Duck Tail vs. Whale Tail

[lfhunt1]

Any convincing argument(s) or advice on which tail (duck / whale) one should choose for an '86 targa? I honestly like both looks - just figured I would run the traps before purchase. Thanks in advance for any feedback. L Hunt

[makaio]

Carera tail, not turbo. It's period correct. Ducks look fine, but look more at home on an early car IMHO.

[MindtrapX]

+1
May be a bit bias though, always wanted the Whale... Took a long time lookin, but I got her.

[deshetlr]

I have a Carrera whaletail on my '86 coupe that I removed from a cab. I love it on the coupe but I think a cab and targa are better plain or ducktailed. Just fits the lines better IMO. Check out the Penske targa in Excellence.

[OZCarrera3]

I've always thought Targa's look great with ducktails and would be my preference. However have to agree that if you're going to go a whale tail, then a Carrera tail would look better than a turbo (looks way too heavy on anything but a wide-body).

The positive for a ducktail is that being fibreglass, they are generally a lot lighter than either whale tails (mine weighed approx. 20kgs/45lbs with lid).

[911st]

If we are voting, the Targa looks its best without any tail. If one must, the duck dose is not bad.

Targa's set at the right ride height are georgous as they are. If it was my car and I did not alread have them I would get a set of 7&8 or 7&9 Fuchs before I did a tail.

Note that the 3.2 tail adds about 35 lbs and a duck is difficult to get to fit as well as a stock lid and complicates the A/C condensor instal.

However, everone should build there car the way they want it.

[MOMO3.2]

It is all a matter of personal taste, but I think a duck tail fits the look and styling of Targas very well. Targas have a more robust looking rear. Therefore, the flowing aero lines of the Carrera tail are somewhat at odds with the rear of a Targa. As far as being "correct", Porsche fitted duck tails to the 1974 Carrera Targa (short hood).

Moreover, the rake of the windshield and A pillar is repeated in the Targa bar and then in the duck.

Example:



True, the fit on most ducktails is not near as nice as the stock engine lid. As far as fitting 7&9" Fuchs and lowering your car first, I agree. That is what I did to my Carrera.

It is the look I was hoping for. In my biased opinion, Coupes ain't got nothin on my Targa!

Mike

[gtc]

As long as you have RS/SC/Carrera flares, I think that either one is fine.

[imcarthur]

From a straight technical standpoint, the Carrera tail is more efficient at reducing lift. In the graph below (posted many times) the Turbo tail refers to the early Turbo tail which morphed into the Carrera tail. The 3.3 Turbo tail is the one used on later widebody Turbos.



Ian

[alniki]

My Targa felt much more tail happy after the turbo whale tail was removed but I like the lightness and harmonic integral line without any tail. If I must choose one, it would be duck tail. For a wide body, the turbo tail looks fantastic, no comparison.

[lfhunt1]

All - Thank you very much.... Just wanted to make sure I wasn't completely off heading down the duck path.

For the record - I'm going duck hunting. The photo did it for me - thx "momo3.2". Thanks for the graph too - nice.