1983 911SC "Period Correct" Rear Spoiler

[pcarseattle]

I am a newbie on this site- this is my first post so please bear with me.

My 1983 911SC came from the factory with a front and rear spoiler.

Previous owner removed rear spoiler so I am looking to get a replacement.

Unsure whether I should replace the missing rear spoiler with (1) Turbo Style (Lid- 911-512-010-57, Spoiler 930-512-023-00) from the 1978-1983 PET; or (2) Special Model Style (Lid- 911-512-010-07, Spoiler 911-512-019-00) shown in the 1978-1983 PET; or (3) 1984-1986 Carrera Type (Spoiler 911-512-043-00, and Rim 911-512-091-00) shown in the 1984-1986 PET.

I have been told that the Option Code M-463 appearing in the 1984-1986 PET for the Carrera Type Rear Spoiler was available from the factory on the 1983 911sc with option code M-463.

I am looking to buy the "period correct" lid, spoiler, and rubber.

Does anybody know which is the period correct rear spoiler, and if so, do they have one or know if one for sale?

Many thanks for your help!

[tirwin]

This is largely personal opinion.

Some people want to keep things "original". If that's your thing then check to see if you have the option code sticker under the front trunk lid to see what yours came with.

Personally, I don't care for the big spoilers on anything but a 930 because the proportions don't look right without a fat stance. Duck, no duck, and "Singer mini-duck" are the options.

Mine currently has no front or rear spoiler. I like the front spoiler look but am concerned about what that does to the aerodynamics. I have a nasty lip on my driveway that has been the thing preventing me from doing the front. If I do the front I am seriously considering the mini-duck. But that's all on the back burner -- in the middle of an interior restoration project.

[winders]

The "period correct" tail would be the tail that came on the '80 911SC Weissach Special Edition. That would the same style tail that came on the '75 Carrera as well. This tail looks great on 911SC. I know, I had one for many years....

This tail does not bolt on to the standard deck lid.

The tail that was available on the '84 and later Carrera is non period correct and not as attractive as far as I am concerned.

Scott

[will hung]

Originally Posted by winders

The "period correct" tail would be the tail that came on the '80 911SC Weissach Special Edition. That would the same style tail that came on the '75 Carrera as well. This tail looks great on 911SC. I know, I had one for many years....

This tail does not bolt on to the standard deck lid.

The tail that was available on the '84 and later Carrera is non period correct and not as attractive as far as I am concerned.

Scott

I totally agree with what Scott said. I also have been using the early whale tail for over 2 years and love it. I'll try to post better pics when I get home.

[tshebib]

My car came from the factory with an all rubber, all black, tail. It's a 1980SC. There was an article in Classic Porsche about a low mile '78SC with the exact same tail.

[javadog]

The one that came on an '83 911SC would be the one that looked like the turbo 3.3 tail. The Carrera 3.2 tail was not available on an '83. The one used in 1980 was also not available, execpt on the Weissach model in 1980. It was previously used on the 1975 Carrera. The all-rubber tail was used prior to the 911SC and during the early years of the 911SC. The turbo 3.3 style tail was introduced as an option on the 911SC in 1981 or 1982, I can't recall which.

Having said all that, I like the look of the Weissach tail the best.

JR

[Bill Verburg]

The all p/u tail was used on some 911s from ~'76 to 80

The most common tail on SCs was the 3.3T 'Teatray' used on most SCs that had a tail from '78-83
Teatray


but there are exceptions
here's an original '82 w/ the later 3.2 Carrera style, which was also used on the SC/RS which were MY84cars but built in '83



SC/RS w/ the latter tail


I think that especially is Europe they released versions of the spoiler for future cars as they became available. But even there most '83s are seen w/ Teatrays

In the US the '80 Weissach SC used the original style Carrera tail used on '75-77 Carrera but that was a US only model and not sold in Europe
original '75 w/o extra cooling slot

[javadog]

Let's clarify a few things. The 75 Carrera/Weissach style of spoiler was available on the following cars:

'75 Carrera (US) and '75 Carrera 2.7 (ROW)
'76 Carrera 2.7 (ROW), '76 Carrera 3.0 (ROW), '77 Carrera 3.0 (ROW)
'80 9111SC Weissach (US)

The PU foam spoiler was available on the '76-'77 911, 911S, and Carrera 3.0 (both US and ROW)
It was also used on the 911SC for '78, '79, and '80.

The 3.3 turbo style of tail was used on the 911SC in '81, '82, and '83.

The Carrera 3.2 tail was used on the 3.2 Carrera and 911SC/RS, starting with the '84 model year.

The Carrera 3.0 is an odd exception, in that 2 different tails were available. I have never figured out the reason for this but it is documented in plenty of photos and other documents from 1976 and 1977.

I'd like to say that the best source of information for all this is not PET, nor books like the Original Porsche 911 book by Peter Morgan, as referenced above. While he did a decent job, there are many errors in the book and he used photos of cars taken 15 to 20 years after they were originally built and many of them had been modified by that point. It's better to use the factory documentation that was given to the dealers each year that describe the changes, prices, etc. 2nd best is to use a book that is illustrated with factory photos of the period, like those of Brian Long. You still have to be careful, as the factory sometimes photographed cars that were pre-production examples and not neccesarily in their final form, or in the correct specification for a given market.

