Roof racks early models

[kghjr]

I think I going to need a roof rack, but what design?

I started looking. The most beautiful one is a vintage reproduction from England currently out of production until they build up an order backlog, and then there's the Thules and REI and such. I saw a vintage one on eBay, the really old OEM style, close to a grand. Pass.

I have been planning to go to northern Spokane County for three years, seeing peeps not seen in a decade, I was going to take the MDX. Finally, this year, it was looking good and then I found out about the Porsche Parade in Spokane! Now it's looking real good, like for sure.

Let the serious planning commence. My friend Bill, who is rebuilding an '82 911 SC in Philly wants to go too. He flies to Denver, we drive to Spokane, but how we drive is the question.

At first thought, I could haul the 911 with the MDX and we would have no problem taking the luggage for a month long trip, but this week I am driving the 911 to ABQ from Denver, a six hour drive, for the main purpose of a shake down drive to see what an extended trip would be like in it.

If I can drive it to ABQ without any physical discomfort (being moderately disabled), two of us can drive it to Spokane, hence the need for a roof rack. I am not really into esthetics as much as utilitarian. I will not be showing it with the roof rack, but I would with the English one. That thing is beautiful and utilitarian, with all four side bars, not just the back.

Here it is

I'ld probably leave it on the car forever. I'm an old man, I get away with all kinds of weird %^$#.

I don't know about this one ☟



But maybe



one of these, but short? I don't need all weather, open carrier is fine.



I emailed the Brits. We'll how long out they are.

[Canada Kev]

You might want to check out Pedro's racks. I can't seem to find a link for him at the moment, though...

Another rack thread: Roof Racks? early cargo style


Example:

[HarryD]

My friend has a 1966 912 and has the one below. It is for a Beetle and needed bit of modification, but seems to work:



Roof Rack Beetle

[matt930s]

IMO the best looking rack for early LWB is the amco, here's mine:

[72911]

Why don't you make your own? Or have a speed shop that deals with tubing make one for you. There isn't much to them.....a couple of hours to bend it up and a few more to weld it, powder coat, done! $65 worth of steel $45 to powder coat. I'm planning a trip to Monterrey this summer so made this one....

[Kraftwerk]

Buy a used Thule rack. you need specific "feet" for rain gutters (# 369 ? You might want to look that up online to be sure) and 2 bars.

[kghjr]

I'll try this one, found at my old VW place. It will need some tweaking.

Update: we are not able to tweak it enough without a bench vise and heat to make it fit properly.

This is a big fail and back to the drawing board



Nerd alert!

[kghjr]

Originally Posted by matt930s

IMO the best looking rack for early LWB is the amco, here's mine:

Far and away the best looking, but I wanted four side rails,

[Cook&Dunning]

Pedro for the win. If you can find them. Maybe try Samba

[Canada Kev]

Yeah, I guess he retired last year or something. So no more new Pedro racks...

[kghjr]

The VW one was not going to fit with any kind of tweaking, plus it looked like the dickens. Big Fail. I knew that was going to be a 50/50 chance of working or not.

This one is on the way, a replica...

[911T70]

Here's a really cool one:



Found it here - a great article; love that car, looks great with the roof rack:

A 47-Year-Old Porsche 911 T/R On An Incredible Globetrotting Adventure

Perhaps the owner could be contacted to learn what roof rack that is and if it's available.

I'm really enjoying your threads, Ken. Please keep posting; learning lots thanks to your 911 adventures.

[kghjr]

Originally Posted by 911T70

Here's a really cool one:

That one is beautiful. I think it's from South Africa or Australia, or it could be a Pedro's, but apparently, Pedro is long gone out of the business of custom roof racks.

I found this Lietz replica on eBay. It does not have four side rails but it is period correct and is very robust. I could put the spare up there no prob. No annual maintenance like with the wood rails and I can live with this. It will be easier to slide the stuff off it rather than having to pick it up over the rail, a real bonus for my crippled self.

I installed it for fitment by putting it up there with all the bolts loose and adjusted for symmetry, a very easy install, and once all the bolts were tight, the thing is a brick ***house.

I'm leaving it on. You never see a Porsche with a roof rack driving around. Correction; not leaving it on, it sings at freeway speed when unloaded.








Thick clear rubber tubing for protection on the anchor feet and custom fit rubber ends on the base feet,

The chrome looks good to the eye, but under the camera lens and light, it looks all jacked up.

[kghjr]

Even I have a nerd limit and this exceeds it, although...maybe if I centered it? Nah.

[bkreigsr]

DE + camping at The Glen circa 1983
Bill K


shameless plug -
FSL My used Yakima parts

[72911]

Originally Posted by kghjr

The VW one was not going to fit with any kind of tweaking, plus it looked like the dickens. Big Fail. I knew that was going to be a 50/50 chance of working or not.

This one is one the way, a replica...

You might find that the rack "hums" while driving. After I built mine I had to take it for a ride and found out right quick that it won't be living on the roof unless it's loaded. I might try some pipe insulation on the lateral bars to see if it reduces the "ring". They are cool anyway.

[petrolblue83911]

I wonder if my Thule gutter rails from my jeep will work

Won't look as pretty but then you could put a box or whatever on top

[72911]

^^^^^^^
Let everybody know what you find as I am sure there will be a lot of interest in whether they will work or not. And of coarse don't forget the pictures, if they do.

[mickey356]

I'd really like to find a rack for surf boards but I fear the aero stress wouldn't hold. If anyone has any experience with a good rack that can hold boards at highway speeds please let me know. Thanks

[matt930s]

Now get a classic cooler.