Garold picked up this December 1969 build 914, very cool early stuff!
Click to view attachment

#319 would be a really early car. Interested in seeing the Karman plate to figure the build date.

I will get you Karman plate info in the morning and it's 819 no 319.

Karman Number 4749544
paint code L11E

OK here are some picks.

Here it is on the lift.
Click to view attachment

Notice the front brake dust shield is different than later models. It covers the entire brake rotor.
Click to view attachment

The center tray is different than later. It doesn't have the divider in it. Also notice the contour of the lid.
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

The interior door handle is narrower. I put a later style one under to compare.
Click to view attachment

Passenger side visor doesn't have a mirror.
Click to view attachment

It has the rare(?) third seat belt option.
Click to view attachment

Also early cars didn't have liner on the targa top.
Click to view attachment

I will post more with differences between very early cars and later ones.

We need details, chassis #, color, equipment, condition, history(?), and don't forget to add the VIN to the data base.

No real history. I bought from a guy Wisconsin (North of the Dells). Said to have been in his family for sometime. It has had some so-so longitude repairs. Also looks like the passenger side front fender has been replaced. Also missing the correct rear bumper. More details tomorrow.

Click to view attachment

Way to go, you've got yourself a real early "period" car with some unique features that quickly disappeared on later cars, even of the same model year.

What are your plans for this early example?

Paul

No sure to be honest. It was bought to be a parts car, but once again I find myself questioning what should be done. It has hell hole issues, longs are repaired by someone with worse welding skills than me. Passenger front fender has been replaced. Missing the correct rear bumper. The pans are shot. Engine has single carb conversion. Has been hit in the front and needs the front nose panel repaired.

so....................

Limited Slip ??

Nope I checked it too

Garold and I went over this car on Thursday, it looks like it is pretty stock.
It did get a respray but just on the topside. I have not seen a center tray cushion like it before???
I hope someone will want this 1969 car and restore it.

The Karman number is 4749544 Paint code L11E

a few more pics of the "issues"

Interesting. This is the first early tray I've seen in an early /4. And the bottom of the cushion, which looks stock, is yet another variation of that item.
Excluding after market and the console cushion, how many different stock variations and combinations are there to fit the trays? I can think of 3 different bottoms now and at least two different vinyl grain tops.
Any 914 built in 1969 should be saved. It's as early as they get without being a prototype.

Don

Garold try listing the car as a complete sale and see if you have any interests? Would like to see it restored too. But honestly looks like a major welding project. All though 914's in worse condition have been restored.

Yep. Someone should put this on a rotisserie.

Pete

This is going to be a tough call. On the one hand, it's a very early example with some noteworthy archaeological features. It also has significant structural issues from collision and corrosion. For the foreseeable future, the cost to restore would be economically unjustifiable and historically necessary. If this were a 356 or 911 of similar chronology the decision to restore would be a no-brainer.....a 914?

I agree. I'm still on the fence. I leaning towards pulling the dash, visors, outside door handles and few other small items and seeing If I get any interst in it in that condition. If not, then I will finish parting it out and haul it off to the scrap yard.

I do have some $$ and time invested in this car, so I just can't give it away.

I used to hear the same argument back in the late 60's early 70's regarding pre-A 356's and first year 911's. Each had their teething issues of new models, but look where they are now. There may be more interest on foreign soil for these early cars as the euro guys always seem to take the lead in establishing value on these and other unusual marques. Restoring cars back in the old world has been no where near as expensive as here.
Don

Don,
I have also seen the 3 variations on the center cushion, it would be great to see more examples of 1969 cars. I have 4702900076 which was a factory car but it was turned into a 914/6 GT in 1971 by Ralph Meaney so there was no stock interior parts left in the car. I also own 9140430012 which has the tray without a divider but it did not have the center cushion when I bought it about 20 years ago.

If I read the chassis # correctly, the chassis was manufactured on the 47th week of 1969.....which works out to be the last week of November 1969. Early car, YES!

November 20?

Hey Glenn,
We met back some 20 years ago at Ski Roundtop and spoke more recently (last year) on early /6 examples. I also told you of the location of Meaney's first /6....
parts of which is now in #76. Looking forward to meeting you and Garold again at Hershey. We can talk a little more on the subject.
Don

Yes I do remember Don, you had a 914/6 with a 2.4 L S motor for sale right?
it will be good to catch up again!

Unrelated to the car but curious as to what brand lift you have there? I need one of those!!

It is a Atlas TD6MR midrise lift. I got mine from Greg Smith Equipment in Indy. Best thing I bought for my garage!

I don't know if this will help but my dad had a 1970 914 which I once decoded the vin to be about the 500th 914 made (long time ago). It had the one piece plastic center without any extra "compartments" molded in. It had the 3rd set of seat belts, and no insulation under the targa top. Can't remember the mirror on the pass. side. It did hold 19 cases of coors beer!

Garold,
Did I see (in another thread) that you might be parting out this 1970 /4? If so, some of us vultures, er, owners of early cars may be interested in some of the more unique items that that car might have. Just askin'.

I for one would like to see it saved/restored, but knowing full well the time and money commitment needed to return a car like that to just "driver quality", much less "show" condition requires a sizeable amount of effort and funds. Good luck whatever you decide.

Paul

Glenn and I parted it down to a roller. PM with what you are in needed of. I will post pictures tonight of the neat early stuff we found while parting it. We didn't cut any metal or wires. I plan to list the roller FS here this weekend. If I doesn't sell then I will finish parting and haul the rest to the scrap yard.

Yes get the pictures up...there is some seriously cool stuff.

I seriously need on of the early center trays for my early #131 914-6 !

Were the early 4's and 6's built at the same time ? I have heard stories that some of the early sixes came a month later?

From the information that I have collected the tray pictured above would have been in 914/6s built up until February 1970 or around # 250

So Thursday Glenn drove down and we started to part this 914 and look at all the one off / early 69/70 parts and photo doc it.

Some of things we knew already like the targa bar top latch is chrome not black, the center tray doesn't have a divider and cushion bottom molded to match. It has the 3rd seatbelt option and also the inside chrome door latch is narrower than later cars.

A few things we found was:

1) the pedal board is longer on the right side.
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

2) All the bolt heads for the trunk lids and under the cowl re not painted body color.
Click to view attachment

3) The two bars that bolt from under the cowl to the firewall are black, not body color
Click to view attachment

4) The interior parts are date stamped on the back side. A Pillars, B Pillars, Dash (upper & lower). I didn't find anything on the door panels, seats or backpad.

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

So mysix has that pedal board and pass visor, The floors do not have the locating lugs for the carpet, nor does the carpet have the holes.
0390 door tag 2/70

Does that chassis have carpet locating lugs ??

No it does not.