I was just thinking about body kits, because that turn indicator system on the front really doesn't do it for me. Now, I'm sure we all know about Chalons and other kits with a 924/944-esque nose, but I was just thinking: Why not get a kit that puts a 911 front nose on the 914?

Maybe someone could Photoshop it up to see what it looks like...

saw one on eBay not too long ago, for some odd reason it made the front of the car look like a Ford EXP

the lines of the body of the 914 along with the windshield do not match the curves of the 911 headlights/front fenders.

I thought the Chalon's front end was styled from the 911's front end. Looks like I learnded something today

I'm pretty sure the Chalon kit was styled to look like the slant nose 911 front end.........

which was styled(???) to look like an RX-7

yes, and that 914 with the real 911 front end looked odd at best ...
Andy

Sorry, I've been wanting to use that one...

Seriously though, I want to see what that real 911 nosed 914 looks like.. what I'm imagining in my head makes me chuckle

I dont know if you all seen my posts with the pictures of the 2 chalon front ends sitting in my driveway but if you look closely at the two, they look almost identical. The dark gray one in my driveway is actually a fiberglass 911 front end. The difference is the way they mount. I put them side by side to compare and that is the only difference I found. So yes, the Chalon front end is designed after the 911, and the Mazda RX7 was designed after the 911, not the other way around. The 911 was first. Here is a picture.

Here is a photoshoped picture of 911 parts grafted to a 914, actually mostly 930 parts. Doesnt look too bad IMHO

yeah, but that real 911 front (not slanted) looked fugly and i don't like slant nosed 911s or 914s either ...

yours is pretty tho,
Andy

I hate slant nose 911s. It robs the car of it's character. But on 914s, I wouldn't mind seeing some other 914 front ends that don't require your to remove the stylish turn signals. I think there are only two: the 916 and the IMSA.

I have not seen any slant nose kit that aesthetically worked with the rest of the 911 or 914 body because of the sharp edges that don't follow the rest of the body shape. They also eliminate much of the character of the original design. High end tuners could get away with the bold or abrupt shapes by adding other features advertising their modification capabilities.

The Chalon was an attempt to add styling to a simple 914 body. The targa "gills" try to add interest to the wide sail panel. The flares have nice shapes and full wheel openings but the DOT bumpers with bellows and rubber protrusions help date them today. I should know...

The 916 is a common body modification but why add four boxy shapes to a larger boxy shape? Probably because someone at Porsche did it 30 years ago and many people like to follow original factory ideas.

By adding a full body kit, new wheels, raking the windshield, and cutting off the targa bar you could virtually hide all of the original design (ie BBR).

The original 914 design is very unique and can be updated without a complete original design departure. How do I know this? Now I'M advertising...

Felix

Well, I didnt like the wide sail panels but I did like the gills as you call them, I cut them down and inset them so I could keep the original body lines on the rear fenders, The gray one in my "What color would you paint it" thread really caugth my eye. I like the way it looks very much and that is why I built mine just like it. I even like the color on that one but since it already exists, I am thinking of going with a different color. The color I really liked is the one that is in the lead by the way. So its looking like the car is going to be a 911 color after all.

Scott,
The grey will look great with your car and a Chalon is a perfect compliment to V8 power - looks as fast as it is.

I don't mean to dis people's rides, I just want to give more design input than it looks "good" or "bad". Even with professional training and some experience it ultimately comes down to personal taste...

Felix

This was posted here a while back. My future project.

It comes down to your own preferences and taste (or lack of). One kid I've always like (and this comment is worthless without pictures) is the Beach Boys Racing kit.

Personally, I like the stock look, or stock with hips and modifications.

Here's one

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!thats pretty

Not a teener but here's a nice 356

Its like a cross between a boxer and poodle. Fugly.

That 356/911 above reminds me of those nasty little singing monkeys that Qarl likes. The ones that did a Quizno's commercial. The combination of features just dosn't work together. Sort of like that photo of the dog with human eyes.

