Porsche 911, 912, 914 & 914/6 Badges: Hood Crests
![](p914_resources/p914_badges/p911-badges-crest-tn02.jpg)
Not an Option (from the Factory)
This is a very easy component to cover. No 914/6 or 914 vehicle
left either the Porsche Zuffenhausen
or Volkswagen Wolfsburg factory with hood
(front trunk lid) ornamentation of any kind, including the Porsche
crest. As noted below, the Porsche 916 models incorporated the Porsche
crest into
rear badging, but no 914 or 914/6 car, whether U.S., European or other
specification, was adorned with an exterior Porsche crest (with the exception of hubcaps used on
some 914/6 models).
...Okay, perhaps one Porsche 914/6 production car left the
factory at Zuffenhausen with a front trunk lid crest. This famous car
is, of course, the vehicle pictured on Page 73 of the Porsche 914/6
factory owner's manual (reproduced at right). Why the marketing folks
would use a picture of a car with a front crest may never be known.
That
all being said, it is not uncommon to see 914 or 914/6 vehicles
sporting a
Porsche hood crest. In every case, this ornamentation was added by the
dealership
or an owner. Similar to the REAR
REFLECTOR,
the hood crest is popular because it adds a nice finishing touch.
If you plan to add or replace a front crest to your 914, consider using
period correct Porsche 911 badges for a more authentic
look. Position the badge correctly as shown on the example in the 914/6
manual: centered with the front
bottom tip 80 mm from the leading edge of the front trunk lid.
Current eBay
listings for Porsche Orange Bar Hood Crests
(compare listed
emblems with those
pictured on this page to ensure authenticity and model year
utilization... be very
thorough):
Porsche
Orange Bar "Hood" Crests on eBAY
Porsche Hood Crests: "Orange Bar" 1965 - Early 1974
The
drawbacks to using period or model year correct Porsche 911 hood crests
are scarcity, cost and item misrepresentation. From 1965 to early 1974, the 911
hood badge used an
orange-colored enamel stripe instead of the translucent red inlay with
which most people are familiar. Genuine examples of these badges are
highly sought-after and commonly sell for hundreds of dollars
(contingent on condition). To further complicate matters, the high
price that these emblems command has spawned numerous reproductions
(some rather good).
The
best way to determine if an "orange bar" crest is authentic is
through examination of the back. Lesser reproductions (available for
about $60) state "Made in Germany" and have more pronounced "dimpling"
on the back than even the later originals possessed. Higher quality
reproductions have the correct "901," "®" and "AR" markings
embossed on the back, but still have more distinct "dimpling" in the
metal than do the originals, which were either smooth, or, in later
versions (1972-1974), had very faint dimpling. Such reproductions are
frequently
misrepresented as factory original or NOS, so it is important to be
familiar with the differences. Generally, if an early Porsche crest
looks too gaudy or pristine to be a late 1960s or early 1970s item, it
is not authentic.
Porsche Hood Crests: "Red Bar" (Transitional) 1974 - 1976
Later in the 1974 model year, Porsche 911 hood badge styling was
changed to the
better-known version with the translucent red stripes. Except for the
red enamel, the initial version of this badge is identical to the
orange-bar badge it replaced. These "transitional" hood crests are
found
on late 1974 through early 1976 Porsche 911 models and would therefore
be period correct for the
1974-1976 Porsche 914 models. Such badges are uncommon,
but still do not rival prices commanded by the "orange bar" crests
(although they fetch quite a bit more than subsequent Porsche badges).
Again, the most reliable method of determining authenticity is through
examination of the rear of the badge (dimpling, incorrect markings,
etc.).
Porsche Hood Crests: "Red Bar" (Early) 1976 - 19??
During the 1976 model year (and therefore period
correct for the 1976 Porsche 914 models), Porsche 911 hood badges
continued to be produced with the translucent red stripe, but with the
full part number, 901 559 210 20, embossed on the back. Apparently the
supplier was also changed, as the upper marking changed from a diagonal
"AR" design in a circle to what appears to be a crossed "REU" design in
a circle. All rear dimpling once again vanished as well. Later badges
underwent additional changes such as the elimination of the "circle R,"
introduction of translucent black stripes and eventually a different
"PORSCHE" script style, but those changes took place after the end of
914 production in 1976 (and remember, this is a Porsche 914 site,
although this page is a bit off-track). The "red bar" emblems are more
common and there are also more reproductions available (generally
not misrepresented).
As mentioned above, at some point late in the Twentieth Century (1988?), the hood crest
changed again to the current red bar version with slight stylistic
differences to the "PORSCHE" script (among other things). That badge is
not covered here, as the Porsche 914 had been out of production long
before its introduction.
Porsche 916 Rear Badging: 1972
The 1972 Porsche 916 model vehicles incorporated the Porsche crest into the (quite busy) rear badging in two styles:
-
The block "PORSCHE" script formerly used on the back of the 356 during its last four years of production placed to the left of a "916" emblem (similar styling to the "914" rear badge) followed by a small crest emblem, or
-
The 911 orange bar hood crest between the "916" emblem and the 356 block "PORSCHE" script.