New (to me) 1968 911

dcdm421 · 07-19-2009, 05:15 PM

Almost 3 months ago I picked up a 1968 911. I think it's an L model but I have not have a lot of time to mess around with this car due to being a full time student. I have done some research and have found that there are not many parts available for 1968. Anyways, tell me what you guys think of the car.

These are all pictures of when it first arrived, but I can add some photos later. This is my first Porsche. I have been a Triumph guy my whole life, but it looks as if I may want to become a full time Porsche guy.

dcdm421 · 07-19-2009, 05:19 PM

Anyways, to the technical part.. I am in need of a new dash or dash cap. I can not find one anywhere. I am hoping that I could find someone who is parting out a 68. I am not sure, but I believe that the 68' 912 has the same interior So I could also use a dash from a 912 of the same year?

Rich Lambert · Rich Lambert's Garage

Welcome! More pictures and some history, please.

A good resource for SWB parts is the Early 911S Registry and you don't have to have a 'S' to join. http://www.early911sregistry.org

jimbauman · 07:56 PM

Cross reference your VIN here:

http://www.911specs.net/VIN60s911.htm

That will tell you what it is.... If it shows as a '68 S, then you probably have an L...

JB

PS: call Spencer at Parts Heaven in Hayward, CA. They got tons of stuff stacked to the ceiling. No telling what they may have for your year...

rvanderpyl · rvanderpyl's Garage

Yes 68 912 Dash cap will be the same. However the 68 was a one year only, as perhaps you already know, so it is almost impossible to find a replacement in good shape. You may be better off taking yours out and having it redone. It won't be original, but it can look better.

jkarolyi · 07:40 AM

Judging by the aluminum dash trim and the rear emblem, as well as the skinny bumper trim, you have a base 911 with 130hp stock. The 911L had elephant grained vinyl instead of aluminum. The 911L had some upgraded brakes, sway bars, nicer carpet, and wider bumper trim, but the same engine with 130hp as your car. This was the first year of emissions controls, and Porsche only certified one 911 engine in 1968.

Some parts can be hard to find for the '68, but almost all the parts are available and interchange from '65-68 models. '69-73s have a longer wheelbase, and less stuff interchanges. The dash and door panels are one-year-only pieces. You can remove your dash fairly easily without removing the windshield...I would do that and have a local shop recover it (not much money), or send it to one of the dash specialists. It will cost big bucks, but they can make it look like it did when new.

Gorgeous car by the way! Is slate gray the original color? Welcome to Pelican...you'll learn tons here.

Carrerax · 07-20-2009, 07:55 AM

where in Ohio are you located?

Brother · 07-20-2009, 08:08 AM

Cool belt buckles.

Winter · 07-20-2009, 11:08 AM

Cool car, nice find.

Good luck and you'll love this forum for all the help you'll get. I've been really stoked on the advice others here have given my for the '75.

---
Tom '75 targa

dcdm421 · 07-20-2009, 02:28 PM

Thanks everyone for the great advice on the car. I just took some photos of the problem part of the dash and the car in general. There is a great history with me and this car! This 911 has been in my family since it was new and it has spent most of its life in Florida. We obtained this car under some unfortunate circumstances, but I am glad to see it stay in the family. I can remember being about 10 years old visiting my relative and spending the whole day in the garage drooling over this car.

@ Jkarolyi- The original color of the car is Irish Green, but after a fender bender in the early 90's, it was repainted slate gray. As I understand it, slate gray is not an original for this year. Again I really appreciate everyone on the forum, you make me feel very welcome!

Here is the part of the dash that makes it unable to be recovered, according to the local shop-

Some other pics-

I don't want to ask too many questions, but I was wondering if anyone knew of a template for the PORSCHE lettering across the "rear bonnet." (idk what it's actually called) After the fender bender, the lid was replaced and the letter has never been replaced.

djpateman · 07-20-2009, 06:34 PM

Slate gray was indeed a 68 color, code 6801. That is a pretty nice engine compartment; clean for a non-concours car for sure.

Fritter · 07-20-2009, 08:06 PM

Nice '68. If I were you, I'd worry less about making it perfect and for now, just clean it up and detail it real good. Read and learn about the car and what parts it should have on it. Then worry about fixing/replacing parts later.

