What is a Carrera tail?

[redstack]

My soon to be car has a what I assume is the whale tail,


I might consider changing to a duck tail, I like the looks of them.

I understand what no tail would be, and it does look clean. But I've seen reference to a Carrera tail and I'm not sure what that is. Is it just no tail?

[Hunt3R]

That picture shows a turbo tail aka tea tray tail. The Carrera tail aka whale tail doesn't have such tall edges on the sides, but it's shaped pretty much the same. Should be easy to find a picture to compare, look at my car in my garage, I have a Carrera tail.

[Ofishbein]

In my opinion, the tea-tray tails look too heavy for a narrow-body car - and they are literally too heavy as they add 35 lbs or so where you don't want it. The regular Carrera "whale-tails" are more elegant, but I prefer a duck or no tail at all.

[Jack Stands]

Also, if you have a tail, you have to be sure to have the proper front spoiler to balance the car for proper aerodynamics.

I agree that the whaletail looks overblown on a narrow car, but to each his own. I'm of the age now that I like an understated look to a car, but had my Carrera tail on my 75 Targa and enjoyed the look back in the day.

[faverymi]

I agree. Slimmer more elegant on a narrow body.
Im tailless by choice.
Confusing badges in this pic btw.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by Ofishbein

In my opinion, the tea-tray tails look too heavy for a narrow-body car

There were no narrow-body cars built from 1978. They''re either SC/3.2-flared or wide body.

Production cars up to '77 were either narrow-body, wide body or (real) Carrera-flared.

and they are literally too heavy as they add 35 lbs or so where you don't want it.

Seriously? Where do your figures come from? Did you have an aftermarket tail made from lead? LOL.

A 3.2 lip weighs roughly 8 lbs (slightly less, averaged 7.82). A 930 lip weighs more than 11 lbs (averaged 11.35)

So yeah, a 930 lip weighs almost 50% more than a 3.2 lip. Factory fibreglass tail base weighs almost nothing (a few pounds); I wouldn't expect much difference between the 3.2 and the turbo base.

(BTW - the tea-tray lip is exactly the same width as a 3.2 lip. I posted photos once to demonstrate the bolt pattern differences that clearly show this.)

Even for cars with a turbo base/lip and an N/A decklid, I'd expect the tea-tray to add no more than 5-6 pounds, tops, over a 3.2 base/lip. A turbo decklid is clearly lighter than the 3.2; the cutout is twice the size to accommodate the intercooler; much less metal.

Against which you can factor Frere's diagram, which shows the turbo lip reduces lift at the rear axles by an extra (as compared to the Carrera lip) 100 lbs or so in triple digits.

I prefer a duck or no tail at all.

To each their own. The tea-tray was a factory option and is at least period-correct for an SC - unlike many cars wearing a duck. I've even seen one on a 964, LOL.

Some prefer function over form - like killing lift at the rear. Although I personally think the 3.8RS tail is a bit over the top, I've seen an early (yes, longhood & narrow body) car that wears one at the track. Driver is pretty quick...

[redstack]

Ok so I understand, the Carrera and Turbo tail have the same base that mounts on the car. The turbo has a larger black rubber surround that should force more air though the intercooler.

While this all has some additional weight, it might in fact be offset by the decrease in lift generated by the car, if you are at speeds that generate lift in the first place.

But if you have either a turbo or Carrera tail "spoiling the lift" then you should have a corresponding splitter on the front to counteract the tendency for the front end to get lighter as well.

Anyone have a good picture of the right splitter to add?

None of this is important for street or autox but could be a factor in DE's? Or would you say that in stock form until you are in Club Racing or TT it wouldn't matter?

[JAR0023]

Carrera Tail. -J

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by redstack

Ok so I understand, the Carrera and Turbo tail have the same base that mounts on the car. The turbo has a larger black rubber surround that should force more air though the intercooler.

No, the bases are completely different in shape and size (the Turbo base being much larger).

