green M5 with brown leatherette, rear defrost, USA equiptment, chrome bumpers, forged wheels code 485, and the 490 code which she is having Germany checking into. No mention of the center console, center seat, of fog lights on the Kardex. Would that of come packaged with the chrome bumpers? Regarding the electric antenna, the car has a non electric Hirshman on it that's been Zeibarted by the dealership prior to delivery. Thanks for the help guys.

[carr914]

Just got off the phone with Kristina. Based on the information she has from their database, enigine number checked out, no record of the trans number but she is going to add it on, correct paint code Ravenna green M5 with brown leatherette, rear defrost, USA equiptment, chrome bumpers, forged wheels code 485, and the 490 code which she is having Germany checking into. No mention of the center console, center seat, of fog lights on the Kardex. Would that of come packaged with the chrome bumpers? Regarding the electric antenna, the car has a non electric Hirshman on it that's been Zeibarted by the dealership prior to delivery. Thanks for the help guys.

I think the 490 gets them confused when their Database changed & they mixed 944 & 914 Numbers up. Pretty sure 490 relates to the Center Cushion.

And the car would not have been Ziebarted

[tod914]

Ah ok T.C., that's good to know. She mentioned there was no letter prefix on the 490 option, so we'll see what they come up with. The Ziebart crap was a mess. If I recall right, I think John said that he had them put that on. So I guess the car originally came with Fuchs. He couldn't remember which set was on the car when he purchased it. This COA is worth it to me in that regard. Clairifies the missing pieces to the puzzle.

[Gustl]

I think the 490 gets them confused when their Database changed & they mixed 944 & 914 Numbers up. Pretty sure 490 relates to the Center Cushion.

M490 is the mechanic antenna

see the 1974 price list (from Germany)



translation:
antenna mechanic on the left side with suppressor kit
128 DM (German Mark) - for the 1.8 as well as the 2.0
not available for all radios


and as the text above says:
"all radios include the suppressor kit, speakers and mechanic antenna on the left side"

so it's definitely clear, that you could order the antenna kit M490 without ordering a factory radio

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[Gustl]

Pretty sure 490 relates to the Center Cushion.

btw - the center seat cusion was 570

[tod914]

Very cool Wofgang. Thanks. Jeff's site was showing the antenna as electric. Mechanical would certianly make more sence. So it's safe to say this antenna was installed at the factory and not the dealership?

[Gustl]

I can't say if this is an evidence ... but I'd say it's a pretty good sign

if you have a mechanic antenna on the left side and your COA says 490 - I'd say bingo !

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[tod914]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Works for me.

[JeffBowlsby]

I think the 490 gets them confused when their Database changed & they mixed 944 & 914 Numbers up. Pretty sure 490 relates to the Center Cushion.

M490 is the mechanic antenna

see the 1974 price list (from Germany)



translation:
antenna mechanic on the left side with suppressor kit
128 DM (German Mark) - for the 1.8 as well as the 2.0
not available for all radios


and as the text above says:
"all radios include the suppressor kit, speakers and mechanic antenna on the left side"

so it's definitely clear, that you could order the antenna kit M490 without ordering a factory radio

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

Cool...thanks Wolfgang. I corrected the webpage...

Pressure cast = forged. Forging is casting under pressure. Fuchs were the only forged 914 wheels.

[carr914]

Ah ok T.C., that's good to know. She mentioned there was no letter prefix on the 490 option, so we'll see what they come up with. The Ziebart crap was a mess. If I recall right, I think John said that he had them put that on. So I guess the car originally came with Fuchs. He couldn't remember which set was on the car when he purchased it. This COA is worth it to me in that regard. Clairifies the missing pieces to the puzzle.

The Main Reason I critize the COA is the last 2 for me were Incorrect - My 74 Carrera RS didn't come back as a Carrera, even though the Numbers were correct. One of my -6s didn't state the Correct Interior & even when I provide proof they wouldn't correct it. Fortunately they offered a Money Back Guarentee, so I made a Copy & got my money back

I think the 490 gets them confused when their Database changed & they mixed 944 & 914 Numbers up. Pretty sure 490 relates to the Center Cushion.

M490 is the mechanic antenna

see the 1974 price list (from Germany)

translation:
antenna mechanic on the left side with suppressor kit
128 DM (German Mark) - for the 1.8 as well as the 2.0
not available for all radios


and as the text above says:
"all radios include the suppressor kit, speakers and mechanic antenna on the left side"

so it's definitely clear, that you could order the antenna kit M490 without ordering a factory radio

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

I thought that Steve Gaglione disproved this ( but my memory escapes me)

[dlkawashima]

Pressure cast = forged. Forging is casting under pressure. Fuchs were the only forged 914 wheels.

Jeff, that explanation confuses me because it seems contrary to the window stickers that you have on your site.
Are the Mahle wheels used on the 914 LE cars forged or cast?

The early, loaded 1973 914 2-liters, which all should have come
with Fuchs all say "FORGED ALLOY WHEELS"


The 1974 Limited Editions, which should have come
with Mahles, all say "PRESSURE CAST ALLOY WHEELS"

[carr914]

Pressure cast = forged.

Totally Incorrect!

