All
Porsche® 914 models were delivered with a
115mm (4.5 inch) VDO
tachometer.
As with all Porsche 914 gauges, the tachs are black-faced with white print and a red-orange
needle, although some 1970-1972 units had off-white print (no part number
differentiation). The tachometer houses the high beam and turn signal
indicators. Like most Porsche 914
VDO gauges, the tachometer is a sealed unit with the mechanism accessible only
through prying off the molded bezel ring. Problems pervasive to 914
tachs include needle bouncing, needle fading, lens fogging and lens
scratching.
Current
eBay listings for Porsche 914 tachometers (compare with items on this
page to determine year and ensure authenticity):
The
1970-1973 and very early 1974 Porsche 914 tachometer is commonly referred to as
a "silver button" or "silver center" gauge, because
it has a
silver-colored cap covering the needle pivot. These units have deep bezel
rings and the majority have glass lenses, although the tachs installed
in late model year 1973 914s frequently had plastic lenses. The early 914/4 tachs, designated
part number 914 641 302 10, have a 7000 RPM maximum and 5600-5800
redline, regardless of engine size (1.7 or 2.0L). Some of
these early units had off-white print with no part number
differentiation (white print gauge shown at top right, off-white print
gauge shown in fourth picture down). As with all "silver button" gauges, the two-piece,
painted steel bezel on these units is prone to rust. For reference, the tachometer illustration
from the 1972 Porsche 914 owner's manual is reproduced at bottom right.
The 1974-1976 Porsche
914 tach 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 units, bearing part number 914 641 302 12, have
shallow, black-painted steel or brass bezel rings and plastic lenses that are prone to scratching. It
is possible that some of the later tachometers came from the factory
with glass lenses, but I have never seen one. These tachs also have a 7000 RPM maximum with a 5600-5800 RPM
redline, regardless of engine size (1.8 or 2.0L). For reference, the tachometer illustration
from the 1974
Porsche 914 owner's manual is reproduced at bottom right.
P914
currently has a 1974-1976 Porsche 914 VDO tachometer available in the SALES
section.
The
Porsche 914/6 models were all equipped with
an 8000 RPM maximum tachometer with an (approximately) 6300-6500 RPM
redline. The Porsche 914/6 tach, designated part number 914 641 301 10,
is the
same "silver button" style as the early 914/4 units. In
another documentation mistake, the tachometer illustration in the
Porsche 914/6 owner's manual (reproduced at right) shows the redline in
the wrong location -- 6400-6600 RPM versus the actual gauge on which the
redline is 6300-6500 RPM.
The 914/6 tachometer is nearly identical to the 1970-1974 Porsche 911T
tachometer, although the redline is slightly narrower (6300-6500 RPM v.
6300-6600 RPM) and the Porsche 911T tach had either part number 911
641 301 00 or 911 641 301 01, depending on the model year (a Porsche
911T tachometer is pictured at bottom right for comparison).
As with all "silver button" gauges, the two-piece,
painted steel bezel on these units is prone to rust.
