Signed car???

[otif]

About 3 months ago I decided to dive into crazyville and restore my '81 SC. During the process (which I will document on this site), I noticed what at first looked like scribbling on the metal under where the dash mounts in. It looks like a signature. Were any Porsche's actually signed during the building process? Does the fact that it's there even mean anything?

Here's a pic of the signature:



And, in case anybody cares, here's a pic of the car before I took it apart:



And some pics of the restoration. (I'll post a more thorough thread with details if anyone wants to see it). Feel free to share your thoughts. Enjoy:

[Scooter]

It was common practice for a person on the line to sign the dash.

[wayner]

Uh oh. Now that you've messed with it you are going to have to get it re-signed by someone from Porsche

P.S.
Fantastic job that you are going by the way!

[otif]

Originally Posted by Scooter

It was common practice for a person on the line to sign the dash.

Thanks, Scooter. Deep down inside I was hoping it meant something

[otif]

Originally Posted by wayner

Uh oh. Now that you've messed with it you are going to have to get it re-signed by someone from Porsche

P.S.
Fantastic job that you are going by the way!

I wish... And thanks! I hope to have it done in the next month or so.

[dcjones56]

My 1998 Boxster was signed by Harm Lagaay under the front luggage compartment door in black marker. He is credited with being the head of styling at Porsche during the 1990s. I never knew if the car was more valuable with his signature or not. My car was an arctic silver metallic with black top and black interior made in Stuttgart, but other than the signature no real extras with the car. I never knew the significance.

[javadog]

Porsche made a film in 1973 that showed the 911 production prcess. In the film, they showed a guy signing the dash and the implication was that it was one of the painters. That never made sense to me, since when they were near the cars the paint was still wet...

JR

[pegasus9]

[javadog]

That's a short clip pulled from the 30 minute movie. Signature at about 1:20.

JR

[HarryD]

Porsche made a film in 1973 that showed the 911 production prcess. In the film, they showed a guy signing the dash and the implication was that it was one of the painters. That never made sense to me, since when they were near the cars the paint was still wet...

JR

From what I have been told, early cars have a production number on the metal dash written in grease pencil. This mark is one of the things to authenticate an early 911. The factory maintains the database and will only tell you if the number matches the other numbers on the car.

Does anyone know when this practice was stopped?

[group911@aol.co]

I've seen the numbers on SC"s

[daepp]

The painter signs his work? Right - like we bought the early cars for their great paint work.

[Cooper911SC]

I have seen the early production line films and have heard the same rumor that a painter or assembler signed the dash frame.

FWIW I have taken apart and restored 2 914s ('70, '71) and both had a signature in grease pencil on the dash frames.

Cooper

[911SauCy]

I LOVE the wheels you had on the car.

If you're ever considering a new look...send 'ole Saucy a pm

[otif]

Gotta love this forum! You guys truly are a wealth of knowledge. Thanks for all the info. Don't feel so bad for tearing into it anymore now that I know it's not special (they're all special, but you know what I mean).

Saucy... Thanks for the wheel compliment. Those wheels are going back on once I get them refinished/restored. The Fuchs are just temporary, and will probably go on my '78 that's waiting for a similar treatment.

Thanks again, guys!

[Tippy]

It'd be nice if you left the sig untouched and restore around it

[wolds]

I discovered the same thing when I pulled the dash on my 83. Looked like the painter had taken a rounded stylus and put his initials in the paint. Looks like it's in the same area as yours. Warren

[otif]

Originally Posted by Tippy

It'd be nice if you left the sig untouched and restore around it

I agree. Not going to touch it. I think it's kind of neat that our cars are signed by someone that had a hand in building it. Even if it doesn't add any value

[otif]

Originally Posted by wolds

I discovered the same thing when I pulled the dash on my 83. Looked like the painter had taken a rounded stylus and put his initials in the paint. Looks like it's in the same area as yours. Warren

Yep... That looks like it's in the same location. Passenger side, right?

[JMatta]

Originally Posted by wayner

Uh oh. Now that you've messed with it you are going to have to get it re-signed by someone from Porsche

P.S.
Fantastic job that you are going by the way!

Is that Patrick Long signing the back of your car?