My 911S story - rebuilding history start today part I

[Tomy]

So, I have bought my 911 S Targa 3 months ago in Canada, see pictures below. Car arrived to me in march and I awaiting 2 months for collecting all necessary parts for rebuilding process. Just today I start rebuild my 911.
As it is my second 911 from 1971 I hope it will go easier and faster than my last 911T.
I will prepare picture from any stage of rebuilding so hope that could be interesting.
My idea is to rebuild this car from condition you see in pictures to show conditions. So hope to have fun (and founds for all unexpected bills).
And will see what it happen.

Short description: It is European version from 1971, Vin number and engine number are correct for S model.
I found this car in Canada and within 2 weeks of discussion payed 17.000 $ for it.
Today see pictures how this car looks 3 months ego when I purchase it.
Next pics and news within days...

[biosurfer1]

looks like a great project...hope all goes well

the picture of the targa off in the snow along with the cold weather reminds me of a funny Drew Carey show where he spent a few days in a car to win the convertible, afterwards he took it out with some friends with the top down in the freezing cold cause he was going to enjoy the car no matter what!!

[silverc4s]

Tommy,
It looks like a mostly original 71 S targa. Congratulations! Just a suggestion: post your planned actions here for discussion first. Perhaps you can benefit from other's experience in the order and depth of restoration you undertake, as well as sourcing all KINDS of free advice!!! ;-)

I am looking forward to your posts - are you in Canada? perhaps you want to tell us just where you are located.

[Bobboloo]

Tommy,

Great find!! I see we have very similar cars. My 71'S is a euro car as well. Belgium.

My car is late 71' (April) and it came with the later style Fuchs (non deep six) and a 72'/73' style mirror like yours. I also have black sport seats w/ houndstooth.

Question. I see your car has the rear window wiper. Is your rear decklid aluminum or steel?

I ask because the 71'S cars came standard with the aluminum decklid but some have said Porsche used steel when they installed the wiper motor which I think is incorrect. What is your decklid made of?

P.S. I have a Webasto heater. I'll bet you have one as well!

[midlife]

Hardcore Targa driver; Top off at -30!!
Nice car.

[gassy]

Beautiful! Great looking sled. Those original map pockets have to go though...I'll make it easy for you and take 'em off your hands for US $20 each...the houndstooth is sweet.
Nice car. Congratulations!
Christian.

[Tomy]

So I disassembly all movable parts today as bumpers (by the way a lot of tear bolts), interior parts, doors, wipers, all lamps out, all deco ornamentation and so on
Here you can see some bad places in front wings as well as rockers as well as see how I start dismantling interior



here you are front wings
looks much more badly than on this picture.


Some answer to Bobboloo I have read somewhere (but forgot where) that aluminum decklid was only in 1970 model year, from my knowledge all S in 1971 had have rear wiper so means without aluminum decklid as my too.

Till now I found that I have not original mirrors coming from model 1972, as well as rear quarter interior from 1972 or 1973 with automatic belts (harness) and not original front spoiler , it looks that everything else is as it should be.
I forget of course it has Weber instead of MFI but I will keep it probably.
Some more news shortly...

[Tomy]

Today I should to finally finished striping car maybe windows will awaiting till tomorrow.
My idea is to take off all paint to bare metal first. And will see what I have as I found some bondo all around as well as fiberglass mats in lockpost panel on right side.
Days ago I received some new panels:
original ones from Porsche factory.
Prices :
96550430101grv outer rocker panels I have paid ca. 130$ each
99350133600grvinner rocker panels ca .70$ each
lockpost panels ca. 80$ each
91150105300GRV fender inner cover plate ca. 80$ each

Like you see most of the parts have newer numbers means no longer original 911 available - for example outer rockers have wholes for deco plastic trim (model 964) but it is no problem especially because in this place I put my aluminum deco S wide trim so really no problem.

At all I spent round 900$ for panels till now.
Just some news from afternoon : I have take off some paint from rockers and back wings - so under paint was a lot lot lot of bondo and when bondo taken out I have a lot of holes so looks funny tomorrow some pics.

[Bobboloo]

Tommy, I think your mirror and quarter panels may be correct. Your car may be a late 71' and may have come with them originally. Check your production date. Starting around March 71' a lot of 72' model year parts went on these cars. Starting with the later style 6x15 Fuchs.

Looks like your car was originally Pastel Blue.

[Tomy]

So I start to take out old paint as well as everything else what was under paint. See what I found
Looks not so good but I was prepare for something like this.





I found that my 911 was paint 2 times one time blue - more deep blue than original paint below and second time black


I had have some problems with targa bar to remove but finaly find my problem it was 4 screws under fender (10 mm) now targa bar is removed as well.

My idea is to finish all body and paint works till 30 of June so I have a lot work to do.
Hope to strip old paint within 3-4 days, panels repair and exchange one week or 10 days and later painting.
I think that I will put 3-4 base paint and 2 clear layers on it. Painting will be done by professional painting shop.
But any suggestion will be interesting, and I awaiting for it.

[john_colasante]

Suggestion: Bring it back to the original color code and spend some time researching the color. It can be difficult matching the original shade. Choose a shop that you are confident can do a good job. Collect photos of the original color and save a sample of the original paint for matching purposes.

