73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Ongoing and archived Porsche (and other marques) restoration threads from DDK members

Moderator: Bootsy

DarthMJH
I luv DDK!
Posts: 880
Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:47 am
Location: NW London

73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by DarthMJH »

I’ve owned my RHD ’73 911T since February 2012, and it’s been a fantastic, usable car. I always knew the day would come when rust would start creeping in, and last year I was told the kidney bowls needed replacing. So, it sat in the garage while I pondered what to do next.

The car was restored back in the ’80s by a previous owner and repainted, yes, you guessed it, in Guards Red, instead of its original and gorgeous Tangerine. I’ve always wanted to return it to its factory color.

Whilst in the garage to be honest I lost interest in it and considered selling the car. But then I drove it to Boxengasse and really enjoyed it. Suddenly, I was 50/50 on selling versus keeping.

Then a few months ago, I went to the Karmann Konnection Porsche swap meet. Even though selling was still on my mind, I couldn’t resist buying parts for the car (it must be some kind of disease! 😊). Whilst chatting with a few stallholders, I met Paul, who said he could restore the car and could start soon. That conversation made me think “keep and restore” rather than “sell.”

A few weeks later, I visited Paul’s garage, saw his work, and had him look over the car. We struck a deal where I would handle the dismantling and reassembly, and he’ll take care of all the bodywork.

So here we are at the start of my restoration thread. Back to Tangerine we go!

I asked my good friend Steve to help me with the dismantling and he gladly helped. - Thanks Steve !

You will see when it was restored before, behind the dash was kept orange and the rest was painted red.

Image

Image

Interior still original

Image

Offside rear seat in good nick

Image

Nearside needs investigating though

Image

The front and rear windows have leaked over time in each corner. I was aware only of the hole in the rear parcel shelf as it was like this when I bought the car.

Image

Image

Image

Doors are in good condition. The offside must have been replaced, I think but am not sure, the nearside might be original.

Image

Image

Engine and gearbox taken out by Jevvy

Image

Image

Image

And then off to Pauls a few day ago.

Image
Mike
1973 RHD 911T
1995 993 C4 (Sold - ULEZ :cry:)
DarthMJH
I luv DDK!
Posts: 880
Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:47 am
Location: NW London

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by DarthMJH »

I dropped off a few parts today and been told it will need new rear quarters.

You will also see here on the front offside inner wing a repair during the previous resto

Image

You can also see this repair carries to the very front

Image

Compare that to the other side, which is correct and not flat

Image

The entire underside of the car was wax oiled to an inch of its life underneath. This is being removed, hopefully the pans are okay, but I do know in the passenger and drivers footwell previous work was done and not to the best standard, so watch this space.

Saying that Paul is amazed at the condition so far. Lets see what's beneath that underseal, which will take time to remove.
Mike
1973 RHD 911T
1995 993 C4 (Sold - ULEZ :cry:)
User avatar
PeterK
DDK rules my life!
Posts: 1270
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:04 pm
Location: GU51 - Fleet, Hampshire, UK

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by PeterK »

Ooh goody, Xmas has come early - another resto thread with photos
'79 Targa - restoration now mainly complete & being driven
http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 28&t=59756

and now CIS to EFI
viewtopic.php?t=72921
stretch
Me and DDK sitting in a tree! KISSING
Posts: 2888
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 2:54 pm
Location: Kent

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by stretch »

Good luck with it Mike. Look forward to the next post.
70T barn find...... to ST.
1998 C2 996 Kettle
Gary71
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 10681
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2004 1:27 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by Gary71 »

I do love a restoration thread, even if it’s a bit painful for the owner! Good luck :)

Weirdly my battery boxes were also bent, but the other way around. Easily rectified with a hammer and lump of wood from the inside!
sladey
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 9281
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:08 pm
Location: Nottingham, UK

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by sladey »

Excellent - looking forward to this thread - be great to have it properly restored
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young but I'm just backdated yeah
User avatar
yoda
I need to get out more!
Posts: 3275
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:01 am
Location: London

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by yoda »

Great to see a resto thread, best of luck with it. Which garage are you using for the bodywork?
The force is strong in this one ......
User avatar
jb
Me and DDK sitting in a tree! KISSING
Posts: 2551
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:34 pm
Location: London

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by jb »

Glad you decided to hang on to it
Good luck
#1370
anka
DDK Fanatic
Posts: 78
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2017 2:07 pm
Location: Gothenburg, SWE

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by anka »

Really nice and you will never regret your decision!
Let the pic come and keep us updated!
Good luck 👍💪
Carrera 3.0
911hillclimber
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 20578
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: West Midlands

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by 911hillclimber »

Agree with all, love a restoration of any level.

Lots of details and pics of course! :bounce:
73T 911 Coupe, road/hillclimber 3.2L
Lola t 492 / 3.2 hillclimb racer
Boxster 987 Gen II 2.9
Loz
DDK slapper chatter
Posts: 438
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:28 pm
Location: Kent

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by Loz »

Good luck with the resto Mike.

Looking forward to seeing your progress 👍🏻
1970 911t Coupe 2626

"I've started so I'll finish"
jevvy
DDK Seasoned Poster
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:17 pm

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by jevvy »

DarthMJH wrote: Fri Dec 19, 2025 4:24 pm So here we are at the start of my restoration thread. Back to Tangerine we go!
One of the best colours - glad it's going back to original paint.

Good luck with the resto :wink:

Some Tangerine inspiration pics for you.....
54831812095_a429b228fc_c.jpg
54831811895_0f90958d1f_c.jpg
54831480661_f6fe974d17_c.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
DarthMJH
I luv DDK!
Posts: 880
Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:47 am
Location: NW London

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by DarthMJH »

yoda wrote: Sat Dec 20, 2025 6:55 am Great to see a resto thread, best of luck with it. Which garage are you using for the bodywork?
coomo on here is doing it for me.
Mike
1973 RHD 911T
1995 993 C4 (Sold - ULEZ :cry:)
DarthMJH
I luv DDK!
Posts: 880
Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:47 am
Location: NW London

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by DarthMJH »

Front paint removal and primer

Image

Image

Offside Work

Filler round the bottom of the pillar

Image

Sill removed showing quite a bit of rust. Kidney bowl disintegrated

Image

Outer sill before removal

Image

Front bottom hinge

Image

Jacking point before removal

Image

Rear inner wing before waxoil removal

Image

Considering the car is RHD and the weather here is so bad, it could be a lot worse. But lets see what's behind the outer sill and the other side !
Mike
1973 RHD 911T
1995 993 C4 (Sold - ULEZ :cry:)
Gary71
Nurse, I think I need some assistance
Posts: 10681
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2004 1:27 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: 73T Resto - Back to Tangerine

Post by Gary71 »

DarthMJH wrote: Sill removed showing quite a bit of rust. Kidney bowl disintegrated

Image
Ooo that’s a fun bit!
Good luck, getting that first but of new metal in will be awesome as it all starts to come together
Post Reply