I did extensive research on the spoilers available in 1983, way back when I ordered a new '83 SC. The only spoiler available was the one mentioned above. The later 3.2 wasn't available and it wasn't even in the parts pipeline yet. Somewhere I have the internal sales info from that year, as well as a then-current copy of the parts fiche.

BTW, the 911SC/RS cars were all built after the 911SC production ended and the 3.2 Carrera production had begun. They were completed in December of 1983 and officially blessed by the FIA in January of 1984.

JR

[Mike Andrew]

I have the all rubber on my 80SC.

[intakexhaust]

Add to the confusion of what country the cars were shipped to. I recall back in 1983 seeing many in the UK with the super sport option having the 'tea tray' spoiler.

[trak ratt]

my '82 SC came w/tea table (build sheet info)

[will hung]

As I said earlier, here are some more pics of my car with an early whaletail. Of all the tails, I think these look the best and look right on a car of your era.





It had a tea-tray spoiler when I first bought it and everybody gave me a hard time saying, "don't you think the wing is a little too big." I haven't heard that comment since I changed wings.

[winders]

Love that look, Will!!!

Scott

[Bob Kontak]

I bought a Porsche Carrera spoiler 10 years ago. It is fine but if a nice used Weissach or the above Turbo spoiler can be purchased used in the same range, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Here is the Weissach.

[poorshe911]

my '83 SC came from the factory with the huge tea tray spoiler.
IMO, it's way too big for the SC body. it's coming off this spring and going with a no spoiler look.

[pcarseattle]

Great pictures. They show how nice the SC looks with various spoilers- I agree the Weissach is absolutely gorgeous- found one for sale but it was $2800 without the rubber!

Since my 1983 911SC was sold with the M-473 option (according to the COA) it seems like it should have the "Period Correct" spoiler back on it.

Bill's photo is helpful - wondering if the orange lid is a post-83 version because the orange border around the black grill does not seem to be symmetrical like some of other photos "allegedly" of 83 Turbo Spoilers.

Javadog - good read. Since you ordered a new 1983 SC, you seem to have confirmed that the only tail available was the Turbo Tail- which as far as I can tell, has the same rubber that is shown on Bill's photo. Does Bill's photo or my photos attached look like the lid from you 83 when you received it from the factory?

If anybody has a copy of the parts fiche, or any internal sales info from 83 then I would really appreciate if they can add it here.

...Is this photo the "Period Correct" spoiler?




YOU are all terrific to help me- i really appreciate your time!

[racer]

Turbo tail = Heavy... which will mean adding a second strut to support it in an open position. Also, with the Turbo tail, you can see the top of the lip from the drivers seat (at least I could).

I prefer the smaller whale tail/carrera tails as discussed already. I'd avoid the full rubber ones, unless perhaps your car is black and it would be "hidden".

[FrenchToast]

Cool Thread! Never seen the all-rubber tail before. Did Porsche also own a rubber company in the 70's and 80's?? ----- a joke. I personally love the look and texture of the rubber.

^^The tail you show there is a Tea-Tray spoiler. But looking through the vents in the first photo it appears that it is just the tail bolted to a Carrera/SC non-spoiler lid. I don't know if this is what the factory did, if it is factory you are looking for.

Given the recent article in Excellence about the early M491 Carrera that was 'too early' to be true, along with the mystery that seems to characterize this production of this era, its probably fair to say that many cars could have slipped under the radar with a different tail than what they should have.

That said, the choice should really come down to what you think looks best on your car!

[will hung]

Originally Posted by winders

Love that look, Will!!!

Scott

Thank you Scott.

Originally Posted by pcarseattle

Great pictures. They show how nice the SC looks with various spoilers- I agree the Weissach is absolutely gorgeous- found one for sale but it was $2800 without the rubber!

Never buy one without the rubber. They are NLA, so you are better off watching the classifieds and buying a good used one.

The big thing to remember in all of this is that through the special wishes department, you could special order your Porsche however you wanted. So it doesn't surprise me that you could see an outlier with a non-conformist tail. Which is why I would rather have the tail that I think looks best on my car than the one it came with originally. My $0.02.

[javadog]

pcarseattle,

The turbo and SC spoilers from 1983 look essentially identical from the outside, so the photos that you and Bill posted have the correct look. There are a few components that are different between the two installations, namely the grille and other parts underneath, The reason for th differences have to do with the fact that the turbo has an intercooler, and an A/C condenser that is different from that on the SC. You can look at a current copy of PET and learn the differences. The most cost effective way to buy one of these is to buy a complete used assembly. It should be obvious which tail you are looking at, as the badges (and the holes to mount them) are different between the two. Make sure that the rubber lip on any tail that you buy is in good shape. There are more tails than good rubber lips, at this point.

I still have to add that, although the 3.3 turbo style tail is more effective than the other tails, I think it looks a little heavy on an SC. I don't think originality makes much of a difference this many years down the road, so I personally wouldn't get too hung up on that detail. It's your car though, so make yourself happy.

JR