proper whale-tail for my 79 SC

[sempaipaul]

Guys there appears to be a bunch of different whale tails that came on these 911's and I have a 1979 targa for which I'm trying to figure out which one is the proper to install. Can somebody please assist?

Thanks,
Paul

[Flat6pac]

In the late 70s early 80s the factory used the turbo tail of 78 and later turbo. The exception was the 1980 anniversary edition (trying to remember exact name) which used the 76/77 turbo and Carrera tail. 1984 brought us the Carrera tail which was different from the earlier Carrera tail.
Some where, I had a 77, there was a solid black rubber tail that covered the whole deck lid, it was a factory piece.
Bruce

[javadog]

The special edition in 1980 was the Weissach Edition model.

I want to say that the 3.3 turbo tail was used from 1981-1983. Prior to that it would have been the all rubber one, most likely.

My suggestion would be to fit a Weissach style tail (same as the '75 Carrera tail but lacking the extra grilles that came on the turbo tails.) It's the best looking of the early tails and quite a bit lighter than the all rubber ones.

JR

[DougZ]

Originally Posted by Flat6pac

In the late 70s early 80s the factory used the turbo tail of 78 and later turbo. The exception was the 1980 anniversary edition (trying to remember exact name) which used the 76/77 turbo and Carrera tail. 1984 brought us the Carrera tail which was different from the earlier Carrera tail.
Some where, I had a 77, there was a solid black rubber tail that covered the whole deck lid, it was a factory piece.
Bruce

I think you are right. My 83 came with factory equipped whale tale below.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by sempaipaul

Guys there appears to be a bunch of different whale tails that came on these 911's and I have a 1979 targa for which I'm trying to figure out which one is the proper to install. Can somebody please assist?

Thanks,
Paul

Paul,

Next time you come to my place, I will pull out the different tails I have:
a). All-rubber from '77S.
b). Carrera 3.2 whale tail.
c). Turbo tea tray tail.
d). Ducktail
e). Carrera 3.0 whale tail (sold for $100 long time ago).

Installing the "correct" whale tail is a matter of choice. As a matter of fact, I have three (3) fiberglas ducktails hanging in the rafters for more than 15 years or more collecting dust. Decide which one to you really like and go for it. Unless you are going to concourse restoration the choice would be different. People have different preference, like and dislike. My two-cents.

Tony

[theiceman]

I think the fact is this , the 79 never came with any tail so in my mind there is no "proper" tail .
Porsche would bolt anything on you like for a price , they would bolt turbo tails on etc that were designed for the turbo.

The tail was properly introduced on the SC when the weisach tail came out in 80 .

so in short the "proper" tail is no tail at all.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by theiceman

I think the fact is this , the 79 never came with any tail so in my mind there is no "proper" tail .
Porsche would bolt anything on you like for a price , they would bolt turbo tails on etc that were designed for the turbo.

The tail was properly introduced on the SC when the weisach tail came out in 80 .

so in short the "proper" tail is no tail at all.

That's not true at all

From mid '74 thru '83 SC there were several versions of the flat f/g tail used

The differences were mostly in the extra slots in the rear horizontal face, 3 versions of these; small slot, large slot and no slot, there was also an extra long version w/o rubber lip seen on IROC and race 3.0RS. These tails were last seen on the '80 Weissachs.

Around '76 there was an all p/u version which was used into the '80s seen on Carrera, and SC

Sometime during the SC era they started offering the '78 up 930 'Teatray' on SC's

The tail offered depended on the market, US was different from Germany which was different from Great Britain etc. and model. On targas the only models i've seen w/ tails were the '76/77 Carrera 3.0, they may have been used after that but I haven't seen them.

This thread has a lot of documentation.

If you are looking for originality one of the flat f/g tails seen in this advertisement

or one of the all p/u tails seen here


are most likely

I dislike the look of the 3.3 turbo 'teatray' on an SC it just doesn't look right.

