Haute dumbassery

[g3ngs2]

Here is a question of potentially the highest dumbassery...

I'd always assumed that 1973 instantly meant black script on the decklid, grille, indicator surrounds... but now that I have a 1973 with has chrome everywhere I'm pondering what is correct.

My reading suggests as a T it should be black, unless it has S appearance pack (which I have) in which case the lettering is gold?

Black indicator surrounds and gold sounds weird, and I'm similarly not a fan of the black - unless of course it has to be black to be original....

Looking online at pictures generally turns up a mix of things because at the end it comes down to personal preference but just curious as to the DDK wisdom on what is actually correct for a 1973 (not a 1973.5) 911 T with S appearance??

Ta

[deano]

I cannot give a definitive answer, but as a 73 owner with gold badges on it when I bought it 20-odd years ago, I have always looked out for the same answer.

Possibilities seems to include: could be country-specific, could be body colour specific as chosen by the factory (e.g. gold goes nice with dark colours), or as chosen by the customer if they spec'd their own car. I have seen both 72 (I think) and 73 cars with black, gold and (less often) silver letters over the years.... or it could be as you say, gold letters with the S pack. I have never heard that one before, but my car was spec'd with S pack and has gold letters. I cannot be certain that my letters were the same colour when it was delivered though...

[g3ngs2]

Interesting that you have the gold letters. Do you also have chromed indicators front and back?

Like you say it can also be that it's owner preference over the passage of time of changing easy to change things to their tastes.

That 911T with S pack gets gold letters is something I picked up on from a ten year old comment on Pelican.

Mine has chromed indicators, and letters and horns, but what appears to be a black now faded grille.

So it may be just a case of the combo that works with the colour of the car, which I like the sound of of but my ocd is preventing me from doing

[hot66]

Never seen gold letters on 73my

Seen many a ‘black paint’ 73my with silver letters

And more usually black letters on other paint colors

[deano]

I have black light surrounds and horn grilles, as it should definitely have for a 73, but also silver engine grille and all gold letters incl. Targa script on Targa bar....

If I go back to the original 334 met blau, I will keep it all as above. Personally, I don't think black badges look great on blue. If I ended up going off piste and choosing a ridiculous colour, I will change badge colours to suit the new colour if necessary.

[IanM]

Seen many a ‘black paint’ 73my with silver letters

I was thinking of putting a red crest badge on the hood of my tangerine car for that same reason.

[hot66]

Now your asking for trouble

[g3ngs2]

Sounds like (or I've chosen to hear) go with combination of what makes you happy - but then have a set of black stuff for when the ocd takes over.

[210bhp]

Sounds like (or I've chosen to hear) go with combination of what makes you happy - but then have a set of black stuff for when the ocd takes over.

But, were you originally asking what the factory spec was or what people prefer?

Regards
Mike

[g3ngs2]

True Mike, I was curious as to what the original factory spec is as it seems pretty unclear as to what the definitive is as it would appear that even if it were black all round on a 73 that other combinations may have left the factory and over the passage of time it would seem that things have got diluted as to what is correct or what is the norm.

Subtext to the question is if it's definitely black all round in all honesty it would influence my choice of paint.
Signal orange or yellow is where I want to be but the black for me doesn't work (maybe a bias of having a 70 in signal orange with chrome / silver)

But then if I go slate grey or more likely beige / grey... then it would be black all day long (and most likely keep the tan interior carpet that's there already)

[hot66]

paint the car teh colour you want .. badges can be changed easilly unlike a painted car !

[210bhp]

There is a lhd tangerine 2.4E for auction on collecting cars at the moment which beautifully represents and illustrates the confusion around the details discussed here.
The car is described as a sensitively restored 911 in an entirely un-modified state ! It’s described as a 1972E. It has an M reg.

It’s a beautiful looking car but without knocking it too much the external badging and lighting is a total mismatch. There are 72, 73 and aftermarket parts both externally and internally. It also looks like a 73MY not a 72.

It’s a shame that such a nice car is not detailed correctly and it also shows how we have lost accurately describing and presenting an “un-modified” pre 74 911. Someone will buy it thinking it’s ‘right’ and by the looks of it for a lot of cash.

Not sure if the pictures are copyrighted while on collecting cars so don’t want to post here but have a look.


https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/197 ... id=6196244


Regards
Mike

[IanM]

There is a lhd tangerine 2.4E for auction on collecting cars at the moment which beautifully represents and illustrates the confusion around the details discussed here.
The car is described as a sensitively restored 911 in an entirely un-modified state ! It’s described as a 1972E. It has an M reg.

Looks like a pre-71 to me because of the RHS door jamb.

[ThomasTe]

This is the thread on the content of option code M470: "Appearence group" (1969-70) and "Comfort group for T-model" for 1971-73:

https://www.early911sregistry.org/forum ... age-quot-)

I think it is pretty safe to say that all 1972-1973 911 cars had black letters on the engine lid. As a rule.

In the factory workshop manuals (maroon binders for 1972-), chapter 8, under "Body changes - from 1972 Model" it says: "Lettering, type identification, air inlet grille, and seat recliners in dull black finish"

[210bhp]

Yes, this is what I understand to be correct Thomas for the MY73 (F series cars) and the appearance group changes did not include gold emblems. It is also a fact that over the years the black engine lid emblems (and grille) did tend to fade to a mellow purple/gunmetal colour which often confuses originality beliefs. The black indicator surrounds and front grilles would be standard in MY73 too.
This is one of the first 73MY cars being tested by the factory,




And another factory photo,




And the difference from the previous MY (the E seizes cars) is clear to see from this factory picture,



Regards
Mike