Looking for pics of an original 1973 coupe

jwerion · 06-22-2007, 11:51 AM

I am trying to restore my 1973 T coupe with S trim back to concourse condition and I need to know what exactly the interior and exterior looked like.

I have most of the basics done such as new dash, seats, headliner, carpet, knobs, door pockets, etc. But I need to know where the door speakers mounted. I have seen pics of the speaker on the door panel behind the pocket and speakers on the outside of the door pocket it self.

I also don't know if the 73 T with S trim still had the large rubber bumper extensions on the front.

Any help here is appreciated.

tangerine911S · 06-22-2007, 12:02 PM

if there were speakers, they would have been mounted on the door panel not the pocket. there is a speaker hole built into the door behind the panel

if its a 73 i think there would have been large rubber bumper overriders

TargaT · 06-22-2007, 12:06 PM

My 73T does not have the large bumber over riders but they are black as opposed to chrome. It is a Canadian car so I don't know if there was a difference in the US cars. It seems all the CIS cars have the large bumpers; mine is MFI.

Joe

randywebb · 06-22-2007, 12:32 PM

you need to buy a copy of Johnson's book.

Early 911S bbs will have a lot of info also.

big ugly bumpers go with the CIS injection - both are mid-year items & those cars are often called 1973 1/2 cars.

If you plan to restore or enter a concours, you will want to spell it correctly...

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by jwerion
I am trying to restore my 1973 T coupe with S trim back to concourse condition and I need to know what exactly the interior and exterior looked like.

I have most of the basics done such as new dash, seats, headliner, carpet, knobs, door pockets, etc. But I need to know where the door speakers mounted. I have seen pics of the speaker on the door panel behind the pocket and speakers on the outside of the door pocket it self.

I also don't know if the 73 T with S trim still had the large rubber bumper extensions on the front.

Any help here is appreciated.

there were no factory door speakers in '73, only the single dash speaker

The S spoiler was steel and looked like this, only US cars had the rugged rubber baby bumpers

jwerion · 06-22-2007, 01:50 PM

Thanks guys and Randy I have ordered johnson's book.

Bill thanks for the info this confirms that what I have is correct. I was confused when reading somthing stating that the 73 911's had to have the large ugly rubber bumpers to meet US safety standards. My bumber is the metal S unit and there are no speakers in the doors. I didn't know if at some point the door panels had been recovered and the speakers removed.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

You can barely see 'em but the extended rubber bumpers are there.

Max2.0 · 06-22-2007, 02:10 PM

I'll see if these will load...
This car is the way she came straight from porsche; and the photos are now OLD, so sorry for the quality!

jwerion · 06-22-2007, 04:41 PM

So did all the 73's have the extended rubber bumpers or did just the CIS 73's? I have an early 73 with MFI and it came with the S steel bumper and S trim but it did not have the large extended rubber bumpers. I am just trying to get it as close to original as possible.

Thank you all again for the information and keep the photos coming

pwd72s · 06-22-2007, 04:46 PM

1973 911 cars, all models, came with the big rubber bumpers, as mandated by the United States Government...so, cars imported to the USA through legit channels had these bumpers when they arrived at the dealerships. It didn't take long for many of the owners to remove & toss the damned ugly things!

randywebb · 06-22-2007, 09:51 PM

?? I thought it was only mid-year and later for the big rubber bumpers...

I sold mine to a concours person in NY...

You can estimate your car's build date from the VINs & info that Early 911s club puts out - it may be posted on their website or you may have to join & get the paper bulletin to find that list.

pwd72s · 06-23-2007, 07:31 AM

Randy, I remember going to the Portland Auto Show, the dog & pony show put on by all the car dealers, just as the new year's models come out...at the Porsche booth, those ugly bumpers were on display...I truly believe they were on all the 1973 model year 911's...as I said, quickly removed by many owners...

randywebb · 12:19 PM

OK - thanks for clarifying that.

