Porsche 914 Factory Jacks
Going Up?
As one would expect, Porsche 914 automobiles came with a jack mounted
in the rear trunk. The jacks were all manufactured by Bilstein, but
there were several variations throughout the Porsche 914 production
run. Jacks are operated by inserting the steel bar into the
vehicle's longitudinal jacking tube on whichever side is appropriate
and raising. The entire side of the car is lifted, so great care should
be taken in chucking the wheels on the opposite side. Similar jacks
were also used in VW and other
Porsche vehicles of the era.
Current eBay
listings for Porsche 914 jacks (compare listed items with those
pictured on this page to ensure authenticity):
Porsche
914 and 914/6 Jacks on eBAY
Lever Jacks: 1970 - Mid 1972
The 1970 through mid 1972 Porsche 914 and Porsche 914/6 models came equipped with a lever-style jack. This Bilstein device was operated by inserting the straight end of the lug wrench tommy bar (or the tapered end of the actual lug wrench for the 914/6) into the appropriate tube on the jack and levering the car up or down. This is the same jack issued with several Volkswagen models during that time period. Note that the 914 lever jacks pictured are not in the best shape.
Be aware that there were similar jacks used in
earlier Porsche and VW applications that are not correct for the
Porsche 914 or 914/6 (although they will function properly with the 914
series). Primary differences in these older Bilstein jacks include a
single handle-insert design or a shorter insertion bar. We've included
some example pictures to help you differentiate the models.
Transitional Crank Jacks: Late 1972 - Early 1973
The most dramatic jack change occurred late in the 1972 model year
when the lever-style jack was replaced with a screw-based crank jack
(also produced by Bilstein). This device was operated by turning the
integrated handle in the appropriate direction to lift or lower the
car. This jack provides smoother, easier lifting. Apparently the jack
design was still evolving slightly during the late 1972 and early 1973
model year production run, as there was a variation in the handle of
some of the jacks issued with these cars when compared with the
generally accepted 914 crank jack equipping most of the 1973-1976
Porsche 914 models. The "green dot" at the top of the handle is
actually a plastic cover that hides and protects the handle attachment.
This plastic cover should be present on all Porsche 914 crank jacks.
Early Crank Jacks: 1973 - Early 1975
The remainder of the 1973 through early 1975 Porsche 914 models
came equipped with a crank jack incorporating a flat, broad handle that
is triangular in shape. A comparison picture is provided juxtaposing
this more common handle style to the "transitional" handle style.
Late Crank Jacks: Late 1975 - 1976
Later 1975 and 1976 Porsche 914 vehicles came equipped with a jack that
was identical to the prior style with the exception of the metal cap
that covers the top sprocket and handle gear mechanisms. This cap,
while still silver and stamped with the curved "Bilstein" name
(although this label is hard to see in the provided picture), was
attached differently and therefore had two "dimples" in it. The
provided comparison picture shows the caps on the three variations of
the Porsche 914 Bilstein crank jacks.