73 914 Tan interior Refurbish Suggestions Options

[LPmold]

I have a 73 with the lighter color Tan interior. Its completely in need of replacement. I see carpet kits, door panels and seat kits from a few internet stores.
Looking for YOUR experienced opinion of Quality vs Price and good service??
Price matters, but not as much as fit and finish! I want to keep the factory color as close as possible. I can do some R&R, cut fit glue, etc. The more complete I can buy the better.

Thanks in advance for your comments!!

[Tom_T]

Ok folks, having been thru this name & color & materials sources morass for my own 73 914's resto, the facts are:

That in the day Porsche called the interior color "Beige" in both 72 & 74 (& I assume 73) according to the factory sales documents which can be found on Jeff Bowlsby's website. PCNA's current COA staff seem to put whatever they want on the COA's - including trying to erroneously call my #31 interior "Black" (which is actuially #11 in Porsche code) - instead of the correct "Beige" So they really don't know & eventually corrected my COA on the 3rd try! IIRC "Cinnamon" wasn't used until a slightly more swirly brown in beige/tan from the 75-76 MYs, but I never researched that myself - so check Jeff's website.

These area all NLA now, so what Rick said above is correct - you have to redo the whole interior to get a good match - either with a kit by yourself if you're skilled enough, or someplace like Autos International (AI) or World Upholstery (WU) in SoCal, or get the materials & a local shop (see below).

Next - they had 2 loop carpet colors in the tan range (not counting the brown in the 3rd pic of Dave's) - one was an all tan/beige loop as shown in Dave K's lighter one in the 1st of the pix above which they called "Tan", & the other was a flecked or oatmeal-ish tan/beige + brown blend which they called "Dark Tan" in the 2nd pic & what I have in mine, & both of which are NLA except a few bits at Auto Atlanta & maybe a few others.

Now for materials - AI & WU have a decent match for the Beige smooth leatherette vinyl & used to have it in the needed basketweave - but no longer carry the basketweave needed for the seat inserts & door panels.

So fo a perfect match on both I had to go with Lakewell.com in Europe for those & got the material which I'll have AI do my interior with at the appropriate time in my resto. Mark W./Mikey914/914Rubber didn't have any vinyl at that time last year when I finally sourced mine from Lakewell, so I cannot speak to the match.

So I'd suggest that you ask for samples from Lakewell, 914Rubber, AI & WU & any other suppliers suggested of both the smooth & basketweave (not brickweave used in 75-76) & pick the best price & match for those with both types.

Lakewell also had a dead on match for the "Dark Tan" - if that's what you have - but they lost that supply/supplier last I checked, & I'm still checking back occasionally to see if they found it again. AI & WU etc. here in the USA still sell something they call "Cinnamon" etc., but the brown flecks are way too reddish to match the 914 original look.

Lakewell still has the lighter "Tan" in both correct 914 carpet kits & roll stock & it's the good German made material which will last much longer (AI & WU etc. also carry a German made tan), & the added cost will be saved over what I've heard is about 1-2 year life on the less expensive loop pile offered here in the US as "domestic" (per other 914s who tried it then replaced).

So my go-to would be Lakewell, but Mark & the others may have found the same sources, if you want to check those too.

So your 73 interior would be #31 "Biege" with either corduroy or basketweave seat inserts (all door panels are basketweave) - & either the "Tan" or "Dark Tan" loop pile carpet (unless it's a 1.7 with the "Tan" perlon carpet - also NLA).

Hope this helps & Good Luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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