914 Owner’s Guide
The Finishing Touches: Making Your Porsche 914 Look as Good as It Drives
The PMB Porsche 914 Series | Part Four
If you missed the earlier parts of the PMB Porsche 914 Series, start with Part One, How to Buy Your First Porsche 914, then read Part Two, What to Do With Your First Porsche 914, and Part Three, How to Revive Your Porsche 914.
You don’t need a $100,000 restoration to have a beautiful Porsche 914.
Sometimes the biggest transformations come from the simplest improvements. |
Sometimes the biggest transformations come from the simplest improvements. A fresh carpet kit, beautifully restored wheels, new upholstery, or even a weekend spent detailing can completely change the character of a tired looking 914. And this is coming from the people who perform concours-level restorations for a living. At PMB Performance, we’ve seen everything from beautifully preserved factory-original cars to six-figure custom builds. One thing we’ve learned is that a spectacular-looking 914 doesn’t necessarily require a spectacular budget. |
What it does require is a plan, a little patience, and knowing where to spend your money.
First, Have a Vision
Before ordering your first cosmetic part, ask yourself a simple question: What kind of 914 do I want?
Maybe you’re a purist who appreciates factory colors, original upholstery, and four-lug wheels. Perhaps you believe originality will preserve the car’s long-term value.
Or maybe you’d prefer something uniquely yours. A set of Fuchs wheels, sport seats, a slightly lower stance, or a color Porsche never offered in 1973.
Neither approach is wrong.
We encourage our restoration customers to develop a vision for their cars while they’re on our waiting list. Knowing what you want before you start spending money establishes priorities, helps control the budget, and keeps you from buying things twice.
Start with the Interior. It’s Where You Spend Your Time.
If I had a mechanically sound 914 and a limited cosmetic budget, I’d probably start inside.
A fresh carpet kit is one of the biggest improvements you can make for the money. From factory-style Perlon and German square weave to contemporary materials and colors, there are plenty of choices. It’s also a relatively straightforward project for the home enthusiast.
While the carpet is out, inspect the floors for corrosion and moisture. This is also a good opportunity to consider appropriate sound-deadening and insulation materials.
Basketweave leather and fresh carpet make this 914 a place you want to spend time. |
Next? Seats. Factory basketweave upholstery is timeless, and we’ve seen stunning interiors using tartan inserts, leather, and custom materials. But after fifty-plus years, collapsed seat foam and worn bolsters can make even attractive original seats uncomfortable. Personally, I like a seat with slightly more pronounced bolsters. It gives the interior a sportier appearance and provides additional support when you’re enjoying your favorite canyon road. |
Door panels can often be recovered at home, and smaller upholstery pieces are relatively approachable. Dashboards are trickier. Anyone who’s removed a 914 dashboard knows Porsche hid mounting nuts in places you wouldn’t believe!
Don’t overlook the seatbelts, either. Properly fitted replacements can improve both safety and convenience.
You don’t need an extravagant leather interior to make a 914 beautiful. A quality carpet kit and a great-looking pair of seats can transform the entire driving experience.
At PMB, we offer everything from factory-style carpet and upholstery materials to replacement seats and interior restoration components. These are the same kinds of improvements we recommend to customers who want to make their 914 feel new again without committing to a complete restoration.
Wheels: The Biggest Exterior Transformation
I’m convinced a wheel change can completely redefine the personality of a 914.
Before jumping into five-lug conversions, consider restoring your original four-lug Fuchs, Mahle, or Pedrini alloys. We’ve seen beautifully painted Pedrini wheels with polished accents that will stop you in your tracks. Keeping your original configuration also saves a considerable amount of money.
But let’s face it. A narrow-body 914 sitting on five-lug Fuchs wheels is about as good-looking as these cars get.
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That’s exactly why we developed the PMB five-lug conversion kit. Our goal was to provide an affordable, properly engineered solution that retains the original-style struts, calipers, suspension components, and CV joints. No questionable wheel adapters or unnecessary suspension conversions. Just the proper components to install five-lug wheels on your existing setup. It’s still an investment. You’ll need new rotors, bearings, studs, wheels, and tires. But compared with replacing major suspension components, the savings can be substantial. |
The PMB five-lug kit keeps the original-style struts, calipers, and CV joints. |
The right wheels and tires can completely redefine the 914’s personality. |
For a moderately powered street-driven 914, it’s a terrific solution. Higher-horsepower cars destined for aggressive canyon driving or track use deserve consideration of a 911 front strut setup with vented front rotors. As for wheels, we love the factory-style 14 x 5½-inch Fuchs associated with the 914-6 Comfort Group. A 15 x 6-inch Fuchs with the appropriate offset is another favorite. Pair that 15-inch wheel with a 195/65R15 tire, where clearances permit, and you’ve got a wonderful vintage appearance. Just remember that wheel offset, tire dimensions, and fender clearance matter. Measure before buying. Get the wheels and stance right, and an ordinary 914 can suddenly look extraordinary. |
If you’ve been dreaming about five-lug Fuchs on your 914, we’ve already done the engineering and put together the components to make it happen. Take a look at our conversion options before you start hunting down expensive suspension parts.
Paint: The Ultimate Transformation
Eventually, we arrive at the big one.
Paint.
Nothing transforms a 914 quite like a beautiful new finish. Unfortunately, this is also where owners can make their most expensive mistakes.
Painting a car is roughly 90% preparation and 10% standing behind the spray gun.
We’ve seen inexpensive paint jobs that looked fantastic initially, only to deteriorate a few years later. Primer shrinkage reveals sanding scratches. Old bodywork begins showing through. Clearcoat fades, yellows, or peels. Hidden corrosion produces bubbles beneath that beautiful new finish.