[silverc4s]

Tommy,
Please consider seriously what John has said. These Early S cars are becoming more and more prized with each passing year. To do the most justice to Porsche's original efforts would be to bring the car back to as-new condition, as much as is possible in todays world.
This will also guarantee you the best return for your efforts should you ever choose to part with the car down the road...;-)

[Tomy]

My idea was to paint it light yellow in correct color from 1971 year but of course not correct to his light blue color.
I also between two ideas or to keep 100% original with original color
or to be 99% with light yellow.
And this is difficult decision as blue is not so nice (to me at) but I have headache as I will prepare car to as original as possible but without correct paint and it will looks nice for me , but question of keeping straight original is still very interesting.
From second side if I putting new paint (the same) it is new paint and how it works with originality?

[jpnovak]

As a point of reference. My 71 T targa was one of the last 100 cars to roll off the line in late Sept 1971. It has the 72 side mirrors and later style Fuchs.

I agree, repaint that S back to its original color. the return investment will be worth it in the end.

have fun with the restoration and take lots of pictures. When you feel like you are not making progress go back and look through the pics and see how far you ahve come! Best of luck.

[KNS]

Like everyone else has said, the original color is best. BUT, you have to live with it everday and you want to be sure you will like it. The next best thing is to go with an original, correct color for that year.
Have fun...

[kenikh]

I have to agree. Unless it is Sepia, paint it original. My car was repainted red, from what I believe was Signal Green. I initially did not like green, but now lament the fact that it is now not the original color. Even though I was not a fan of green, now I would have nothing else if I repainted it. Not to mention the value of your car will be dramatically higher if you decide to sell. I love light yellow, but I promise you will begin to second guess your decision to not go original as time passes.

[Tomy]

So I like to keep the car in 100% original shape but rather with color I like
Kurt idea
The next best thing is to go with an original, correct color for that year.

Means that till now I think about light yellow code 117 with is correct for 1971
Thanks for info about mirrors as I was sure that my one is from 1972 but looks that my car is from the end of 1971 and should have mirror and quarter panels as have.
In this case I have all original interior and exterior panels sounds good.
Just yesterday I order all wide S trim as my ones was in not too good condition. (next bill for 400$)

[Bobboloo]

My idea is to finish all body and paint works till 30 of June so I have a lot work to do.

I think that's rather optomistic. You have a lot of panel work ahead. One month for panel work alone would be haulin ass.

Another guy on this board Milt aka "ZEKE" restored his 70'S and had a car in similar condition. He's really good and determined. It took him a lot more then a month just to do the panels. Search under his name ZEKE to see what he did.

As far as the color. Original is usually considered more valuable but it's hard to put a price on the personal effort you put into it so I say go with Lite Yellow if you want it. Besides, the really valuable early cars are the ones with original paint in excellent condition and those cars go for the biggest bucks regardless of the model T,E, or S.

Which ever color you choose this car will be more valuable when you finish because this car looks like it had one foot in the grave.

Good Luck

[Tomy]

Thanks Bobby,

This is my 3d Porsche, first one was 1971 Porsche 911'T sold in feb. this year (as I need founds for my 911'S)





This car was 5 years with me and I little miss him... but is is live, I have now real S model and this is what I like to have.
With my blue one it was another story - body was 100% perfect lest say 95% as paint was not so good put on it as I could do it here. But no rust so no bodywork at all. It was California car so all interrior and weatherstrip was burnout and it was project to do. As well as all suspension was bad, tranny in average condition, engine swap with '69 model what I find when car comes... <-I was angry for seller but it was my first 911 and I had have no knowlage even to cheack numers this time.
Project was finished with one year and I found that from investment side it is not worth to make this car 100% as never ever it wil be back as it was T.
So I spent several years with and have a lot of funn (meantime won one classic car race -Polish classic car championship leage , win first palce in concours of elegance in 2000 and so on) but it was lack of power, and very soft car (my feeling) As it was my first one it was also first one that I strip down and back together learning a lot (damaging a lot too from lack of experience).
And now with this project looks to go easier (hope so) I prepeare all desirable parts before I start project so I hope to work without breake (for parts delivery each time I find that I need something)
I know that 30 days is not so much -but hope to be in time. Rest of the work interrior as well suspension should to finished within next 30 days.
I forget to say that engine and tranny is after full rebuild (have copy of bills)
So of couse detaling is the most time taking part of work.
But I like to drive first time in this year mayby September?

[Tomy]

Some questions during body work, as I striped car fully
-windows
-targa bar
and everything what was to take out I start to take off old paint from the body.
Good news is that this car never had accident all panels are original, and there are no accidents type of damages, so it is very good news.
Bad news is that somebody made bad work with body before, lot of bondo, in some places fiberglass mats, and what is for funny (rather I will kill man who made it) in 3 places I found some patches of steel plate on rear fender riveting to original fender! and at worst without any right secure from internal side (means even no bondo internal) and when water comes from wheels rust made a lot of wholes around.

Now I will do it right with no compromise.
One question :Anybody know that originally Porsche use tape between front wings and body or any sealant? As I like to do it right the same as factory?