My 1975 1.8 is guards red and that is the original color. I think that is a rare color on a 914 (if original) and I wonder if it was a special order. Has anyone compiled data on original colors?

Thanks, Lloyd

I have never had a red 914, but I do not ever recall hearing of one from the factory in GR.

There are a couple of books listing/showing standard colors.
Dr Brett Johnson’s 914 …Restorer’s guide to Authenticity shows 75 MY reds as:
Malaga Red L30C
Scarlet (Mars) Red L31M
What is paint code on drivers door plate…..
Hope that helps
(Guards Red not listed on any year)

This should help:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=colors

Guards Red was never a standard color for the 914.

If yours came that way from the factory the paint code on your drivers side door jamb should read 98 or L98 (Custom Porsche Color).


PS:

Probably Scarlet or Mars red, what is the color code on the plate between the drivers door hinges?

L31M ?

Sorry, I should have known better than to post without documentation. The paint code is 98. See attachment. Some time ago I convinced myself it is guards red, so if code 98 only means it was a non-standard color, shouldn't there be a way for a body shop to order the right paint?

Click to view attachment

Guards Red has a lot of orange in it. Especially in sunlight, it will have a noticeable orange tint to it.
My 914 was Guards Red when i bought it (not original color) and i had it repainted with factory Guards Red again some 15+ years ago.

A good automotive paint shop should be able to match your color to a official paint code as long as you have some of the original color left on the car somewhere (i see paint over-spray on that tag, so its been repainted at least once).

Can you post a picture of the whole car?

Here's mine, with the wife's matching hair.


Click to view attachment

Here's a thread on code 98.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=42416

That’s really cool! How’s the condition?

and...

My 1970 is a rare Bahia Red. 914s definitely came in red.

Might be worth getting a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) from Porsche to see what the original color actually was. Sounds like it could be a Porsche color not offered that year/ model or a custom paint to order color.

john

98 means it is a Porsche color. Paint to sample would be 99.

The old CoA style does not exist anymore.
I'm not sure the new ones would be able to tell you what color car actually is/was.

some original unfaded color might be down in the fuel tank cavity region.
or if the whole body shell was not repainted at some stage should be plenty of weak half arsed spray all up under the dashboard area or under carpet along interior sills.


or poke around in engine bay. behind where the insulation pad was.
or down below underneath the engine.

depends if it had a full repaint at some stage in its career.

Testors Model Master paints makes a guards red. Great for touching up paint chips. Look up Auto Color Library. 1987 Porsche 911 came in Guards Red.Click to view attachment

Obviously a respray since there is paint bleed under the tape on the corners of the label.

I agree., see if the factory certificate of authenticity will identify YOUR 98 color

Look at the door sticker showing the serial number with the punch holes. What color are the holes?. That will be the original color.

enjoyed that link. very interesting.

there is a guards red listed there in dave p's initial post.
a 74.
makes sense. porsche introduced g red on 911s in 74.
anything before 74 could not be g red? anything after could be.

@lkeigwin - if your car is at the body shop your paint man should be able to sand down through the paint layers to see if there is anything else there under the top layers.