DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

All good sound points, for which I thank you all. I'm not too bothered about head clearance as I'm only 5.7. Would have made it to F1, but lacked talent and bucketloads of money. ( joke)

Keith, the photos you showed of the pranged 914... did that car have any extra protection or was it just stock? Thanks, John

It looks like it has a bolt in single loop roll bar to me

Yes, as far as I know it only had a single hoop, which clearly absorbed some roll-over impact but couldn't do anything in the event of a side-impact like this.

Here in Central Europe several hill climb competitors speak highly of HEIGO as their protection of choice. Any personal experiences?

I've bitten the bullet and ordered a six point bolt in cage by Safety Solutions.

Do you mean their cages or padding only?

I must admit never to having heard of them. Their 914 cage appears to be a single hoop which bolts to the seat belt mounts, with two detachable sections which make a V bar between the seats. The floor mounts seem pretty good in that the reinforcing plate ties in the rear bulkhead too.

However, the SD cage also has a front hoop, which bolts to the rear in order to make a full cage, plus door bars too. I would say, based upon the length of the hillclimbs you are doing and therefore the likely speeds and risks associated with not knowing every turn like the back of your hand etc, that a single hoop like this is inadequate. In the UK, if running a car classed as modified (basically anything that deviates from a fully trimmed road car) you are borderline for a full cage. A co competitor of mine last year was turned away from an event in his heavily modified Boxster featuring the standard equipment roll hoop as it was not considered safe enough by the scrutineer. They said he needed to comply with full regs (full cage, plumbed in extinguisher,seat, harnesses etc) so sent him home.

If I have followed their diagrams correctly I would not be comfortable with just that hoop...

Hope that helps
Wayne

mightyVee wrote:I've bitten the bullet and ordered a six point bolt in cage by Safety Solutions.

Sorry just seen the updated post. Good decision.

From an old post on 914world.com, showing how the stock body assembly wants to fold at the base of the B-pillar in a frontal impact. The consensus is that the cage needs to be braced to the rear to help prevent this.

And thats before they got serious rust in there.

Is this a known weak spot then on a 914? I mean, worse than a 911 Targa shell?

Regards
Mike

210bhp wrote:Is this a known weak spot then on a 914? I mean, worse than a 911 Targa shell?

Regards
Mike

You could say that Mike





Always wise to check the door gaps when buying. I sure sign of potential issues.

Take the roof off and then try the doors! Or put a jack under the sill and lift the car slightly. All good fun...

Well, the best laid plans, etc. etc., Having placed my order through a friendly dealership, with delivery quoted by Safety Devices @ 10-12 weeks. Safety Devices came back with a revised version; 'not before August at best', as they are knee deep with a giant sized order from HM Army, Jeeps I suppose. Going on the 'long wait' experiences chronicled here, I really didn't appreciate such cavalier attitude from the maker, so cancelled my order & now have decided to fit a Heigo device. I'll keep the post appraised with details regarding this model, which is more expensive than SD, but offers all that is required. I've seen one in the flesh,so to speak, and they are beautifully engineered. My 914 remains dockside in Los Angeles, with the assigned vessel at anchor offshore, waiting for a berth. Fun it ain't!

My 914 finally arrived in Slovenia two weeks ago. So begins the hard work. Thankfully the body is sound though showing external signs of a hard life on the track. Almost 3 months on the ocean didn't make it any prettier. The previous owner removed its cage, so I've a Heigo full cage on order, which if the delivery quote (10 weeks) is to be believed should be ready today. So far nothing! The engine fired up & sounds healthy enough, though I've no road running experience yet. It's still on my trailer, waiting for homologation papers, then inspections. Slovenia is a country where Red Tape & all manner of burocracacy rules. Now some further guidance please. Where is the place to get body trim rubber, also a complete lock unit for the right hand door. It doesn't have to have key locking; this baby is for competitive use only. Slovenia is bordered by Italy, Austria & Croatia, though I've yet to find a 914 specialist, surely there must be some in Germany?