Suddenly, the bargain isn’t such a bargain anymore.
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At PMB, we strongly favor stripping a car to bare metal when undertaking a comprehensive repaint. You simply don’t know what’s hiding beneath fifty years of paint, filler, and questionable previous repairs. And remember something from our earlier articles: A $15,000 paint job on a rusty 914 doesn’t make it a $15,000 better car. Inspect the longitudinal structures, rockers, battery tray, hell hole, and other corrosion-prone areas before investing heavily in cosmetics. |
Beautiful paint begins long before the spray gun comes out. |
Fresh color reaches the jambs and trunks, so the job looks right with every lid open. |
Proper painting also means proper disassembly. Bumpers, valances, rocker panels, lights, trim, sail-panel vinyl, and weatherstripping should be removed as needed. If you’re changing colors, the door jambs, trunk compartments, and visible engine-bay areas deserve attention as well. Nothing gives away a cheap paint job faster than poorly masked trim and rubber seals. |
As for color? That’s entirely up to you. Restore the original factory finish or choose something completely different. Modern basecoat/clearcoat systems are an excellent choice, but even the finest materials can’t compensate for poor preparation.
Do it once. Do it right.
It’s the Little Details
Here’s something we’ve learned after restoring countless Porsche components and complete cars.
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The difference between a good-looking 914 and a truly beautiful one often comes down to the smallest details. Fresh taillight lenses, front turn signals, and side markers can make an enormous difference. So can replacing faded rubber bumper tops, restoring door handles, refinishing mirrors, and installing fresh weatherstripping. Don’t forget the Targa top and sail panels. At PMB, we restore and refinish Targa tops, and a properly finished example can be a real head-turner. |
Fresh lenses are among the easiest ways to make a 914 look cared for. |
Pay attention to your rocker panels and valances. We prefer a subtle, smooth stone-guard finish that complements the factory appearance. Correct emblems, clean trim, and refreshed trunk carpeting finish the job.
And don’t overlook ride height. A slightly lowered European-inspired stance can make a 914 look purposeful without compromising its usability.
As a visual starting point, we often like the front wheel-center-to-fender measurement approximately ¼ inch greater than the rear, accounting for the different shapes of the wheel openings. Final settings should be based on proper suspension geometry and clearance, followed by a professional alignment.
Beautiful wheels and the right stance? That’s a combination that’s hard to beat.
Don’t Forget What’s Under the Engine Lid
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There’s absolutely no reason a stock Type 4 engine compartment can’t look beautiful. Clean away decades of grime. Refinish the engine tin. Replace corroded hardware. Organize the wiring and properly route the fuel and vacuum hoses. You’ll be surprised how much better everything looks. And some of these improvements can help the car run better, too. Deteriorated vacuum hoses can cause significant problems with factory fuel injection, while aging fuel lines deserve replacement with properly rated modern materials. |
Lift the lid at your next car show and let the engine do the talking. |
A clean, correctly maintained engine compartment is something you’ll be proud to show off.
Where Would I Spend My Money?
If someone brought me a solid, mechanically sound 914 tomorrow and wanted to make it beautiful without breaking the bank, here’s my approach.
First, I’d give the entire car a thorough cleaning and detailing. You’d be amazed what careful paint correction, polishing, and a little elbow grease can accomplish. Sometimes $30 or $40 in supplies can make a car look ten times better.
Next, I’d tackle the carpet and seats.
Then I’d move on to wheels and tires, followed by stance, trim, lenses, seals, and the smaller details.
Finally, I’d save up for the paint job I really wanted.
Not the cheapest job available. The right job.
I’d much rather drive a well-maintained 914 with honest original paint for another couple of years than rush into a questionable repaint that I’ll regret.
The Car You’ve Always Wanted
One of the things I love most about the 914 is that you don’t have to follow someone else’s recipe.
You can build a beautifully preserved factory-original car or a personalized hot rod with five-lug wheels, sport seats, and a stunning custom finish.
There’s room for all of it.
But remember, a beautiful 914 isn’t necessarily the most expensive one. It’s the car where everything works together.
The wheels complement the stance. The interior complements the exterior. The details are thoughtfully finished. And underneath it all is a sound, properly maintained Porsche that’s ready to be driven.
After more than fifty years, these wonderful little mid-engine sports cars can still turn heads everywhere they go.
And when you settle into those freshly upholstered seats, turn the key, and head out on your favorite stretch of road, you’ll remember why you fell in love with your 914 in the first place.
Because the ultimate finishing touch on any 914 is getting behind the wheel and driving it.
Your 914 doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
Ready to Give Your 914 the PMB Treatment?
You don’t need to send your car to our restoration shop to benefit from the same experience, knowledge, and attention to detail that go into our concours-level builds.
We’ve got the parts. We’ve got the experience. And we’d love to help you build the 914 you’ve always wanted.
Whether you’re starting with a simple carpet kit, refreshing your upholstery, replacing fifty-year-old rubber seals, or finally making the jump to five-lug Fuchs, PMB Performance has the products and expertise to help you get it right the first time.
We offer an extensive selection of Porsche 914 restoration parts, including our exclusive PMB five-lug conversion solutions, interior components, weatherstripping, trim, and those all-important finishing touches.
Your 914 doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
Shop Porsche 914 Parts at PMB Performance
Not sure where to start? Give our team a call. Tell us what you’re building, what you want to accomplish, and what your budget looks like. We’ll help you choose the right parts for your project.
PMB Performance. Built by enthusiasts. For enthusiasts.