My '76 Carrera came w/ an all p/u tail, which looked fine but was too heavy for my taste.

I like the appearance of the later '84 - 94 style, an aftermarket all f/g or c/f version would be even better because it's lighter. Even the f/g versions w/ oe rubber lips are on the heavy side.

Here's a MA Shaw f/g '84 style on my '76 C3


and the original all p/u one

[javadog]

theiceman,

Bill's right. They were often found on the ('70's) Carrera models and the 'Sport" models of certain markets like the UK, but they were available on any 911. Years ago a friend of mine had a '77 US 911S and it was fitted with one of the all rubber tails. If you look at period road tests in magazines from that era, you'll see an occasional test car that had one fitted as an option.

Like I said, for looks and weight, I'd suggest the plain fiberglass tail that was used on the '75 Carrera and 1980 Weissach cars. The part number for the main part is 911.512.010.07.

JR

[bbturbo]

Yeah... I didn't think turbo tails came on SC's or narrow bodies, unless it was a dealer install. That is one of the best things about Porsche; they did whatever the customer wanted to pay for... for the most part. Many people confuse the whale tail and turbo tail, or call them the same thing.

[group911@aol.co]

Carrera 3.0 RS tail.


75 Carrera or 80 Weissach tail.
Carrera 3.2 or RSA tail
76 or 77 Turbo tail with a/c.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by bbturbo

Yeah... I didn't think turbo tails came on SC's or narrow bodies, unless it was a dealer install. That is one of the best things about Porsche; they did whatever the customer wanted to pay for... for the most part. Many people confuse the whale tail and turbo tail, or call them the same thing.

Ahh, but they did. Just add that option code to the order sheet....

People think that Porsche would do anything that a customer wanted and that's just not the case. Dealers didn't by anything from Porsche. They bought everything from an importer, which was a separate company. There were several of them over the years in the US, but in that era it was VWOA. You could order anything they had an option code and a price for, and that was it. They were not very user friendly.

Some Europeans had a little better access, in that the Porsche factory maintained a repair facility for a while. After you bought your new 911, you could drive it there and ask them to do all sorts of crap. That's before the Sonderwunsch program got rolling.

JR

[bbturbo]

Javadog, ah that's pretty neat then. Well, cool! Love learning new things.

[Discseven]

[JQ911]

I replaced the factory 3.2 tail on my 86 with a Weissach tail (replica). Eventhough its not period correct, this is by far my personal favorite.

[Reiver]

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

Paul,

Next time you come to my place, I will pull out the different tails I have:
a). All-rubber from '77S.
b). Carrera 3.2 whale tail.
c). Turbo tea tray tail.
d). Ducktail
e). Carrera 3.0 whale tail (sold for $100 long time ago).

Installing the "correct" whale tail is a matter of choice. As a matter of fact, I have three (3) fiberglas ducktails hanging in the rafters for more than 15 years or more collecting dust. Decide which one to you really like and go for it. Unless you are going to concourse restoration the choice would be different. People have different preference, like and dislike. My two-cents.

Tony

Looks like the place to go for tail....

[Ferrino]

Early Carrera/Weissach tail all the way!

Cough, I have a factory original for sale!

[winders]

Originally Posted by JQ911

I replaced the factory 3.2 tail on my 86 with a Weissach tail (replica). Eventhough its not period correct, this is by far my personal favorite.

As far as I am concerned, this is the best looking tail on a narrow body pre-964 911.

[Nordwest]

I have a MA Shaw RS tail and like it alot.

[gregoryp]

JQ911, Does your replica tail have a rubber lip, or is it painted black to look like rubber?

[VFR750]

I agree the first whale tail is the nicest for the narrow body sc. I have an aftermarket 1-pc fiberglass one.

Plus, as noted in the table, when combined with the chin spoiler it lowers lift and drag. And, yes, it is noticeable, especially at real speed.

It is form AND function. A proper addition if it's your thing.