Help! Correct finish for black-trimmed 74 and later Targas

[maninblack]

I've been on a little bit of an adventure regarding my 1974 Carrera Targa restoration. I'll start at the beginning...

My car was optioned with black trim. I've restored several back-trimmed cars and I've never had an issue getting a nice match for the black anodized aluminum window frames and trim.

With my 74 Carrera, I pulled everything and sent it to King Of Trim in California. They've done several cars for me and always done nice work. When they received the window frames and trim, they called me and told me that they couldn't anodize the window frames as they were made of brass. They suggested they may have been originally powder coated. That made zero sense to me as I knew that Porsche had switched to aluminum window frames in 1968 so I told them they must be incorrect. I did some more research and confirmed what I already knew. 1968 was the year Porsche switched to aluminum window frames.

The guys at King of Trim were also doing some research and they called me back a few days later to say that, yes, the frames were brass, they were sure, and they'd discovered that the correct finish was a black nickle plate. Still sounded weird to me but I had no other suggestions and, well, they're the experts, so I said fine.

Fast-forward several weeks and the parts arrive. They're.... interesting. But also wildly off the mark. The finish resembles smoked chrome. Clearly, this black nickle plating isn't correct. So I'm back to doing more research. Needing someone smarter than myself, I called Jim Breazeale, the owner of E.A.S.Y. in California, to pick his brain a bit. Jim solved one mystery right away in that my window frames are supposed to be brass. Turns out that Porsche switched to aluminum frames in 1968 but, for just the Targas with vent wing windows, they switched back to brass in 1969 and continued making just these frames in brass from then on.

But what of the finish? Brass can't be anodized. Black nickle isn't correct. I can't imagine any of the trim was originally powder coated. So what was it then?

Jim, bless his heart, has put forth the opinion (after much discussion) that all of the black trim in my car was originally painted from the factory. Nothing fancy, just painted brass. Except the door handles which, according to King of Trim, are the only trim pieces I sent them that are not made of brass and are actually some sort of pot metal. The original finish for the door handles? Still a question mark.

So, I'm left with two questions that need the collective knowledge of these forums (and yes, I've searched relentlessly):

1. What was the original black finish used on brass Targa window frames and trim? Was it just paint as Jim suggests?

2. What was the original black finish used on "pot metal" door handles on 74 and later cars?

Oh, and a big public thanks to Jim who has been kind enough involve himself in this foolishness today. I wouldn't have made it this far without him!

[Dpmulvan]

Getting ready to do my trim,door handles et. Was wondering myself what kind of paint to use someone mentioned Wurth satin black but I'm leaning towards a two part paint for durability.

[maninblack]

I'm 99% sure those door handles weren't painted and Jim seems to be in agreement on that. I've seen them wear and they don't wear as if they were painted.

Then again, I have no other suggestions (yet).

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by maninblack

I've been on a little bit of an adventure regarding my 1974 Carrera Targa restoration. I'll start at the beginning...

My car was optioned with black trim. I've restored several back-trimmed cars and I've never had an issue getting a nice match for the black anodized aluminum window frames and trim.

With my 74 Carrera, I pulled everything and sent it to King Of Trim in California. They've done several cars for me and always done nice work. When they received the window frames and trim, they called me and told me that they couldn't anodize the window frames as they were made of brass. They suggested they may have been originally powder coated. That made zero sense to me as I knew that Porsche had switched to aluminum window frames in 1968 so I told them they must be incorrect. I did some more research and confirmed what I already knew. 1968 was the year Porsche switched to aluminum window frames.

The guys at King of Trim were also doing some research and they called me back a few days later to say that, yes, the frames were brass, they were sure, and they'd discovered that the correct finish was a black nickle plate. Still sounded weird to me but I had no other suggestions and, well, they're the experts, so I said fine.

Fast-forward several weeks and the parts arrive. They're.... interesting. But also wildly off the mark. The finish resembles smoked chrome. Clearly, this black nickle plating isn't correct. So I'm back to doing more research. Needing someone smarter than myself, I called Jim Breazeale, the owner of E.A.S.Y. in California, to pick his brain a bit. Jim solved one mystery right away in that my window frames are supposed to be brass. Turns out that Porsche switched to aluminum frames in 1968 but, for just the Targas with vent wing windows, they switched back to brass in 1969 and continued making just these frames in brass from then on.