[Tom_T]

Tod, send her pix of both the engine & transaxle case #'s & they may put both on your COA. Also check the other color & equipment codes vs. actual on the car. It took me 3 tries & a call to the Customer Care GM to get them to correct their erroneous interior color to Beige using Jeff's pix of dealer color code docs. Froggy & mine have the same code.

It's beyond me why somebody would by a fully equipped 914-2.0 & opt off the Fuchs 2L wheels for steelies!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

I can understand if they preferred ta straight-up trade for the Pedrini's or Mahle Baby-Gasburners .... but steelies!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

.

Dave, that 73 window sticker is for VIN...15228, out of some 27,660 in 73, so I'm guessing it's about Jan-Mar 73 build date.

In deference to TC who worked at dealerships in the `70's IIRC, & to Jeff's unparalleled research - I can't say if they meant Fuchs by the "pressure cast" nomenclature, because we're talking about translation for German to English, and then variances by whomever did the Munroney sticker at the POE - of which there were always wide variations of wording, terms & even errors back in the day (they're much more consistent & accurate today on new cars).

But Yes, they did offer the Fuchs 2L wheels painted with the centers in orange, yellow & ?? as an option for any 914, including 74 LE's. In fact on Jeff's LE website he shows the Japan market LE - all of which were equipped with Fuchs 2L painted in the centers.

There was also a member on here who posted a pic of the day they took delivery of a 914 mounting Fuchs 2L's with the painted centers, & IIRC it was a 74 2.0 non-LE car.

Lastly, I have a set of the orange center Fuchs 2L wheels which I'd bought off a guy with a 75 or 76 which had them on from the factory, which I'd planned on stripping & refinishing by Al Reid for my 2L's resto. But I picked up SoCalAndy's set of already refinished ones by Al Reid, & they're now surplus to me.

So I'll just sell those to somebody who want the Signal Orange & will restore them as such. IIRC I posted pix of them on the O&H wheels & tires thread as an FYI on type.

BTW - one way to tell the factory painted ones, is that they used to proper aluminum yellow-green zinc-chromate primer, the same stuff as used on aluminum aircraft skins & parts, under the the color coat paint.



(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

The ones I have, a DAPPO had painted them over in silver, then the PO/seller cleaned the silver off of 4 of them ...



(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[dlkawashima]

Tom, you can go to Jeff's Can Am registry page and click on any of the "WS" links. They all say the same thing: "PRESSURE CAST ALLOY WHEELS."

Jeff Bowlsby's Can Am Registry

Steve Gaglione's Sahara Beige 914 is one of the best documented cars out there. We know his car came with Fuchs, and the window sticker reflects this:


I checked the '74 model year window stickers to see if the use of FORGED ALLOY WHEELS was dropped, but here's a '74 with the terminology still in use:

[Tom_T]

Like I said Dave, I don't know which & didn't want to get between them on forged vs. pressure cast, but did want to answer your question about whether the ever painted the Fuchs in LE style. IIRC you could special order them too in body color match of any color, but not positive on that.

Unfortunately I never got the window sticker & other dealer docs from the original buyer/seller of mine back in 12/75 - not even the center console/gauges, foglights/grills/switch & Fuchs wheels, owners manual & service records were there with the car, and it was only 3 years old when I bought it.

Tod - here's the 1st, 2nd & 3rd latest corrected COAs on mine FYI, in the pix below (#31 was Beige & #11 was Black).

The problem with the "fully loaded" AG+PG optioned early "914S" marketed models, was that PCNA won't list the "included options" on any of these "special equipment/package models" on the COAs. Same for LE's, 911 RS's, etc. - so you're stuck with verifying what was included on them yourself, which is what I had to do in my research on what & how to properly restore my early`73 914-2.0/"914S" - before spending loads of cash to replace the missing items noted above & restore them.

#1 - no 2.0 designation - PCNA demanded pic of engine case # to match to Kardex before adding it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)


.

#2 - added 2.0, but PCNA manager refused to correct the interior color to Beige! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)


.


#3 - corrected interior color, but only after contacting PCNA's GM Customer Service, & no other "included options" added! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

.

Friggin' PITA!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Poor Pat Garvey is still trying to get PCNA to correct what they're supposedly calling "Norwegian Equipment" on his 72 914/4, whatever that is.....?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)



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[JeffBowlsby]

Pressure cast = forged.

Totally Incorrect!

TC...you are technically right...thanks for busting my chops right before a long holiday... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) An explanation...

The window stickers are accurate, but the use of the word 'pressure' is confusing because pressure is used in both the forging and casting processes.

The 2.0L Fuchs are the only factory supplied 914/4 forged alloy wheel. As I understand it, forging aluminum involves molding the aluminum alloy using great pressures (hence the confusion), with or without heat, into the desired molds. Forging alters the grain stucture of the alloy to be finer and of greater unit strength than non-forged alloys.

From here: http://www.aluminum.org/Content/Navigation...ngs/default.htm

'Pressure cast' 914 wheels are the Pedrinnis and Mahles. Again as I understand it, the process is more properly called 'die casting' where molten aluminum alloy is injected into molds under pressure. Die cast alloys are not as strong as forged alloys and the grain structure is not as dense.

From here:
http://www.aluminum.org/Content_bk100511/C..._Things_to1.htm