Numbers/914 Options

[partwerks]

I always wondered where they came up with the idea of 914?

[davep]

Do you mean 'why is the car numbered 914'?
Perhaps because it was the 14th project on the 900 series.
Back in the early 1960's Porsche and VW were closely tied in marketing and service. Integrating the part number systems it was found that the 900 series category was the only one that VW was not using. Since they were already up on the 800 series of desings anyway, a new start at 900 was begun. The 900 designation was for common parts, the 901 was the new 6 cylinder car, and the 902 was the new 4 cylinder car. These were later changed to 911 & 912 in Nov 1964 due to Peugeot's trademark on x0x model numbers.

[Slider]

I heard since Peugeot had the trademark on 90x series numbers in France and they threatened Porsche with a lawsuit if they introduced the 901 in france .. Porsche decided instead of renaming just the french porsches to something else they went to the 911 for all markets

Do you mean 'why is the car numbered 914'?
Perhaps because it was the 14th project on the 900 series.
Back in the early 1960's Porsche and VW were closely tied in marketing and service. Integrating the part number systems it was found that the 900 series category was the only one that VW was not using. Since they were already up on the 800 series of desings anyway, a new start at 900 was begun. The 900 designation was for common parts, the 901 was the new 6 cylinder car, and the 902 was the new 4 cylinder car. These were later changed to 911 & 912 in Nov 1964 due to Peugeot's trademark on x0x model numbers.

[Gustl]

I heard since Peugeot had the trademark on 90x series numbers in France and they threatened Porsche with a lawsuit if they introduced the 901 in france .. Porsche decided instead of renaming just the french porsches to something else they went to the 911 for all markets

from my knowledge Peugeot had the international trademark on x0y numbers
remember cars like the 403 - the car of Lt. Columbo

even today Peugeot calls his cars 207, 307, 407, 807 ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif) Gustl

[Johny Blackstain]

I've heard these stories as well- the Peugeot/Porsche lawsuit & also the 14th project of the 900 series. I read Peugeot won the suit so Porsche changed the 901 to 911. Only Peugeot gets to sell street cars w/ an "0" in the middle, but Porsche was allowed to continue to build their race cars w/ "0"- hence the 904, 906, 907, 908 & even a 909.
This leads me back to an old question I've asked here before- What is a 913? Is there such a thing? For that matter, what's a 905? I ask because I know a 915 is a transmission. Be nice if the factory explained this someplace.

[Gustl]

For that matter, what's a 905? I ask because I know a 915 is a transmission. Be nice if the factory explained this someplace.

905 is the early Sporto tranny, used from the 1968-1971 911 Sportos (all types) and the 1972+73 911 T Sporto
there were various variations - the 905, 905/20 and 905/21

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif) Gustl

[davep]

905 is the sportomatic version of the 901 transmission.
I don't recall the 913 off the top. However, not all project #'s were used for their own products. The first project # was 7 so that it looked like they had more experience under their belt. The progression of project #'s was not perfect. Hm, the first 901 off the line was 300007 on 1964/09/14. For the first several years the VIN sequence was not the production completion sequence. I have no idea how long that continued or whether it affected 914 production.

[Johny Blackstain]

It is quite a mass of confusion- odd for a bunch of Germans (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) . I also believe that the designation 916 is both a car & a tranny. Take a 915, flip it around (inside & out) & add that special tail housing & you have the tranny the factory put into the 916. I guess because of that custon tailpiece they used the designation to describe the tranny as well?