Sad for the '73 concours people to have those ugly things on there...

jwerion - post any other questions you can't get answered.
I'm told the '73.5 cars have some things in the rear seat upholstery area that are more like a '74 than a regular '73 (told that by PAP seat belt people).

My car is at Yet Another Boring Hot Rod Rgruppe Car - Part V, Exterior & Paint

but it is as unoriginal as I can make it...

724doorE · 06-23-2007, 06:14 PM

All the more reason to have a 72 as if the forth door wasn't enough!!

Just kidding!!!!

Sunroof · 06-23-2007, 07:22 PM

I have an unmolested 1973.5T (Sepia brown) and the rubber "bumperettes" came only on the 73.5T model when CIS was introduced. The original car only had a 6" X 8" front speaker. All other speakers were installed as aftermarket and because the space is so tight on the doors speakers were set up on the rear deck. The "S" trim was a chrome factory option. Luckily for me I have that package which includes the wheel well trim (chrome), chrome and black rubber side pieces both front and rear and the chrome piece that runs the length of the car on the sides below the door. On the "T" the front spoiler was an option. Doors did not change much during early 70 models. Those bungee tightened door pockets as well as the map pockets were chrome trimmed and a fortune to buy new and a small fortune for aftermarket or refurnished pieces. Nothing special about the rear seat versus the 1974 models. I had a 1974 and their is no difference in the seats themselves.

Sorry I have no photos to download for you, but in my opinion if your going to invest in an early longhood keeping it as original as possible adds greatly to the value. All these "S" trim pieces are available as OEM from several vendors. And yes that even includes leaving on those "bumperettes if yours is the 73.5T.

Bob
73.5T Sepia of course

randywebb · 06-23-2007, 09:33 PM

The forth door is an outstanding addition mainly because of the threading possibilities. If I could find one with an APL door I'd be home free...

jwerion · 06-24-2007, 07:12 AM

Bob, Thanks for the information my car is an early 1973 T with MFI. My plan is and has been to keep it as original as possible. I have purchased new door pockets to the tune of $2,500, OEM dash with speaker cover, correct carpet ( 2 1/2 months to find the correct tan carpet), Correct Blaubunkt radio (spelling?) and tool kit from Germany .

So far everything I have done has been to keep it original. But I am now at the point where I need to do the exterior finish and I don't want to screw it up by mounting the wrong trim parts.
The chassis has been sanded to bare metal (I left the undercoating on) to check for rust or accident damage, thankfully nothing was found but the front suspension pan with a little bit of rust.

Do you or anyone else happen to know what the S trim package consisted of exactly for the early 73 T's for boith the interior (if any changes) and exterior?

911s55 · 06-24-2007, 07:38 AM

Radio spelling? turn the b upside down! As far as wanting your car to be "Concours", I would suggest getting a Certificate of Authenticity" from Porsche of North America, I believe they cost around $100, but if your car is going to be nit picked you need to know how it was ordered and what it was optioned with. These sometimes won't be exact but before you start spending more big money for Unobtanium make sure you even need it. Look at as much literature as you can, lot's of differences of opinion regarding "facts". Take your time
David

pwd72s · 06-24-2007, 09:23 AM

Further evidence...a pic I took of Fred F., back in 1975. Note the vanity plate, yes it was a 1973 "S", with MFI...ordered early in the model year...note the big rubber bumpers sticking out through the bra holes.

reed930 · 06-24-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sunroof
I have an unmolested 1973.5T (Sepia brown) and the rubber "bumperettes" came only on the 73.5T model when CIS was introduced

The big rubber bumpers were definitely NOT exclusive to 73.5 CIS models. AFAIK they were installed on all '73 models, including T, E and S.

Quote:

Originally posted by Sunroof
The "S" trim was a chrome factory option. Luckily for me I have that package which includes the wheel well trim (chrome), chrome and black rubber side pieces both front and rear and the chrome piece that runs the length of the car on the sides below the door.

The wheel well moldings were not part of the "S" package. They were a stand-alone option ordered independently of the "S" appearance group.

Take your time and do plenty of your own research before undertaking any restoration.