Quick question on Factory Carrera Tail / Rear Spoiler

[laundromatt]

hi, i'm looking to add one to my car (1984 carrera 3.2L), and i have a quick question -

on the original factory porsche-made carrera spoilers, is the grill in the middle of the spoiler made out of black rubber, or is it metal painted black? i did a search, and i've seen both, but i didn't know what was the official/factory made version, so i thought i'd ask here.

thanks,
matt

[RSTarga]

Anodized metal then painted metal , never rubber

[laundromatt]

Does the grill part come off, or is it all one-piece?

[Cattler]

Its actually two pieces--they come off from the inside of the tail.

[rusnak]

Are you talking about the louvered section? The fiberglass tail is all one section, and the louvers are painted to look like they're separate. The louvers are lined from the inside with metal mesh, which is painted as described.

[rusnak]

Just found a picture that might help.

[laundromatt]

oh, so the louvered/grill section is not something that comes off, but is just painted to look that way?

what's the metal mesh, then?

[rusnak]

Actually, if you work from the inside of the tail, there are metal louvers, and the metal mesh is sandwiched between the fiberglass outer louvers and the inner metal louvers. The metal inner louvers serve to guide airflow most likely.

[laundromatt]

hi rusnak (and others),

so i picked up a guards red carrera tail/lid combo earlier today. it seems to be genuine porsche parts, but there are a few things i wanted to ask.

1. the louvered part of the tail is red, just like the rest of the tail - is that supposed to be that way, or is it supposed to be black?

2. there's a metal mesh under the fiberglass outer louvers, but there is no metal louvers to be found anywhere. is this a necessary part, and where can i get one? wayne's 101 project book didn't show the metal louvers in the spoiler installation section.

if anyone has anymore pictures of their carrera tails, it would be a great help to me, as i'm wondering if i should have the louvered part painted black or not.

thanks again,
matt

[Geronimo '74]

Matt,

1. the louvred part is normally black, only the RS America had that part painted in the same color as the body.
I have a black spoiler and had that part painted to match. I like it better this way.
See pics

2 The metal louvres should be in there from factory. Mine are there, and I'm not sure if they are really necessary. I've seen other cars without them.

[rusnak]

The factory tail has square shaped holes in the metal mesh, also note the curved brackets that mount the tail to the engine lid, as well as the metal louvers. If you are changing the tail base gasket, be sure to secure it with a few pop rivets.

[laundromatt]

thanks for the pictures.

here's mine. the fiberglass part needs some touching up, so i may just repaint the whole thing. though, i may keep the whole thing red. any thoughts? is it more "period/factory correct" to have the louvers black?

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by laundromatt

is it more "period/factory correct" to have the louvers black?

Yes. Satin black like the pictures above.

[laundromatt]

thanks.

is there a template out there that i can use to paint this thing? i'm sure there must be something out there - people must paint their tails to match their cars all the time...

anyone?

[Peter Zimmermann]

I decided to leave mine red - like it better!

[laundromatt]

hey peter,

what car is that in the picture? i didn't see an emblem on the decklid.

and is that a factory Porsche carrera tail?

matt

[rusnak]

That would be the Dr's ultra-clean 911SC. You might go a long time before you see another as clean.

[Peter Zimmermann]

Thank you, Mr. "Nak"!

I think the earlier posted picture was pre-emblem. Just to keep it "honest," here's the way it looks today.

And, yes, it's a factory 3.2 Carrera tail...

[laundromatt]

Does anyone else out there have any carrera tail pics I can show to a body shop?

[imcarthur]

From above.

Ian