To back-date, or not to back-date....?

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by RocketWrench

Errrr Bill, how did you flip my car round? Am I having a psychotic moment here?

Oh the right hand drive conversion, Just a Paint Shop image mirror. This is how we do RHD conversions in New Zealand

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by tobluforu

This must be a hoot to drive, does it have an IC?

Yes it does.....all be it slightly thinner than stock. I think it fell on a belt sander.

[tobluforu]

Originally Posted by Henry Schmidt

Yes it does.....all be it slightly thinner than stock. I think it fell on a belt sander.

That is cool as hell, and for some reason I thought it would look like a size 15 foot stuffed into a size 10 shoe. Hell, that looks like it belongs.

[RocketWrench]

Iv been away in the badlands again, but some stuff has been updated. The new Becker radio has been installed. The sound is not fantastic as it was only designed for a single speaker, but it is certainly better than silence. It came with a MP3 cable so I can at least listen to my iPod, and Radio 4 of course...



The downside is that this rather ugly antenna must be up all the time. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to boost (I'm deaf) the sound or amplify it? Any suggestions about a better antenna that still looks period?

[RocketWrench]

Thanks to Mike at Original Vintage Classic Car Radios For Sale London. BLAUPUNKT GRUNDIG BECKER PHILIPS RADIOMOBILE OEM for supplying the radio. I realise it is not authentic Porsche, but it certainly looks very 1970s to me....



Lovely new Firestone tyres too as the Yokohamas were cracking. I was told that painting the text white was a bit vulgar.... thoughts?




My electrician guy also fitted a set of Engelbert's LED lights as well as repairing my clock, and the lights are a vast improvement. Engelbert now has a set in a slightly less white tone of white, so I'll see how these go for a while but might replace them....



So having replaced the original seats back (I might sell the black Recaros, but undecided right now) and added some cheap carpets to avoid wearing out the originals, this is how the interior currently looks.

I have taken on board all your comments about backdating, but the idea is still tickling me. I'm off to Afghanistan at the end of the month again and won't be back until late November, so will think harder about it then, but even if I make a drastic decision it will have to wait until next spring before the chopping begins.

If I stick with the G-Series look, what might be a good bumper replacement? I really don't like the bellows and the impact rubber bricks at the back....

[PcarPhil]

Originally Posted by RocketWrench

I have taken on board all your comments about backdating, but the idea is still tickling me. I'm off to Afghanistan at the end of the month again and won't be back until late November, so will think harder about it then, but even if I make a drastic decision it will have to wait until next spring before the chopping begins.

If I stick with the G-Series look, what might be a good bumper replacement? I really don't like the bellows and the impact rubber bricks at the back....

As someone who has built a backdate car out of a mid year I suggest keeping the G-series look. Sure change the bumpers (and keep the stock ones in storage). Perhaps consider a SC/RS front bumper with a narrow IROC rear bumper?

Originally Posted by RocketWrench

Any suggestions about a better antenna that still looks period?

One option is to replace the windshield with one from a late 3.2 Carrera that has the antenna built into the windshield. Then just fill the stock antenna hole with a rubber plug.

By the way... nice car!

[RocketWrench]

Originally Posted by Kaefer

As someone who has built a backdate car out of a mid year I suggest keeping the G-series look. Sure change the bumpers (and keep the stock ones in storage). Perhaps consider a SC/RS front bumper with a narrow IROC rear bumper?



One option is to replace the windshield with one from a late 3.2 Carrera that has the antenna built into the windshield. Then just fill the stock antenna hole with a rubber plug.

By the way... nice car!

Thanks, I love it too.

Those are much cleaner looking bumpers and I think there is a place in Birmingham that has them. Thanks also for the antenna tip.... Is the bumper replacement a big job?

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by RocketWrench

I would not back-date such an attractive and original appearing car. Back-dating has become a bit of a cliché as of late and someday soon people will crave unmodified cars. (Just look at the U.S. vintage musclecar scene for proof.) If you must back-date then find a worse-off car to use!

[RocketWrench]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

I would not back-date such an attractive and original appearing car. Back-dating has become a bit of a cliché as of late and someday soon people will crave unmodified cars. (Just look at the U.S. vintage musclecar scene for proof.) If you must back-date then find a worse-off car to use!

I'm getting that feeling a lot from here, and the last thing I would want to do it ruin it. I think I am more in love with the idea, rather than the practicalities of actually doing it...

