Which Tail is Best: A Duck, or an Early (74-77) Carrera Tail for an 81 SC Targa

[UrQuattro]

Hey all,

So, I have a line on a really nice early carrera style fiberglass tail, with rubber that is in excellent condition. The seller wants $500, and is willing to hook me up with a painter/body guy friend of his who is willing to paint it for between $200-$300 (i know, an awesome deal). Ive seen pics of this tail on the sellers car, and the fit is really amazing. I've also seen it in person, and it is truly in great condition. He was told by the guy he bought the tail from that it has an aluminum frame covered in fiberglass. Im not sure about that, but I wasnt able to find any major issues with the tail at all... There is a little bit of seperation on either side of the tail where the outer part seems to have a slightly different arc compared to the inner, but the lenghts are only about 6" long, and it looks like its been like that for a while, since there is paint in there... He had it on his car for a few years and never noticed them...

But, im also thinking that maybe a ducktail is the better way to go. I know that someday the rubber lip on the carrera tail will fail, and they arent cheap to replace assuming they can be found.. But, a duck, well, there's no rubber lip, and they are what they are...

I'll attach a picture of my car for your viewing pleasure. I'm supposed to meet the guy selling the carrera tail on friday night to buy it, so feedback is definitely welcome...

And, I already have a factory front rubber spoiler/lip for the front, which will be going on the car no matter what happens. So, I've got that covered.

The only difference in the look of my car right now is that i added euro style H4's, and i've decided to leave the black rings exposed, instead of going with color matched trim rings... On my car, because of all the black trim, it just seems to really work... they are very eye catching,..

Anyway, the color on the car is kalahari beige metallic (LA1Y), which is a 944 color. The PO had it painted this color (originally guards red), and the paint quality is really surprisingly good...

Thanks in advance everyone...

Michael

[Ofishbein]

Ducks can really transform the look of a Targa.

[Wavey]

Agreed - duck is more appropriate for a Targa - already enough going on there visually.

[wolf76]

I voted for no tail. I always like the "clean" look of the car. Nice looking car by the way.


Chris

[wolf76]

I just took a 2nd look and noticed the BBS wheels. The color really works well with your car.


Chris

[Swoboda]

I have a 1985 Targa without any tail, and I'd only consider a ducktail.

I have a ducktail on my wishlist--but I'd keep the "naked" tail, too. I think they both look great.

[tharbert]

I'm not a fan a tailed Targas but if it must have one, quack.

[jackb911]

I vote duck...quack, quack. Targas look great with them!

And I love those BBS wheels on your car. While they sometimes appear a bit dated, they really work well with your color.

[Canada Kev]

In a targa, a duck seems to look best. For example, take a gander at Ed Hughes Ruby. Sorry, no pic at this time as I'm at work, uhhh... working? Yeah, sure, that's what we'll call it.

[911st]

Targa's have such nice lines as is. Any tail on one just never looks right to my eye.

However, if one must then I would say a duck.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Duck

Fuchs

H4s

Done.

[450knotOffice]

Duck tails work on Targas.

[gtc]

If you buy one of the tails and have it painted, do yourself a favor and buy some new H4 trim rings to have painted at the same time.

[70SC]

Here's a Carrera tail on a 81 SC Targa . I'm trying to figure out if i like the Carrera tail Or should i go with a duck ? I kinda think the Carrera tail looks good with the Targa lines !?!?

[Tsunamiboy]

Ed's Ruby, Doesn't get much nicer then that!

[UrQuattro]

Hehe... Wow, I thought that there would be more people saying that the early Carrera tail works, but this is just overwhelmingly in favor of a ducktail.

I guess its settled.

So, now I just have to find an affordable ducktail and paint it.

Michael

[911pcars]

What if the consensus prefers you replace the BBS wheels with Fuchs? It's your car. YMMV.

Sherwood

[drcoastline]

Get em both. That's what I did. "Becaussseeeee, sometimes you feel like a nut... sometimes you don't!"

[MOMO3.2]

QUACK,QUACK

[UrQuattro]

What if the consensus prefers you replace the BBS wheels with Fuchs? It's your car. YMMV.



Sherwood

Well... I'd say that the concensus has really good taste, cause I love Fuchs too, but I flat out love these wheels on this car.

In the picture, they aren't that clean. The outer surface and the lips are fairly clean, but the sides of the spokes are still covered with brake dust.

When they are completely clean, the gold looks lighter and a lot closer to the color of the car.

Plus, my guess is that the concensus IS that I should replace the wheels with Fuchs.

But, these are 7" wide front and 8.5" wide rear, and have a small offset, so they really fill outt the flares really well.

As far as me going with the duck due in part to the concensus of the board, I had specifically asked for help making my decision about what to do as far as a tail. I didnt ask about the wheels or whether I should put the painted trim rings on my euro h4s. I like the way the car looks with the black trim on the h4s. They stand out and really make you notice them because of the contrast of the black on the kalahari beige paint. If there weren't so much black on the car already, I'd be more motivated to install painted rings.

Yah, its my car, but I haven't seen all of the different variants in person enough since I've had the car to make a decisive choice without external input.

I've decided on my own that I'm changing the colors of the interior to something that I hope turns out looking really really good and not like a mis-match.

Did I answer your question?

Michael