In my opinion, the Chalon body kit works pretty well. One minor gripe that I have had since the kit first appeared is the faux front bumper bellows. When Porsche had to come up with 5 mph bumpers for its cars in the 70's it added the bigger bumpers with bellows on the 911 and the rubber baby bumpers on the 914, neither exactly elegant. On the 911 the bellows was functional as it allows the bumper to move. Granted, with the Chalon kit, the designer wanted to add 911 elements to the 914, but why copy one of the styling weak spots, especially when it's nonfunctional, molded in rigid fiberglass? I always thought they should have omitted the bellows and carried on with the smooth lines of the rest of the design. Okay, off the soapbox.

Ok, the Chalons are from 911 slant-noses. I still call them 944-esque, because that's what they look like to me, and I want to distingush them from the fixed-headlight 911s.

look like a miata/porsche/bad trip for me.

i don't like all those mix. i mean i like the 914 lines, i like the slant nose and the normal 911, but i just can't mix them, nothing realy fit to my eyes.

just my .02$( i'm from canada, that mean even less to you, lol)

Fashion is cyclical. Automotive styling is as well. What was "not modern" and undesirable in the 80's is now "retro" and totally cool. Consider the Mini Cooper and the New Beetle. With that in mind it is obvious to me we have come full circle in automotive styling to where a stock bodied 914 is more in-style than a chalon bodied one. This also goes for the early 911s. I look at whale tails now like, "what werer you thinking?" A nice clean example of either a 914 or early 911 is totally cool and very "today" looking.

Another one...

Check these out...

vvv

mmm

rrr

I actually like the 356 with the 911-esque body. The heritage sure shines through.

On teeners, the Chalon kit seems like the only one I can stomach.

I like that red one. Is that the Rayco "Boxster" kit for the 914?

The red car is nice but to critique the design:
-The front has more mass relative to the rear end, probably because it borrowed a front end from another car
-The front flares appear to be elongated while the rears are bubble shaped.
-The slope nose edges seems to be consistent
-The lower body form is improved but you still have the same old greenhouse
-Nice modern wheels, easy update

thomasotten,
Yes there has been a resurgence of automotive "retro" design" just as there are many "retro" movies: Starsky and Hutch, Charlies Angles, etc. I do agree with you in that the 914 can easily be the "in fashion" along with the Mini and New Bug. Unfortunately the 914 design remains the unwanted Porsche child as long as Porsche caters to the affluent and conservative after the 928 and other attempts to change. Maybe it should have been a VW as it may have had a better chance for revival...
Felix

and parts would have been cheaper too!

The red number 7 car is a RedDawg kit I believe. I have seen them before. They are the ones that sell the V8 kit that bolts the engine and tranny together in a cage to install. Have not seen one yet in person or know of anyone that has one. Would like to just to get some feedback.

I want to know whether someone a Premier Marketing, Rayco, PRO SCA or other builders info packs? I can buy.

The BBR monterray that is above is a neat example of the imagination of the designer. The rear convertable cover raises up to hold the top but then it and the encased top raise up to get to the motor. Some of the fg parts are for sale on Bob Farnam's ebay BBR site but I couldn't get a answer about all the parts needed for the convertable conversion. On the garbled dvd I bought they show a aluminum frame for the top but no info as to where it comes from. When they slant the windshield back they do a neat mod to the side glass and shorten the vent window.

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The Red car is a RDR kit. I bought the front of the kit for my 73 V8 car about 9 years ago. I didn't like the RDR rear flares so I opted for Sheridan Motorsports rear quarters. Roger Sheridans parts are of higher quality and fit better. Funny thing is I just removed the RDR slope nose and replaced it with Rogers front end last week so my car looks like a 914 again like it should. I'm selling the RDR front nose and fenders if anyone is interested, PM me. Paul S.

I could carry my dirtbike on that front bumper.

Do you know how to look at the age of a thread? you keep digging up old threads asking the same question.

I'm sure that if someone here had the information you are looking for, they would have given it to you in your original thread that you started... in one of the sections. you posted the same question at least a dozen times in the Garage, in the Paddock, in the classifieds in both the parts section and the cars for sale/wanted section; and who knows where else.

rant over.

How about AA 9014?
http://www.autoatlanta.com/9014.html

Compaired to your teener?

That is sad and horribly butt ugly. Like crossing a Fiero with a Sprite... good god it gets worse the more I look at it...

How about just shaving the nose, like this car I worked on and autocrossed.