But rest assured, I'm listening! Thanks for your views....

[tazzieman]

Agree with others. Keep this one original , it's a great looking car.

[tips]

how did my car make it into this thread is beyond me hehehe


Do Not Backdate

[Jose_JGC]

I agree with all of the above, don’t go with the backdate hype, in the end you will have spent a lot of time, money and lost an original car.

[PcarPhil]

Originally Posted by RocketWrench

Is the bumper replacement a big job?

That depends on many variables. For a professional body shop (especially one with aircooled 911 experience) it's a pretty straightforward project assuming you start with good quality fiberglass parts.

The SC/RS front bumper and narrow IROC rear bumper from the vendor links I listed in my previous post are good quality parts.

[andybullen]

mid-year cars are awesome, last of the true narrowbodies - I would absolutely keep it as-is.... I think you will find it growing on you. Just a few years ago, people avoided them, but they've enjoyed a nice resurgence in the last year or so, values have come up quite a bit for clean examples.

Glad you junked the black seats, all other mods are nice and fitting to the car. I'd say just assure everything mechanical is updated, throw some H4's on it, get it down to european height and corner-balance. Enjoy as is, and the rest will come to you.

[Flojo]

sorry, narrow body Gs are the worst in optical apearance.
the fat bumpers spoil the fine design line their slim bodys and chrome trim offer.
real Gs are from 78/79 onwards with the SC (or if you want with the rare 75 carrera 2,7/3,0)

[evan9eleven]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

I would not back-date such an attractive and original appearing car. Back-dating has become a bit of a cliché as of late and someday soon people will crave unmodified cars. (Just look at the U.S. vintage musclecar scene for proof.) If you must back-date then find a worse-off car to use!

So this brings up the inevitable question: how shabby does a shorthood 911 have to be before backdating could be an interesting option for someone with the passion to do it properly? I'm unsure how to define a car that would be "eligible" without upsetting too many purists. It isn't as though all of us like impact bumpers.

That said, the OP's car is lovely and in nice shape, so I'd say H4's and mechanicals and enjoy it as is. This isn't the car I would have purchased if my goal was a backdate project.

[Flojo]

oh, so "backdating" better must be allways a bare-metal restauration?
or at least on a car that has rust and must be welded?
or what "level" is fair to do it?

I'd say no... as a backdate is absolutely possible to not damage outer/visible sections of the body and just do the "behind-the-scenes" setup for the thin bumpers, I'd say its a gain to do it on a solid car (to save time and $$$).

the fenders are the only to wory about; he can store the original fenders and purchase longhood ones instead.

and he'll have the early look for way less $$$ than searching an rebulding a longhood.

but well... we're discussing on HIS taste.
whatever he decides, ist fine to get out and drive!!

[RocketWrench]

Right, message received: No backdate....

The wedding is off.... It was an emotional rather than pragmatic idea...

So..... the jobs now are select the bumpers (thanks Kaefer), change the windscreen for one with integral antenna, get ALL of the mechanics sorted - it's running very good, but could be better - and then new interior tidy following the respray...

No doubt I have skipped a few hundred other things that need doing.

A few questions if anyone can answer them (in no particular order):

1. Apart from the bumpers, what else made this US spec?

2. The vinyl seats are in near perfect condition, but they sure do get sticky on a hot day: Are there leather covers in tan available, or do I need new seats?

3. What period speakers would work better than those ghastly bricks on the rear shelf?

4. Iv been tempted, but never had the courage to open the sun-roof: Does anyone know if these ever get stuck open?

5. The AC does not work, it blows air though and is original. Is is salvageable or a waste of space?

6. What else am I missing?

[Sicklyscott]

I was at a local gathering this weekend and parked my turbo flared SC next to a '72. I have always planned to do a longhood conversion on my SC but I realized there's a time and a place for each look. I love the longhood look, but the 80's child in me also likes how my car looks. It's worth sometimes just taking a step back and looking at the whole package. I hate the bumpers on my car but as a package it works really well.

Back to the OP, it's almost like your seats. You loved those seats but as a total package it didn't work with the car. My opinion however is if I had a mid-year car I'd do the conversion. I don't find them particularly appealing. You can save your parts in case original mid-years sky rocket in price. The only area you might have a problem with is the rear reflector, I believe there's a metal piece that needs to come off.

[tips]

anyone who says impact bumpers look bad must get the taste section of his brain checked

just look at this