Porsche 914 & 914/6 Speedometers
Mechanical Efficiency
All Porsche 914 models were
delivered with a VDO mechanical speedometer. These gauges are
black-faced with white print and a red-orange needle, although as with
all 1970-1971 Porsche 914 and
914/6 dash cluster gauges, some units had off-white print
(there is no part number differentiation for print color). They contain
a 5-digit odometer, a 4-digit trip
odometer and the parking light indicator. Like the combination and
fuel gauges, the speedometer case is 100 mm in diameter. Speedometers
are sealed units with the mechanisms accessible only by prying off the
molded bezel ring. Problems pervasive to all 914 speedometers include
odometer failure, needle fading, lens fogging and lens scratching.
NOTE: The MPH and part
number information provided below relates to
US specification vehicles.
Current eBay
listings for Porsche 914 and 914/6 speedometers (compare listed gauges
with those
pictured on this page to ensure authenticity and model year
utilization):
Porsche
914 and 914/6 Speedometers on eBAY
Inquiring Minds...
In case you were wondering (unlikely),
the trip odometer reset cable provided in the 1970-1973 model year
Porsche 914 and 914/6 vehicles differed from that which came with the
1974-1976 cars. The earlier version was 320 mm long and had a metal knob
secured with a tiny (and we mean small) set screw. The later
type was 240 mm long and had a plastic knob that snapped over a plastic
retainer. A comparison picture is provided to the right.
1970 - 1972 Porsche 914 Speedometers
The 1970-1972 Porsche 914 speedometer
is a 120 MPH unit commonly referred to as a "silver button" or "silver
center" gauge, because it has a silver-colored cap covering the needle
pivot. These US specification (MPH) gauges were assigned one of the
following part numbers: 914 641 503 10 for 165 x 15 tires
(1970 example pictured) or either 914
641 503 11 ('70-'71) or 914 641 505 11 ('72) for 155 x 15 tires (also
pictured). They have glass lenses and deep bezel
rings. As noted above, some early 120 MPH units had off-white print; a
picture comparing the two print tones is provided at right. As
with all "silver button" gauges, the two-piece, painted steel bezel on
these units is prone to rust.
The 120 MPH units are not quite as susceptible to
odometer failure, because the internal odometer drive gears and shaft
are metal (shown in sixth picture). More failure-prone plastic was used
for these components in the 150 MPH gauges (both "silver button" and
"black center" styles). Still, odometer (and trip odometer) failure
rate is high on all Porsche 914 speedometers, because the metal gear
that is press-fit onto the odometer drive shaft tends to loosen over
time. This can be repaired, but it is a time-consuming task requiring
as good deal of patience and care during gauge disassembly and
reassembly.
1973 Porsche 914 Speedometers
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 rated top speed of only 115
MPH even in the 2.0L cars). Some of these gauges, part number 914 641
505 20, had plastic lenses instead of
glass. As with all "silver
button" gauges, the two-piece, painted steel bezel on these units is
prone to rust. Additionally, the odometer drive gears and shaft were
constructed of plastic, making them more prone to failure (see the 120
MPH and 150 MPH internals comparison picture at right).
1974 - 1976 Porsche 914 Speedometers
Speedometers used in the 1974-1976
Porsche 914 1.8 and 2.0L models 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,
part number 914 641 505 30, are all 150 MPH units. They have shallow,
black-painted steel or brass bezel rings and plastic lenses that are
prone to scratching. It is possible that some of these later
speedometers came from the factory with glass lenses, but we have never
seen one. These "black center" 150 MPH speedometers also have
plastic odometer drive gears and shafts as pictured.
1970 - 1972 Porsche 914/6 Speedometers
The Porsche 914/6 speedo is a
150 MPH unit nearly identical to the 1973 "914S" style, but all had a
glass lens and a different part number: 914 641 506 00. Also
pictured is a 250 KPH European spec
Porsche 914/6 speedometer, part number 911 641 501 00.