And keep your eye on the for sale boards here and on the Early S registry, most likely a lot of the parts will fall in your lap there.

I have a "normal" '68 also with the aluminum dash trim and the basketweave door panels. Mine was originally a sportomatic (now it's a 901 5 spd), so my car has the S brakes and full gauges.

rgrimm · rgrimm's Garage

Hey, welcome to the '68 club! A few more pics and we'll introduce you to the secret handshake.

Looks like a "normal" to me...with the aluminum dash panels and the combination gas/low fuel light on the far left. Temp gauge may have been swapped out...the "normal" has a temperature scale across the top, similar to the fuel gauge, with a brake warning light on the bottom (at least, I think that's right!). But hey, I think there were fewer normals sold then Ls,so thats a good thing, right?

Nice engine compartment--I'm envious--and I always like to see 68s that still have the original side reflectors...hold on to those. I also have the same belts...but I had to find a couple of the emblems off eBay to complete them.

Speaking of which, you occasionally see '68 dashes and door panels on eBay. The door panels will be "basket-weave" (normal) or "elephant-hide" (L). But they don't come up very often. But it doesn't hurt to ask here, or the Early 911S registry (I know, it's not an S, but they are a nice bunch that really like the early cars).

You can find original or reproduction fog lights for the front, along with the switch that would go above the radio. Or you can find metal plates for the openings...get them painted and there's a small gasket that fits around the plate. Do you have the rubber floot mats? They come up from time to time as well.

BTW, there was an air pump driven off the left cam (as you look at the car from the back). Most were removed, and while I have just a block-off plate, it looks like you still have the pully, if you were wondering what that was.

You've got a GREAT car. Congrats and enjoy!

Deschodt · 07-21-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcdm421

I was wondering if anyone knew of a template for the PORSCHE lettering across the "rear bonnet." (idk what it's actually called) After the fender bender, the lid was replaced and the letter has never been replaced.

Last time I needed that, I cut a straigth strip of paper and taped it to the edges of my old 912's trunk (the trunk lid is not straight to aim for the low corners and you'll be OK), did the crayon-rub trick on them (stencil like), and then cut out the letter boxes out of the strip....

Applied to the other car with bits of trim adhesive....

Find an old car ;-) I'm in Tampa if you wanna use mine as a template...

Fritter · 07-21-2009, 03:27 PM

More observations, you have the desireable hockey puck horn button, and also unmolested basket weave door panels with no speaker holes. Nice.

dcdm421 · 07-22-2009, 10:45 AM

Thanks for the great insight everyone! I think you are right fritter about not worrying about making this a perfect car and just cleaning it up really nice for now. I will keep a close eye out for dashes and try to identify other pieces I would like to acquire.

I would also like to say that the car use to have speakers that just sat in the back of the car below the back glass. I am glad the door panels have not been cut into. I would prefer to just take the radio out completely and find some sort of cover to go over the radio hole. Who needs music when you have the sound of your engine??

Fritter · 07-22-2009, 03:20 PM

Look through this site, I believe he made a radio block off plate for his 912 from scratch

http://www.darrylsgarage.com/912/912.htm

Zeke · 07-22-2009, 03:40 PM

Too bad about the chunk missing from the LH side of the dash. Be patient and watch for a replacement in the parts4sale sections of this BBS and others. You may indeed have to have it redone after you get a used one. One in pristine condition may cost quite a bit. Ask around about who does the best. There is one company you can ship it to, but I don't have the name off hand.

pozee · 07-22-2009, 05:49 PM

dcdm,

A good upholstery shop would fab the end piece (the foundation) duplicating the right side and then recover the dash. Something to consider as a last resort.

Nice car.

dcdm421 · 07-24-2009, 07:35 AM

Fritter-
Thanks for the link to the website. That guy did an amazing job of restoring that 912. Constructing the blanking plate in the same way he did does not seem like it would be that hard. In my opinion, the hard part is done. He already did all of the research to figure out the exact measurements.

Deschodt-
Thanks to you too for your great idea. Using the old stencil trick is a great idea.