Porsche 914 & 914/6 Dashboard Gauge Clusters
Simple Elegance
Porsche 914 & 914/6
models all had a three gauge dash cluster containing a mechanical
speedometer with a 100 mm diameter case, a tachometer with a 115 mm
diameter case, and either a fuel gauge or a fuel/temp combo gauge with
a 100 mm diameter case. The actual gauges had multiple variations that
are detailed on individual gauge pages accessible via the buttons on
the left.
Prior to the Porsche 914 1974 model year, there was a stylistic
change wherein the individual gauge bezels went from a
deep, two-piece steel design to a shallow, single-piece, black-painted
steel or brass ring (which doesn't look quite as nice but
improves/solves the
rust issue). Additionally, the silver center "button" was eliminated.
The black-painted, steel gauge holder was replaced with a
black plastic version prior to the 1975 model year. This change also
impacts aesthetics, but it improved cost, reduced weight, and solved
another rust issue.
Current eBay
listings for Porsche 914 and 914/6 gauge clusters (compare listed
clusters with those
pictured on this page to ensure authenticity and model year
utilization):
Porsche
914 and 914/6 Gauge Clusters on eBAY
1970 - 1972 Porsche 914 Gauge Clusters
The VDO gauges used in the 1970-1972
Porsche 914 are commonly referred to as "silver button" or "silver
center" gauges,
because they have a silver-colored cap covering the needle pivot. Many
of the early (1970-1971) clusters contained gauges with off-white
print. As can be seen in the provided pictures (and detailed on the FUEL GAUGES page),
the fuel gauge experienced a slight cosmetic change during the 1971
model year production. The fuel gauge mechanism can be accessed by
removal of tiny screws on
the back, while the speedometer and tachometers were sealed units with
the
mechanisms accessible only by prying off the bezel. These early VDO
Porsche 914 gauges had glass lenses and deep,
two-part steel bezel rings. Problems common to these gauges are are
needle
fading, bezel ring rusting and lens fogging. The silver center button
also tends to fall off inside the gauge.
1973 Porsche 914 Gauge Clusters
The VDO gauges used in the 1973 and
very early 1974 Porsche 914
models were also "silver button" or
"silver center" gauges. To highlight the introduction
of the 2.0L engine, a 150 MPH speedometer replaced the 120 MPH gauge
delivered in the earlier cars (despite a top rated speed of only 115
MPH even in the 2.0L cars). Additionally,
the fuel level / oil temperature combination gauge was introduced, but
came only in
2.0L vehicles ordered without the optional "Appearance Group." For 1973
1.7L cars and 2.0L cars with the "Appearance Group," a standard fuel
gauge (part number 914 641 102 40) was used.
Unfortunately, plastic
lenses replaced glass near the end of the "silver button" gauge
production, presumably as a cost-cutting measure. As with the
earlier gauges. The speedometer and tachometers were sealed units, with
the mechanisms accessible only by prying off the molded steel bezel
ring. The fuel and combo gauge mechanisms can be accessed by removal of
tiny screws on the back. Needle fading, bezel ring rusting and lens
fogging/scratching remained problems (with the lens issues increasing
for units with the plastic variety). The silver center button also
tends to fall off inside the gauge.
1974 - 1976 Porsche 914 Gauge Clusters
The VDO gauges used in the 1974-1976
Porsche 914 are commonly referred to as "black center" gauges,
because they have do not have the silver-colored cap covering the
needle pivot found in the earlier style. These gauges had shallow,
painted steel (1974 to early 1975) or brass (later 1975 to 1976) bezel
rings and plastic lenses. As with the earlier style, the speedometer
and tachometers were sealed units, with the mechanisms accessible only
by prying off the molded steel bezel ring. The fuel and combo gauge
mechanism can be accessed by removal of tiny screws on the back.
Problems common to these gauges are are needle fading, lens scratching
and lens fogging.
1970 - 1972 Porsche 914/6 Gauge Clusters
The Porsche 914/6 vehicles dashboards contain silver button VDO
gauges with a 150 MPH (or 250 KPH) speedometer, and 8000 RPM tachometer
and a fuel level / oil temperature combination gauge. These clusters
were unchanged with the exception of the combo gauge which underwent
an aesthetic change late in the 1971 model year production. As with all
"silver button" gauges, the 914/6 cluster routinely suffers from needle
fading, bezel ring rusting, fogging and detatched "buttons."