'73 Door with side impact bar?

[kugelfischer]

Can anyone definitively let me know if an early '73 (completed in 11/72) coupe door should have side impact bars?
I've been getting a lot of "yeah... they started putting those in sometime around then.."

Thanks!

[ossiblue]

Can't give you the definite answer as my car is a 73.5 and it does have the impact bar. Porsche is well known for making changes throughout a model year but I'm unaware of the exact time when the change came. What is known is 72's didn't have them and by the end of 73 they did. Others will be able to narrow this down, I'm sure. The response you got may be the most appropriate, after all.

[911st]

On the 914, 72 was the last year without beams if that helps.

Probably a US safety requirement or somthing so I would guess this is not the type of thing that was a running change unless it started earlyer than needed.

May be a euro v USA thing.

That would be kind of like the impact bumpers starting part way through a year I am thinking.

Still, it is an interesting question.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Originally Posted by kentf14

Can anyone definitively let me know if an early '73 (completed in 11/72) coupe door should have side impact bars?
I've been getting a lot of "yeah... they started putting those in sometime around then.."

Thanks!

Every US-spec '73 I've ever seen had door beams. Likewise, every '72 I looked at over the past 30 years didn't have them.

Its always possible that very early production '73 cars didn't have them as Porsche always used up their parts inventory. Euro cars didn't have them in '73, of course.

[Bobboloo]

Data point.

My 73' is a fairly early one. U.S. T (MFI) Targa #303. It still has it's original doors and there are no impact beams.

[ossiblue]

Well, from Steve's post, followed by Bobby's data point, I think we have the definitive answer: "Yeah...they started putting those in sometime around then..."

[kugelfischer]

Too funny. Looks like I've got my answer. Thanks guys!

[RWebb]

if you are burning with the desire for knowledge, then go ask on Early 911s bbs

[Stan Gillis]

Does some one have a picture of what the side impact bar looks like?

[RWebb]

some are posted if you search - don't have one handy

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Stan Gillis

Does some one have a picture of what the side impact bar looks like?

Stan,

Here's a picture of the impact bar. The door is laying flat on the ground and you are looking along the bar toward the lock mechanism.

[Stan Gillis]

Ossi Blue,

Thank for the picture of the side impact bar. Now I know what it looks like and where it is located.

It is installed on my 73.5 911T.

[djpateman]

I believe the change occurs close to the change of calendar year, so Nov & Dec are not likely to have it but January production had it for sure. It was a legal requirement, so for the 1973 compliance decals to be valid, the beams had to be in place.

[Woodyhfd]

So what's the verdict? Are you going to use doors with bars or not?

[RWebb]

If this is a wt. issue, then estimate the size of the safety beam (unfolded width x length) - figure out if it is the same gauge metal as the rest of the car * density of sheet steel from look-up tables = the wt. penalty.

A stock door weighs about 60+ lbs.

The EFFECT of the added wt. is minimal on yaw, pitch and roll as it is in the center of the car and fairly low down.

The beam is a critical safety component if you get T-boned, so...

more fun facts:

[Zeke]

Prolly save 4 lbs w/o the bar.

[kugelfischer]

OK, so here is another data point for impact beams. My 11/72 completion date '73 coupe ended up not having the beams once I finally got around to opening up the door..
However, to add to the confusion, my car may not have been a US delivery car (based on the type 013 MFI pump)

Cheers
K