911T ques.

[jeff m]

It's a '72 911T (still MFI)
The driver's door is not the same as the pass. door, it does not have anything to pull to close it as the pass door does.
I've had the car a few years and I've always found this irritating,
I saw a pic of a drivers door "with a handle" maybe it wasn't a '72 but it was close.
I really don't like to use the pocket to close the door.
Any other 72 owners have the same prob?

Also what was the original antenna on a '72T, electric/ manual/driver's side or pass side?

Thanks
Jeff

[CamB]

You probably saw a picture of a right hand drive car.

Unfortunately the poor suckers in RHD countries have no handle on the driver's side either. You could try and find one from a RHD country - they might swap their pair for yours

I have no pockets and reach under the armrest, or if the window is open I use the rear edge of the front quarter light (I think that is what its called).

[Bobboloo]

If you saw a drivers door with a handle that looked like the passenger side in your 72', then it was a passenger handle from the U.K. ,Japan, Hong Kong or Australia/New Zealand.

Since those cars are right hand drive the "missing" handle is on the right "drivers" side.

Shutting your door from the pocket will destroy it if it hasn't already. You can get a "passenger" handle from overseas or you might try shutting the door using your right hand grabbing the armrest underside and closing the door. That way the keys will be in your left hand ready to put in the ignition.

Bobby
72' Coupe
72' Roadster Project

[Saffs]

Originally posted by jeff m
It's a '72 911T (still MFI)
The driver's door is not the same as the pass. door, it does not have anything to pull to close it as the pass door does.
I've had the car a few years and I've always found this irritating,
I saw a pic of a drivers door "with a handle" maybe it wasn't a '72 but it was close.
I really don't like to use the pocket to close the door.
Any other 72 owners have the same prob?

Also what was the original antenna on a '72T, electric/ manual/driver's side or pass side?

Thanks
Jeff

The idea was that the map pocket is the handle, and sturdily constructed for the job. Weird, I know....

[zotman72]

I have often wondered what was up with the door pull on the drivers side. I never have heard of an explanation why. I do use the front map pocket to pulll my door close. Goofy.

Bill

[Bobboloo]

Well we know who can type faster.

Hey Cameron, I've been wanting to get a passenger (N.Z.) handle for my project car. Do you know of any over there in nice shape? I sent Matt H. an email but didn't hear back.

Bobby
72' Coupe
72' Roadster Project

[CamB]

Originally posted by Bobboloo
from the U.K. ,Japan, Hong Kong or Australia/New Zealand.

And South Africa, Singapore, plus a number of others in Asia (unlikely to have many early 911s). I bet I forgot somewhere.

[steveW]

My South African '71T (RHD) has a handle on the left door, but not on the right - I don't think Ferry wanted drivers to close their doors!

[CamB]

Haha Bobby - you typed faster the second time.

To be honest I have never looked for a RHD armrest here - my 1969 is a LHD car and would be a pretty good candidate for a RHD armrest itself, but I never tried looking. The problem is the size of NZ (less than 4m people) and therefore the low number of 911s (especially early, RHD cars) here. I just assume there is nothing. If you are really keen, post a "wanted" advert in the NZ Porsche Club website/newsletter.

I would imagine the UK is the best bet, as the cars there are also more likely to have rusted into oblivion.

Now I think about it, I will probably go for RS door panels one day and make a lucky NZ RHD owner very very happy with my LHD door pull.

[epbrown]

We all probably read the same periodicals, so maybe someone's memory isn't as fuzzy as mine: some place recently mentioned adding door pulls to a 911 driver side using a similar-vintage Fiat part that looked close to the original because they were sourced from the same place. Sound familiar to anyone?

Emanuel

[Bobboloo]

I hadn't heard that Emanuel. I was in the junk yard a ways back and saw a 70's Fiat Convertible and noticed that the windshield attached very similar to the way the speedster windshield attaches and it got me to thinking. But then I came to my senses.

I didn't notice the armrest though.

Bobby
72' Coupe
72' Roadster Project

[Vol]

Yep the lack of a door pull on the driver side in the < 74 cars is one of those "character traits" we all love so much about our cars... I finally ended up modifying the door panel to allow the later model map pocket and door pull. I considered going with an RS door panel but couldn't afford it at the time. So now I have the deeper pockets that don't fall apart, and a door pull... but it isn't stock if that's important to you. In my case my car has been modified so much I quite worring about stock a long time ago

[Vol]

>>Also what was the original antenna on a '72T, electric/ manual/driver's side or pass side?<<

Sorry missed this before:
I believe original was manual and on the driver side. I understand there is not room for an electric motor on the driver side because of the fuel filler. So at some point (74?) they moved to passenger side and electric became optional.

In my 71 when I had the front end painted I had them move the antenna to the passenger side so I could add an electric antenna. It made a big difference for me since the car is my daily driver.

[CamB]

The Fiat doorpull is the one used on the RS door panels.

You could add it, but it might look a little odd.

[jluetjen]

This same question just came up a couple of months ago. Roland Kunz, a BBS member from Stuttgart (who always seems to have the inside story on stuff like this) said that the rumer was that Dr. Porsche banged his knee into the door pull of the prototype - so it was removed.

[Sunroof]

I have a 73.5 T and raised the question about the door handle long ago. Absurd how their is one for the right side and not the left. I am trying to keep everything original so I will suffer with using the pocket to close the door as intended.

I took my door panel off recently to replace a door handle and freshen up that old bungee chord and realized that front door pocket is bolted on pretty well to the door frame. It makes a great door pull, but remember, you start tearing that thing up its a major $$$$$ item to replace.

The orignal antenna was manual. Not too many other little quirks with the 73.5 but like all the older cars, their is just no place to hold that cup of coffee!!!!

Regards,
Bob
73.5 T

[jeff m]

Thanks for the reassurance that mine isn't the only car without a door pull.

I was a little worried a prev owner had replaced it with a cheaper alternative and it was "wrong"
I think I'll keep it that way. (and suffer)

Thanks also for antenna info.

Jeff