My perspective on 15 reasons why NOT to backdate the late-style bumpers, in no particular order, anyone is free to disagree. Assuming your car is not a race car or customized hot rod:
1. Loss of the cars originality - impossible to get originality back once its lost
Don't care. Not ever going to try to get the originality back.
2. Loss of the cars front/rear safety bumper equipment
Have you seen what happens to a late model 914 in a minor crash? Not much of a loss...
3. Loss of the cars value – both resale and long term
Mine's worth much more than before...
4. Loss of the cars integrity – attempting to make a late-model 914 something it is not
Not concerning and I'm not pretending.
5. Loss of time spent to perform the backdating
I had the time and enjoyed spending it.
6. Loss of money spent to perform the backdating
Money, thank goodness, is not a big concern for me...
7. Loss of early bumper parts that are only correct on early 914s
those cars are V E R Y long gone...
8. Loss of better aerodynamics of the late front bumper
My car is much faster now and they weren't that much better aerodynamically.
9. Requires at least selective painting where bumper side brackets are removed
Done. Not really that difficult.
10. Requires mods to chassis for early front/rear bumper mounting hardware
Easy peasy...
11. Requires mods to chassis for early foglights mounting hardware
Done. Easy peasy...
12. Requires mods to chassis for early horn(s) mounting hardware
No it doesn't. Mine are still right where they were under the car...
13. Requires custom wiring harness to adapt early foglights to 75-76 chassis harness
Whew! That was a tough 15 minutes...
14. Requires custom wiring harness to adapt early license plate lights to 75-76 chassis harness
Really? Next...
15. Creates remnant holes through chassis from removed bumper shocks
Which I patched and painted.