Window Chrome

Hi Guys,

Well, I wish to replace every piece of window chrome on my 74’ Carrera, from the doors, rear & front quarter windows, to the windshield, rear window, and door handles.

My original anodized chrome is starting to look tatty; I want to replace it all with the older, silver chrome, as per my chrome headlight frames.

Has any member of this board done this? If so, can you give me a ballpark estimate as to how much it all cost, and, where you sourced the chrome for the doors, and the front & rear quarter windows?

I’ve only got prices for replacement door handles, and the replacement chrome trim for the windshield and rear window from Pelican Parts.

Hi Matt,
Are you sure that there are window frames in CHROME? On my '73 RS, they look a lot like chrome, but they are anodised aluminum, not chromed. The headlight rings are indeed chromed.
Regards, GeorgeK

George,

The chrome/window trim I have is, or what I thought, was anodized chrome - the blacked-out chrome (aluminum).

The window trim I want is the polished silver 'chrome', as with most pre-77' 911's.

I had no idea it was actually aluminum!

Thanks for the clarification!

George is correct - the "frames" around the front and rear windows are polished aluminum. They are still available new. I think I paid around $250 for the F/R set from Stoddard. On the coupes, the frames around the side windows are similar brushed/polished alloy.

The door top trim pieces and vent wing window frames are chrome, as are the bumper guards, headlight rings, horn grilles, door handles, and rocker decos. On my Targa there's also the chrome base trim around the bottom of the rear window, under the rubber seal and alloy trim. I don't think the coupes have that (?). The rocker panel covers are stainless steel, I think.

For point of reference, it cost me around $1500 (OUCH) to either re-chrome are replace all of the bright trim and chrome on my 70 911E this summer. If you can find good used stuff that doesn't need rechroming then your project might be cheaper, but keep in mind that the finish on 27-30 year old used parts is not going to look like new so you might have to buy the parts AND rechrome them to accomplish your "back-dating" project!

Good luck,
Chris Campbell

[This message has been edited by campbellcj (edited 07-28-2000).]

Matt,

You may not have to buy any new pieces at all, assuming you can remove the aluminum without damage.

If you can find a plating shop that does anodizing with extra care to small lots, they can remove the black anodized finish, and do a new clear anodize job, which is much more durable than ANY of the color anodizing jobs available!

A little searching for the right shop that can do the high-quality work you need ... will pay-off big in long-term savings!

------------------
Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Didn't the early cars (A-chassis) and up till '72 have chrome-plated brass door window frames? My '66 912 did-but I had them powder-coated black. The 1/4 windows were indeed aluminum, though. Warren, when did they switch from brass to aluminum? I'm not sure...

.

[This message has been edited by ClayMcguill (edited 07-28-2000).]

The trim pieces on your car if they are stock. Are bright dipped,polished and then clear anodized. I am not an anodizer but this process was explained to me when I refinished all of the trim on my car. I didn't want the chrome look so my stuff was stripped at the anodizing shop and then powder coated semi-gloss black. The factory started off anodizing the black parts and was having problems keeping everything the same color of black, different alloys take the anodizing to different levels of black, remember some of the parts are extruded and some are cast. At that point they started using some form of powder coating. Look at a set of old (1973)black door handles and a set off of a say 1987 car, I bought new style handles with the trigger rather than the push button that was stock, one door handle was anodized the other was powder coated. If you have prpblems finding someone do do your work e-mail me and I will try to get you in contact with some shops in Portland Oregon that do this type of work. I belive that you can chrome the aluminuim but they have to plate it with copper or something before the bright chrome goes on, these processes have changed so much over the last few years that I might be all wet on this.

Randy Jones
1971 911

P.S. From Porsche window framesfor the doors,q-window frames the piece that goes under the door window and under the q-window new are about $2500.00 in chrome look aluminuim.

[This message has been edited by RLJ (edited 07-28-2000).]

Thanks a bunch guys for the information, and for all your suggestions.

It seems clear to me that the most cost effective option would be to find a chrome-plating specialist to try and salvage my original black anodized chrome for the desired 'polished silver’, retro look.

While it would be nice just to drive down to my local Porsche dealer, I just can't afford to help pay their overheads!

I'll let you know what I end up doing, and how.

Thanks again.

Am thinking of redoing my trim too for a couple of reasons. First is the body butcher that had the car before me left a lot of sanding scratches in the trim. don't ask me how or why ..I'm afraid to even guess!!! Also mine are a shade of gunmetal gray...which I discovered when replacing a window track seal, is what happens to the black anodized trim over a period of 20 years. I want to go with the original black anodized. From what I gather powder coating is the route to take..Am I correct??? Also since it is a 79 SC I think that was the last year for the silver anodized option so whoever had the car before the previous owner bastardized it by putting silver anodized trim on both the windshield and rear window surround!!!! Probably thought it matched the faded gunmetal look better...I have replaced the front surround but want the car to look more updated so am opting for the black.