Which tail should be on my car?

[jrwilson]

I have a 1978 SC that came factory equipped with a tail - option M473. But looking at photos I don't think the tail I have is original, I think it's the later Carrera tail.



Which tail should my car have on it?

[Bill Douglas]

It's a bit hard to tell from this photo, but it's the great big lump of rubber tail for the '78 and '79 SCs. This pic is of my 1979 day one from the dealership.

I don't know what M473 is but this is the norm' for the time.

[Matt Monson]

Here’s a good old thread with some explanations.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/911-930-turbo-super-charging-forum/614705-whale-tail-vs-tea-tray-spoiler.html

[Bill Douglas]

Ha, found it. Someone is selling a decklid with the M473 wing. It came on a Carerra 3.0 1976.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/porsche/listing/3983106503?bof=6Csltafi

[jrwilson]

It's crazy to me that there's no definitive list of years and wings and all these threads are anecdotal and best guess. The Corvette guys can tell you the day of the week production changed from one part to the next.

What I've gathered is that M473 was multiple different wings over the years, and that in 1978 it was "probably" the solid rubber monstrosity. I was hoping it was that nice Carrera 3.0 one but "probably" not.

[Bill Douglas]

JR, the one in my pick was part of the "Sport" package offered in the UK, and built in the factory.

I suspect the US cars were more of a "pick your options" sort of a deal, so maybe yours did come with the nicer one.

[jrwilson]

Although those threads aren't as definitive as I'd like, I do feel fairly confident that mine is the later Carrera tail from '84. I do like that other one since I could put badges on it!

[eastbay]

If you look in the 78 PET pages 231-233, all 3 styles that year were called M473. And yes, you have a 84- Carrera tail.

[famoroso]

FWIW...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/527702-original-oem-tail-thread-collective-documentation.html

[tsuter]

The definitive answer....put the tail on your car that you like.....and be done with it....

[sean m]

JR,
That's a beautiful car. I'm not a tail guy and think this car would look awesome without the tail.
Unless of course you need the tail for driving at fast speeds and racing.

Probably not what you're looking for but just my thoughts.

[Bill Verburg]

From '75 through the Weissach special editions in 1980
This or a variation was the n/a M473 option from the factory


There were 5 versions used on n/a and 1 for 930 thru 1977
type A long one piece f/g used on Carrera 3.0RS and IROC
type B short 2 piece w/ single large forward grille
type C short 2 piece w/ single large forward and single small aft grille

type D short 2 piece w/ single large forward and single mid size aft grill, used on all 930s and n/a w/ A/C

type E, all p/u single large forward grille

Type D used on all 930s and all n/a w/ A/C


type C




type B

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

From '75 through the Weissach special editions in 1980
This or a variation was the n/a M473 option from the factory


There were 5 versions used on n/a and 1 for 930 thru 1977
type A long one piece f/g used on Carrera 3.0RS and IROC
type B short 2 piece w/ single large forward grille
type C short 2 piece w/ single large forward and single small aft grille

type D short 2 piece w/ single large forward and single mid size aft grill, used on all 930s and n/a w/ A/C

type E, all p/u single large forward grille

Tea Tray introduced on '78 930


But also installed on a # of US SCs, on these cars the Mulroney sticker does not show M473, just US equipment

starting in 1982
the raised center aka Carrera tails started to show up and became the de facto std in '84



another type A but w/ the small aft grille, usually used for trans cooling

[Racerbvd]

Like pointed out above, those are what you want. I'm thinking about using one of these on my 81SC.

[winders]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

type C short 2 piece w/ single large forward and single small aft grille

type C

Type C (930 512 010 00) is what came on the 1975 Turbo and the Carrera 3.0 with air conditioning. I would assume for a condenser.

The 1976 and 1977 Turbo cars came with a tail (930 512 010 01) with a much bigger second grill...and I believe that was for the air conditioning condenser as well.

[kltarga72]

Check out this URL.

https://bringatrailer.com/2021/10/05/whale-tales-a-visual-guide-to-the-evolution-of-porsche-911-spoilers/

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by kltarga72

Check out this URL.

https://bringatrailer.com/2021/10/05/whale-tales-a-visual-guide-to-the-evolution-of-porsche-911-spoilers/

Great information, thanks for sharing. I can just imagine what the guy who started the thread whining about the design of the Duck tail, if he saw those very early ones

[jrwilson]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

type B

I think I like that one best. Bet it's pricey.

[911hutch]

Do the non tea tray rubber "lips" have the same bolt pattern as the tea tray rubber "lips" . Are they interchangeable given the same deck lid?

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by winders

Type C (930 512 010 00) is what came on the 1975 Turbo and the Carrera 3.0 with air conditioning. I would assume for a condenser.

The 1976 and 1977 Turbo cars came with a tail (930 512 010 01) with a much bigger second grill...and I believe that was for the air conditioning condenser as well.

This the is the underside, no A/C


Here's a pre '78 930 w/ A/C



amd another pre 78 930 w/ A/C