1974 Carrera Coupe - RHD, UK car

[Ferry Man]

I didn’t know much about the correct interior parts for ’74 cars and that became apparent.

I’ll cut the lengthy story short but – for me - it unfolded slowly and my disappointments were small but they kept coming.

First I discovered my front seats were incorrect (see anguished comments from earlier in the thread).

And then my rears proved to be wrong for the year too.

[Ferry Man]

And then I realised the door cards weren’t right for ’74 (they shouldn’t be diagonally pleated ).

[Ferry Man]

Then a wise old sage pointed out the rear shelf vinyl was the wrong grain.

[Ferry Man]

And the rear quarters didn’t match the originals either.

[Ferry Man]

So, I had a car with a complete interior and not much of it was original.
In fact aside from the dashtop and door cappings very little of it was.
So - I don’t what happened – but at some time over the last 40 years, somebody must have decided to modernise the cabin with later parts.

[Ferry Man]

Originally the car would have had seats trimmed in pigskin grained ‘blue/black’.
That was a dark inky blue sort of black, in fact it only really shows a slight blue shade when set next to black.
Door panels, seats (front & rear) were in that midnight blue/black.
If the car was trimmed in leather it was probably just plain black.

[Ferry Man]

Irrespective of whether the car was trimmed in vinyl or leather the dashtop was black (not the Midnight Blue/Black).

The kneepads were also plain old black.
The same applied to the door cappings, the pull handles, the dash face inserts (lower dash) and door pockets.
All were black vinyl.

So – on a correctly trimmed car – you can see a slight contrast between the Midnight Blue/Black leatherette and the plain Black vinyl. You can observe it here.

[Ferry Man]

The car pictured above was a wonderful 'survivor' car that Phil (Tech9) found in the States.
He showed me around it at Heddingham and it was a great reference for the interior.

In this pic you can see the Midnight Blue/Black (it's apparent that it is not as black as the plastic surround).

If Phil had been distracted when we looked over the car, I'd have pinched that tilt knob.

[carlbon71]

Tell me you've found the original blue carpet. I need some for my 75 Carrera
Some good news your door bins are correct

[timmyboy]

Hi Paul,

Do you have the correct door pulls and map pocket flaps? If not, I have some in (last time I checked) good condition you would be welcome to.

Tim

[Ferry Man]

Tell me you've found the original blue carpet. I need some for my 75 Carrera

No, I haven't.

Originally the carpets would have been Blue/Black too.
By which I mean black with just the merest hint of blue about it.

It's no longer made and as it was only fitted for two years ('74 &'75) and looks largely identical to black, I can't see anyone tooling up to reproduce it anytime soon.
You're not going to find an accurate match.
I will be using black for the carpets.

The carpet for the front compartment is easier, it's the same as used on earlier 911's.

[Ferry Man]

Some good news your door bins are correct

Yes, good spot.
That was excellent news, I hadn't realised they are quite rare and unique too.

But fortuitously I did have correct bins.
I'll post up some pics of them later.

[Ferry Man]

Do you have the correct door pulls and map pocket flaps? If not, I have some in (last time I checked) good condition you would be welcome to.

Thanks Tim, that's very kind of you.
I do have the correct door pulls and I also have both map pocket flaps.
One is excellent, the other 90%-ish. I think it'll flatten out OK but if not I'll contact you.
Cheers.

[Ferry Man]

So, I had a car with a complete interior and not much of it was original.

Time for some re-trimming then.

[Ferry Man]

Now, when I think of high quality trimming for Porsche’s one name springs to mind.
Southbound.
They know their stuff, they’ve been trading for years and have an excellent reputation.
So, I took a trip down to Stockbridge in Hampshire to check ‘em out.

And Stockbridge really is a lovely part of the world.
That old A30 is a wonderful road now the newer A303 has left it deserted.
And so many nice pubs.
Frankly, they were going to get the business anyway, because it’s such a nice drive from where I work....