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by JAR0023

Carrera Tail. -J

That tail above is also called a 'whale tail'.

Tony

[redstack]

Thanks, I guess when I get my hands on the car I can finally figure out what is on there.

Gotta say I do like that Carrera tail on your car-Jar.

[redstack]

Whale tail especially in Killer Whale black and white

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by redstack

Thanks, I guess when I get my hands on the car I can finally figure out what is on there.

Gotta say I do like that Carrera tail on your car-Jar.

The car pictured in the first post has a Turbo tail on it (also known as a "tea tray").

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by redstack

None of this is important for street or autox but could be a factor in DE's? Or would you say that in stock form until you are in Club Racing or TT it wouldn't matter?

Depends how fast you drive. Aero really doesn't matter much below 50MPH.

50-70, not much to choose between the various spoilers (i.e. you probably can't tell the difference), although some have noted that cars with aero (as opposed to none) are better behaved in cross-winds.

Over 70MPH, relative efficiencies of tea-tray, 3.2 and duck spoilers diverge pretty quickly on the graph.

Much over that, I think at least a front spoiler would be desirable (which you can use with no rear aero); minimises the air getting under the front of the car.

[redstack]

Ok so it has a Turbo/ tea tray tail.

Here's a stupid question, even though it's louvered and such, doesn't that allow a lot of Florida deluge rain into the engine compartment? I mean ok, if stopped in normal rain it might be diverted by the louvers, but UW in a good rain that seems like it would draw a lot of rain into the engine compartment.
Granted that the damp air that makes it past the filter will give the engine a nice cool dense charge, but doesn't the rest of the under hood stuff get a little soggy?

I mean you can pretty much bet that on any given day in the summer it will rain where you are in FL.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930

The car pictured in the first post has a Turbo tail on it (also known as a "tea tray").

Yup; I believe the grille slats should be satin black rather than body color. Like the white 3.2 with the "ET" brake light...

Car in the first post also has either aftermarket wheels in SC/3.2 offsets (probably the cast Italian ones) or genuine late factory wheels with spacers to correct the ABS offset. And what looks like RoW bumperettes and a RoW foglight. Can't tell if it has sugar scoops, but I'd SWAG it was a RoW car, and it may even have kept its H4's...

[redstack]

Spuggy
So on that far distant day when I am blasting down the long back straight on Road Atlanta with speeds approaching 125mph then I might be glad for the Turbo tail and wishing for a front spoiler as well?

Can you show me what would be a appropriate front spoiler/ splitter?

What do you think a mildly modded RoW Carrera can make down the long straight?

[redstack]

OH yea it is a RoW 84. Nonsunroof and manual seats in Wild Pasha cloth inserts. I am buying the car from my next door neighbor who has had it 10 years.

Aftermarket, possibly SSI headers and a MAF conversion. I do know that the rear wheels have spacers. none on the front. When I said that someone had thought they were replicas, my neighbor said no.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by redstack

Here's a stupid question, even though it's louvered and such, doesn't that allow a lot of Florida deluge rain into the engine compartment?

Yes. And 3.2's do seem to sometimes have problems with moisture under the distributor cap. This is kind of a 3.2 aberration that doesn't affect other 911's. Or even all 3.2's.

I have parked mine outside in the rain for weeks at a time - and driven in torrential downpours - and it never skipped a beat. I've even been known to pressure wash the engine bay and the underside of the motor. Obviously you don't just do that like a muppet. But with a little care (don't spray electrics or the air filter directly) it's never caused me a problem.

doesn't the rest of the under hood stuff get a little soggy?

Engine bay on my car gets pretty darned toasty with heat soak about 20 minutes after I shut it down.

They were designed to be driven in the rain. Just like most motorcycles are.

[redstack]

Yea I figured that in the end. But I guess from the standpoint of keeping things nice and sanitary under the hood. I'm just going to need to learn more engine detailing tips I guess.

Thanks for the input on everything.