But what of the finish? Brass can't be anodized. Black nickle isn't correct. I can't imagine any of the trim was originally powder coated. So what was it then?

Jim, bless his heart, has put forth the opinion (after much discussion) that all of the black trim in my car was originally painted from the factory. Nothing fancy, just painted brass. Except the door handles which, according to King of Trim, are the only trim pieces I sent them that are not made of brass and are actually some sort of pot metal. The original finish for the door handles? Still a question mark.

So, I'm left with two questions that need the collective knowledge of these forums (and yes, I've searched relentlessly):

1. What was the original black finish used on brass Targa window frames and trim? Was it just paint as Jim suggests?

2. What was the original black finish used on "pot metal" door handles on 74 and later cars?

Oh, and a big public thanks to Jim who has been kind enough involve himself in this foolishness today. I wouldn't have made it this far without him!

On my '76 Carrera the window and door trim was all black anodized, the targa bar was painted

here are some pics
door windows



front window that was painted circa 1982



front window trim that was purchased to replace the faded anodizing that was painted, see above



targa bar

[maninblack]

Hate to break it to you, Bill...

Yes, the Targa bar is painted.

And I should have specified this earlier: the windshield and rear window seal inserts are exempt from this conversation - they're anodized the same as the coupes.

But your window frames, and other trim, are NOT anodized. They may look anodized (mine do and I own many of these cars) but they're not. Your Targa window frames are made of brass and brass cannot be anodized.

So, the two questions remain unanswered (for now).

[Jack Stands]

When I restored my '84 Targa's window frames, they certainly sanded down like paint and they definitely are made of brass. Wurth satin black would be a great choice.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by maninblack

Hate to break it to you, Bill...

Yes, the Targa bar is painted.

And I should have specified this earlier: the windshield and rear window seal inserts are exempt from this conversation - they're anodized the same as the coupes.

But your window frames, and other trim, are NOT anodized. They may look anodized (mine do and I own many of these cars) but they're not. Your Targa window frames are made of brass and brass cannot be anodized.

So, the two questions remain unanswered (for now).

Not being up on meal finishing you may be right that it isn't anodizing, but it doesn't look kike paint either, there is a black chrome process and a black oxide process that may be what was used.

[McLovin]

They used different materials in the mid 70s.

I've gone back and forth with someone here over the years (I don't remember who it is) about this.

I had a '78 SC with chrome trim. It was chrome plated brass. I knew it for a fact from the metal shop when I got it rechromed. It was original chrome plated brass from the factory.

Some people insist that the trim was, by the mid 70s, always aluminum.

Not true.

My guess is your car may have come from the factory with chrome trim. And that over the years, someone "blackened" it out.

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Some people insist that the trim was, by the mid 70s, always aluminum.

Not true.

My guess is your car may have come from the factory with chrome trim. And that over the years, someone "blackened" it out.

No, my car was delivered with black trim. Very common option at the time.

Changes were in the late 60's, not the mid 70's. All coupes had aluminum window frames from 1968 on. Common knowledge. After speaking with Jim today I learned that 68 Targas were the only Targas delivered with aluminum window frames. In 1969 they went back to brass frames for Targas.

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

Not being up on meal finishing you may be right that it isn't anodizing, but it doesn't look kike paint either, there is a black chrome process and a black oxide process that may be what was used.

Really leaning toward the painted answer after looking at several of my cars but always open to being wrong. I'm certain it's not black chrome. Never thought of black oxide. Interesting but never heard of Porsche using that finish on anything. Has anyone else?

[RSTarga]

The brass Targa trim for Targas was painted with Wurth Satin black. Just like the wheels.

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by RSTarga

The brass Targa trim for Targas was painted with Wurth Satin black. Just like the wheels.

Thanks for the input. I agree, if painted, I'd probably go with the Wurth.

FYI, if you've ever seen an NOS Fuchs wheel, the modern Wurth is actually not a very good match for Fuchs. Rustoleum Satin Black 7777 is closer.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by maninblack

Changes were in the late 60's, not the mid 70's. All coupes had aluminum window frames from 1968 on. Common knowledge.

My '78 SC Coupe had chrome plated brass window frames from the factory.

[ppetion]

error

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by McLovin

My '78 SC Coupe had chrome plated brass window frames from the factory.

Interesting. Irrelevant to the thread but interesting. Did you buy it new?

Next?