Many 914 owners choose tartans in various color schemes as their seat upholstery. I personally do not have tartan in my car, however I appreciate the look, especially if the scheme is well coordinated with the color of the car, but I have always wondered why "Scottish Tartan" in a "German Car" ???

Can someone elaborate as to how this all started? Were tartan interiors an original option? Was a Scottish owner the first to install it and it just caught on? Did a Scottish dealership come up with this idea? Did a frugal owner, who needed to redo his seats, look around the house for material and only came up with a bolt of tartan his wife was saving for some Highland Games costumes?

Sorry for my ignorance, just puzzled by this clash of cultures.

I will await enlightenment while sipping a wee dram.

Osnabruck914

1969 - early 70s. Bell bottoms, plaid was in. So was

Somewhere I have a terrible photograph of me in plaid bell bottoms that my mom must have bought for me

You're not alone. My mom bought me those same pants. I have burned every photograph of me wearing them

Osnabruck914

Absolutely!

https://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/PaintFabrics.htm

https://vintageuro.com/when-german-engineer...tan-upholstery/

Thanks SirAndy for clearing that up.

Osnabruck914

We have an original tartan seat in our hoard, so can verify they did come from Porsche that way.

But, how about Pasha? Anyone have a Pasha 914? Wonder what that would look like.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/11178...sha-only-3.html

Never mind, answered my own question.

Some look very natural in tartan not my car tho Click to view attachment

This is making a better case for sequined rather than tartan seats IMO...

Anyway I'm so glad Osnabruck brought his up because I have never understood the reason for the fascination with tartan. No I can enjoy it a bit more in my own car which has tartan centers on the seats.

Pete

Pictures must be posted!!

They were a 75 and 76 only option. Looks great in the cars i think.

Correct, Not sure how many cars were factory with the plaid ,but it looks good when done correctly.
I thought that resurrecting the material was worthwhile, so we did. Now we can get you all the tartan you want!! EVEN THROWS!

My 75 had them as original equipment.

My 75 VW Sirocco also came with Orange plaid seats.

Another shot prior to carpet and the restored center console.

Bill, thats a great looking /6!!! i hope you plan on bringing it to Okteenerfest this year so we can see it in person.

Phil

Thats the 1975 914 4 that i sold last year. It was a really nice car and now lives in Seattle.

Click to view attachment
It just looks good

My 1973 VW Westfalia Orange camper that I got delivery in Germany at camper factory.

Great fun in Europe for 90 days

Bob B
Click to view attachment

Does anyone know what years the tartan cloth was available?

75 and 76 only

the tartan in 914s was a spillover from the new scirocco which started production in late 74 as a 75 model. at the karmann factory. it was part of the whole new design and look of VWs that were going water cooled. i could be wrong but i think the scirocco was the first water cooled to go into production. might have even beat the golf. not entirely positive on that.

I’ve purchased Tartan fabric for my seats, but they were refinished so well in leather, that I hate tearing them apart.

The pattern was designed by the government of Scotland for people involved in the ballistic submarine base at Holy Loch to wear. I managed to sneak in, having tore my ACL on the first liberty out to Danoon. It’s green and blue and should go well with Alaska Blue Metallic.