to tail or not to tail

[remigio]

86 targa w/ low-on-the-cowl carrera logo

being older and having yet to go >100mph, a spoiler would be just a matter of aesthetics for me and the wife. i thought a "clean rear" would be better for us. it was one of the selling points of the car last july. now that i'd seen both forms of the body, i am not so sure.

may be i would "tail"and maybe i'll stay put. i would like opinions pro and con vis-a-vis a whale tail in the rear.

thanx/remigio
72mbz 280se 4.5 (gave to son)
80 fiat pininfarina 2000 (stolen)

[Les Paul]

I'm at the Porsche point in my life I would say no tail. The 911 shape doesn't need no stinkin tail.

[zipinitaly]

Duck tail...........

[algs911]

I have an '86 coupe and have been turning this issue over and over in my head. I currently do NOT have a tail. I'll upload a pic soon. I'm interested in opinions on this one!

Al

[Jim Richards]

no tail or duck tail or 964 electrically operated tail

[Hodgey]

Originally Posted by Les Paul

I'm at the Porsche point in my life I would say no tail. The 911 shape doesn't need no stinkin tail.

Absolutely...no badge either

[joeblow]

I'm debating too...I tailed but I have a lightweight decklid I am painting too so I can go back and forth! I guess I am a little indecisive...

[Hodgey]

Originally Posted by Hodgey

Absolutely...no badge either

[G50]

I think these cars look a LOT better without the tails.

They weren't designed with the tail, and the tail ruins the lines. Say what you will about the tails, but there is no denying it is a "tacked on" thing, and it looks it, IMO.

I think they esp. don't flow well on the Targas.

My Targa came with one, I thought I could learn to live with it, but just couldn't. Had to remove it!




If you insist on doing it, buy one complete with the decklid, or buy another used decklid to mount the tail to. You're going to be doing paintwork on the tail anyways, so doing a little more on the spare decklid won't cost much more.

A future owner may thank you!

[G50]

BTW, your logo is way too low on the decklid. My guess would be that the decklid was repainted at some time, and the shop didn't know where to place the emblem.

It doesn't look right where it is, you can easily fix it. The emblem is just stuck on with double sided tape, it'll come right off with a little heat from a hairdryer, and run some dental floss under it to "saw" it off.

You can then reapply doublesided tape and put it in the right spot, or just get a new emblem (which comes with tape ready to go). A new one is less than $20.

[scottrx7tt]

i would not have it any other way, as long as i could remember i always LOVED the huge whale tail on the 911.

[BeyGon]

If it had it when you bought it I would be happy with it, if it didn't I would be happy with it, I wouldn't change either way.

[Arizona 911]

I bought my 1980 SC with a 964 turbo S tail and I thought it looked nice, but after having the car for 3 years, I changed my mind. I recently bought a stock decklid from a fellow Pelican and am currently stripping it for a repaint. I was going to keep the tail and decklid, but I know I will never put it back on the car so I will probably sell it at some point.

[Por_sha911]

The tail is iconic and period correct. It makes your car unique from other brands.

[Poor-sche Lover]

It really is a personal choice, and EVERYBODY has their own opinion. I've always thought that coupes = no tail, targas = ducktail, cabs = Carrera tail, turbos = turbo tail. If you're having trouble deciding, get a decklid with and one without. You can change them as you see fit.

[mr 911]

presently going through a similar debate...there are days when my Carrera tail looks great and days where I feel it sets back the look of the car...

[Winter]

duck on targa.

[hpaull]

Clearly the easy solution is to buy one with a tail to go along with your tail-less one. After all it's much easier to swap keys then decklids.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by scottrx7tt

i would not have it any other way, as long as i could remember i always LOVED the huge whale tail on the 911.

That is not the "whale tail" as I know it, I refer to it as the "tea tray" tail, my daughter often found it convenient as a diaper changing station. Our '78 Targa got both front and rear spoilers (tea tray rear) shortly after we purchased it and I think it definitely adds something positive to the look.

I owned a '99 996 for a brief period but long enough to install the complete factory spoiler set. Our '01 C4 was ordered with the full spoiler set. Our '88 Carrera special edition is at the moment factory original and I vacilate back and forth often as to whether to add the tea tray spoiler. One of these days it will go into the shop to eliminate the sunroof in favor of T-Tops and at that time I'm sure it will also get the rear spoiler.

The '78 Targa getting a new alternator.

[D911SC]

Used to hate the turbo tail unless it was on a turbo body. When I bought my SC with Sport option it came with this tail and I was convinced that removing it would be the first project.

I held off and now I actually like it.