which 914's have "porsche" lense?

[wag]

I've been checking out the 914 in classifieds and looking at galleries all over the web of pics of 914's and i have a question that i cant seem to figure out. exactly which 914's have the "Porsche" lense (or quasi-lense) at the rear? between the
rear bumper and the rear trunk lid.

do only the 1.8 and 1.7's have that lense? i cant recall ever seeing a stock-2.0 with that lense. is it a preferred cosmetic feature? does it actually light up (kinda ricey, imho).

thanks

[no substitute]

I believe this was an aftermarket add on for all three engine types. Some one correct me if I am in error.

[AaronM]

None of them.

Some of the lenses were dealer-installed (or so I have heard) but precisely zero 914's left the factory with the red "PORSCHE" reflector in the rear.

Depending upon who did the addition, the stock pushbutton trunk release may have been replaced with either an electric solenoid (as on my car) or with a cable for a remote pull. I would imagine that somewhere, someone has wired lights into it so that it comes on with the parking lights, but I have only seen them be non-illuminated.

Most people whom I have talked with consider the reflector addition to be the 914 equivalent of those silly used-car lot "pinstripes".

Aaron

[wag]

Originally posted by AaronM
None of them.



Most people whom I have talked with consider the reflector addition to be the 914 equivalent of those silly used-car lot "pinstripes".

Aaron

hahahaha

[AaronM]

Originally posted by wag
hahahaha

Sadly, my car has the reflector and solenoid setup.

Generally, I'm of the opinion that if the reflector setup works, it's a lot less trouble to leave it alone than to replace it with the correct set-up. No need to go around inventing problems with it.

Aaron

[Scooter311]

Heya
IIRC, they were aftermarket (two styles, black letters and 'ghost' letters??), and some have taken a 911 reflector and cut it down to fit the 914.
I have a reflector on mine, but I'm not sad though.

[Scott S]

Before you install one, please make sure you like it. I have never seen so many bloody holes when I removed the one installed on my car by the PO. It was work to get that panel straight again. Not for me - hate 'em.

[BURN-BROS]

Ditto, I have a 76 that had it done. The holes that are aparently required to mount the thing are quite large. The double sided tape out there would have been a better solution to mount it.

[Kenny Powell]

Originally posted by BURN-BROS
Ditto, I have a 76 that had it done. The holes that are aparently required to mount the thing are quite large. The double sided tape out there would have been a better solution to mount it.

There are after market one's that are offered now that are specific to the 914(that don't require the hole's drilled) I have one on mine.......I like it!(although it is the one that required the hole's to be drilled)

[Joe Bob]

The air conditioning, front badges, rear reflector and radios were dealer or owner installed items.

The rear reflectors were 911 ones that were cut down...in most cases. There were aftermarket 914 ones made for a period of time. You can get a cable pull for the relase instead of the solenoid, drill a hole for the push button or a smaller hole for a nail to be used when the solenoid fails...which IT WILL.

A lot of people will install the solenoid button in the rear of the car under the license plate....rear decklids sometimes need a push down to release when the solenoid is activated....two person job if the solenoid is in the cabin.....unless you have long arms....

[jhadler]

Originally posted by mikez
The air conditioning, front badges, rear reflector and radios were dealer or owner installed items.

"Radios"? That's something that I always wondered about. Were radios included from the factory or were they strictly dealer installed intems?

I always thought they were factory items, have I been wrong? (wouldn't be the first time...).

-Josh2

[Joe Bob]

Radios were NOT factory.....just "period" correct......decade of the 8 Trac....

[SGB]

I used to like them less untill I saw the one I saw on my brothers 911. If it is done well, it is OK. I don't have one on my car though, or a front crest. I think the crest looks out of place on a 914.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by jhadler
"Radios"? That's something that I always wondered about. Were radios included from the factory or were they strictly dealer installed intems?

Yes, no, maybe so... Brett Johnson lists out a number of radios that were original equipment to the 914. I don't know where he got that info.

My guess (and it is just a guess!) is that some 914s did have radios installed by the factory, while most were ordered without. Then the dealers (or importer?) put a radio in. I'm betting there was a higher dealer profit margin in a dealer-installed radio than a factory-installed one.

--DD