Launch of the 914 - 1969 frankfurt auto show., - period photographs Options

[wonkipop]

@JeffBowlsby

i came across this collection of photos searching for documentation on the 1973 frankfurt auto show (can am cars).

i've seen one or two of these photos before but not this entire collection of shots.

[wonkipop]

it would appear this is Kurt Lotz, CEO of VW sitting in the drivers seat.

[JeffBowlsby]

it would appear this is Kurt Lotz, CEO of VW sitting in the drivers seat.

I've seen that man with the handlebar mustache too...whats his name?

Great find.

[wonkipop]

it would appear this is Kurt Lotz, CEO of VW sitting in the drivers seat.

I've seen that man with the handlebar mustache too...whats his name?

Great find.

man with mo looks like Huschke von Hanstein from Porsche.



looking closely at cars it looks like none of them have cowl seams on fenders.
very early production or even pre production early run cars.

i can recognize the red/orange 6 with mahle gasburners.

its this car.

[Osnabruck914]

In the 2nd,3rd, and 4th black and white photos, why does the front ride height look so goofy high?

Thurman

[dgw]

In the picture with the front trunk open there is a cover over the fuel tank. I've never seen that so I assume that did not make it into production. Anybody know?

[wonkipop]

In the 2nd,3rd, and 4th black and white photos, why does the front ride height look so goofy high?

Thurman

standard set up for 4s.
mine was still that way when i bought it in 1989.
seemed to be the 4s set up like that.
6s looked like they were set up level.
easy explanation i think.
porsche assembled suspension into their cars along with engines.
set up the cars to be optimum.
my view is VW engineers insisted on dialed in understeer for what they felt would be less experienced drivers.
also VW set up all their rear engined cars nose up - for loads in frunk?
don't forget these early cars ran on very skinny standard VW rims and tyres back then.
155s on 4.5 inch rims. combine that with a fairly modest engine power output from a 4 and you have to be a very skilled driver to control a spin - which happens quickly in a mid engined car. my view is VW put its foot down on the VW models.
in europe the 4 was sold at VW dealerships and the 6 at porsche dealers.
different marketing set up than the USA where they were all sold at the porsche-audi dealer.

whatever the reason its the way they were from new out of the karmann factory. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[wonkipop]

In the picture with the front trunk open there is a cover over the fuel tank. I've never seen that so I assume that did not make it into production. Anybody know?

these are very early cars.
there are a few things that are different in detail.
if you look closely the seam has been smooth filled between the cowl and the front mudguards (fenders in american english (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )
rear shock struts don't have rubberized caps on them in rear trunk.
the rear view mirrors look they are stuck on the windscreen about half way down!!!!
maybe early cars were like that. don't know.
old reviews from car magazines when cars first released to the press also seem to show the frunk fully carpeted.

don't think they are pre production cars but they could be.
the giveaway photo shows one of the cars with its left hand side door open.
there is no karmann production plate fixed in the door jamb like production cars.
so maybe very early pre production cars prepared in advance for the launch.
or they could just be very early in the production run.
but if they were they would have the karmann tags in my view.
the frankfurt show is sept. production would have started in august.