Door Handles - Chrome vs. Black

[beren]

So I've had my car for about a month and finally got a break in the weather to get it outside. I don't use the passenger door too much and when I went to try the lock today I noticed two things. The first is that the lock spins the cylinder comes out. I'll need to break into the door panel and fix that.

The second thing I noticed is that the right side handle is black and the left handle is not. LOL ok never noticed that one. The left/driver handle is what I would call brushed nickel. Is this what the chrome handle looks like? Or did the PO use a wire brush to scrub off the paint?

Pics below...

[Arne2]

Left handle = faded black anodizing?

[beren]

If so it is a pretty dramatic difference. Any ideas for how to make them look more similar? Is this finish an original option?

[Tidybuoy]

You don't mention the year of your car. The earlier cars (including my '74) were polished aluminum and Porsche switched to anodized black handles and window trim a few years later as well as the mid year Carrera.

If you want to keep the aluminum look, then you can polish both sides and it will look like chrome.

Here's mine:

[beren]

Mine is an '88 Targa - pic below. Is your chrome super shiny or more like a brushed finish? See how bright my handle is on that side? The other side I would say is black.

http://tarnaeluin.houseofbeor.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/20131117_133429.jpg

[Bob Kontak]

I looked at the Porsche parts diagram for 87-89.

There is basically one set available with lock variations. No mention of finish choices that I can see from a brief review.

Maybe the original had chips and scratches from rings and keys and someone just took the black off? Looks ok, actually.



FWIW the targa emblem has faded from black to silver. That is common.

[javadog]

By 1987, black trim was the only option, so you wouldn't see more than one part number. 1979 as the last year for bright trim.

It looks to me like one handle has faded more than the other. My suggestion would be to paint both of them satin black.

JR