Hello all,

I am new to Porsche and have just bought a '74 1.8. While the car is very unmolested (owned by two people, the nurse who bought it upon her return from Vietnam in '73 and subsequently the man who bought her house a couple of years ago) it has what I assume is a typical modification- new CD player, speakers and one of those 14" rubber antennae. It seems as though the center of the dash has a plate that can be removed and replaced, yes? I assume one can find a Blaupunkt Europa or Frankfurt NOS or refurbished? Also, did they come stock with a flex antenna? A collapsable? Are they available? Any guidance would be appreciated! Thanks!!

My '74 had a [presumably] dealer-installed Blaupunkt Frankfurt and a collapsible antenna mounted just ahead of the base of the A-pillar on the driver's side.

You can find refurbished old radios on ebay or here: http://www.oldautoradio.com/NWindexDin.php...CHE&year=70

Thanks for the info. Was the antenna powered? Also, any input on the dash piece?

Appreciate your time...

The antenna is not powered. Here's the best photo I could find to show both the radio and the antenna.



Car's in the shop right now, so I can't go grab better photos...

The faceplate on this one appears to be the correct dash piece for 914, although I'm sure you can find it (or make it) cheaper! (No affiliation to that site)

Thanks a million. Everyone I find who is enthusiastic about these cars has been super helpful and I really appreciate it. Are those speakers and grilles original?

The speakers in the dooors are add on. The ones right in front of the doors are stock location. Fellow 914ers--correct me if I'm wrong. Most (but not all) of the radios and speakers and antennae were dealer add on. As long as you have a period Blaupunkt (usually Frankfurt as far as I can tell), Sapphire, or even period Motorola, or if you have $$$--a Becker, you're on the right track. My antenna is chrome with the round base that collapses down to around 12-16", and extends to around three feet. I bought a replacement one at the local auto parts store that was identical. Some guys even put on the motorized antennas, but I thing the little chrome ones are spot on for period style.

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Tommy, The Antenna is not powered & the Correct Location is on the Driver's Side.

However, Most 914's came to the US without a Radio (most of the cars that had a Factory Installed Radio were 1970 914-6s) and the Dealer would install a Radio & Antenna for a Big Profit ( Heck I remember when you could buy a Pioneer SuperTuner at a HiFi store for $79). Dealers would install the Antenna on the passenger side a lot because it was easier. If your Antenna is on the PS, I would keep it there.

T.C.

BTW

IIRC the driver's side antenna was for manual telescoping antennas, & pass. side for power antennas per the 914's radio install'n dealer service bulletin of the day (1970's) &/or 914 factory service manual.

They mostly were delivered without radios, although they could be factory ordered with either a radio & speakers/antenna, or in "radio ready" format, although most were dealer or owner/stereo shop installed.

Click to view attachment

Dealer installed had a wider variety of radios (AM, FM & AM/FM), as well as with radio + cassette or 8-Track tape decks, many being offered under the VoA's (Volkswagen of America) VPC label (Volkswagen [USA] Products Corp. - which also sold the dealer installed VPC A/C systems), with the radios & decks mfgd. for VPC by Motorola & others with VW#### model numbers on their chassis (of the radio), as you'll see at the accessories link below.

However, ALL door panel mounted speakers were DAPO add-ons!

Good info. on options & accessories here:
http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/OpEq.htm
http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/Accessories.htm

General 914 at 914 info button at the top of page here & at the Originality & History Forum area, as well as:
http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/
http://www.bowlsby.net/914/CanAm/
p914.com



PS - the radios & decks sold for the 914s would include knobs to match the lights & other dash switches & a hard plastic cover plate with the 1/2-circle cut-out for the glovebox lock & molded to match the basketweave (70-74 MYs) or brickweave (75-76 MYs) of the vinyl leatherette dash face material's pattern on the rest of the dash. If you get a vintage radio not for the 914, then you'll have to source the proper knobs & faceplate/surround from another old radio or NOS (if that's important to you). They also sold the radio install kits at dealers with the antenna, 2 oval stereo speakers which fit into the plastic speaker housings at the far L & R footwells, & all needed wiring & coax. or other antenna cable.

There are also vendors of retro look modern radios out there online & evil-bay if you want modern sounds/technology or a 3.5 mm & iPad/Phone adapter for your vintage radio (Woody's Customs in Costa Mesa CA for one will be at the Porsche Swap Meet in Anaheim at the Phoenix Club this coming Sunday & also sells on evil-bay).

http://www.bench-racing.com/html/about_us.html
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/woodyscustomshop/m.html

Also - here's an original radio set-up pic (dealer installed IIRC) of a late 73 MY 914-2.0 which is close to your 74 MY's era. There are more pix of it are in the O&H Forum under nailed threads "The few, the rare...", & you can PM the owner steve/smg914 there for more info/questions on his if needed. However, the faceplate/surround is not the plastic one shown on flip's pic above, but a backer wrapped in the actual vinyl dashface fabric (note the circular bulging).

Click to view attachment

BTW - that faceplate/surround shown as 914/914-6 at the Oldautoradio link above is NOT the correct one, but perhaps one made up by a PO or shop who installed it, cuz it's not basketweave/brickweave texture.

This pic shows the proper radio surround/faceplate & knobs from my Motorola built VPC AM/FM/8-Track from my early-73 2.0 FYI.

Click to view attachment

Good Luck!
Tom
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http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/pts/2827240251.html

period correct!

And this should work
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-356-911-91...2f2&vxp=mtr

Jeff, that seems alittle more 80s than 70s. Beautiful find though.

Could be. Not mine so idk. There are actually a few on c/l right now different years.

Nice Jeff. Not an easy task finding one in great shape, let alone new! Searched all over for the longest time, and settled for a Motorola.

How about this one?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/2875967149.html

Jeff, late 60s. I had a bookmark which listed all the Blaupunkt models by serial number, year, etc. If I can find it again, I'll post it. Had great info.