Rocker panels - why?

[dd74]

Other than aesthetics, why were rocker panels used on '74 and later cars up to (I think) the 964?

I can see how the right-side rocker panel hides and potentially protects the oil lines from a front cooler, but is there some other reason for them, such as adding downforce to the car at speed?

[MichiganMat]

Mid-year and newer Targas look like ass without them.

[Jeff Alton]

So you can take them off and feel good about removing weight.... I prefer the look of an SC/Carrera flaired car with out them. But, I like lots of stuff that makes people roll their eyes at me!

Cheers

[PorscheGuy79]

Originally posted by catca
So you can take them off and feel good about removing weight.... I prefer the look of an SC/Carrera flaired car with out them. But, I like lots of stuff that makes people roll their eyes at me!

Cheers

Catca, you and I should start a club...

[rrsrsr]

I think the main reason is to conceal the oil lines, as the front oil coolers were becoming more necessary.

Having oil lines running down the side of the car in plain view always seemed odd to me... and I think to alot of brand new Por$$$che buyers in the 70's as well!

[dd74]

Originally posted by rrsrsr
I think the main reason is to conceal the oil lines, as the front oil coolers were becoming more necessary.

Yes, and there is also a sort of finished look to the cars with the rockers in place.

[jester911]

I had mine off for a few days. The oil lines show so much it needs to be covered.

[Yellowbird RS]

the best looking side rockers are the 964 style

[Walko]

Maybe they put them on so the anal retentive among us wouldn't spend every other day polishing the oil lines.

Michael

[911teo]

They are there so that u can spend some $$$ to take them off...

it looks soooooo much better without!!!

[pwd72s]

Well, is it looks or is it function? Seems to me that exposed oil lines would cool better. But then, at high speeds, rocker covered oil ines would work better aerodynamically, (for top end) and the car would overall be prettier to look at. I guess this is an asthetrics/performance choice thing...especially for street cars. If track is your thing? Go for what works best on the track you run most.

[ianc]

What surprised me was the difference in the sound of the engine without the rockers. I drove the thing home without them, and the engine sound was much louder; it seemed to swell out of the side of the car and be much more audible. I almost kept them off.

But no.

ianc

[911pcars]

I actually installed them on my early chassis so I could take them off at a later date to remove weight. ... and to be different. Too many RS clones. Makes little or no difference in the oil temps.

BTW, if I had an IROC 911, I'd leave the rockers off too.

Sherwood

[Jays72T]

They are for aesthetics only. They cover unsightly oil lines and give a finished look. Personaly I like the light wieght look.

[450knotOffice]

The rocker panels give the bumper cars a more elegant look, imo. I drove my car without the rockers for a week or so and decided that my car needed the rockers back on. The oil lines in plain view give the car a very crude, unfinished look, as does the exposed jack point below the door.

Good for a race car, but cheap and hokey looking on a street car.

[Jack Olsen]

I actually like them on the early cars, sometimes, too. I used to run them on my early car, both the impact-bumper style:



And before that, the chrome type:

[dickster]

Be prepared for lots of comments and questions about it if you remove them. I never put mine back on after fitting new t/bars but I'm so fed up with people asking about it that I'll put them back on!