Question about OEM Whale Tail vs not on 1989 911 Carrera 3.2

early89 · 10:41 AM

I have a 1989 911 Carrera. I bought the car with the attached whale tail and brake light (see photo). That's original, and the way it came from the factory. I sold the car to make payroll and two years later the dealer found it and I bought it back. (Yes, I had to pay sale tax twice.) During the two years the car was not in my possession, the new owner took the whale tail and brake light off. My question is: is the back deck lid now the same as it was before? Meaning, I can't remember (and I can't tell from the old photos I have), if that black grate that lets the radiator breath was what was on there before or not. Does anyone know?

Also, does anyone have an opinion on whether I should get an OEM brake light and have it painted and installed? Was that the way these cars (early 1989) came from the factory without the tail? In order to pass NJ inspection, I installed an after market brake light which can be seen in the other photo, but now that I'm in PA and it's an antique, I'm considering just taking it off altogether. There are wires leading up to it, the ones that were there for the OEM brake light, that I would have to figure out how to secure.

Sorry for the long email, but I expect there's an expert (or two) who knows exactly how this car should look without the whale tail. (p.s. I *would* consider putting the whale tail back on, if 1., I found a good condition one, and 2,, if I was sure the paint would match well .. with the stone grey color I'm afraid it would be tough. If anyone knows someone with sublime skills in the PA/NJ area, would be grateful to get their opinion/price quote to do the paint work. And if anyone knows if there's a great tail at a fair price...

Thank you very much! I absolutely love this car .. have owned it since 1994 (with the exception of two years). best, James

early89 · 10-31-2015, 10:40 AM

Sorry, here it is . first one is when I had it originally. Second pic is when I got it back.

john walker's workshop · 10-31-2015, 10:46 AM

The black grille would not be under the original tail. There would have been holes in the lid where the rear of the tail was bolted through, so look for welds inside. No welds means they used a different lid.

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

+1

Cook&Dunning · 10-31-2015, 10:56 AM

There are 5 holes drilled in a whale tail lid to look for, per John Walker. Here is a whale tail deck lid with holes. They could have filled these, or found a different lid for your car

I have a guards red whale tail in case you consider a trade for your non-tail.

xbrumossalesman · 10-31-2015, 12:28 PM

Any chance that the car was hit in the back during the 2 years you didn't have the car & they put a used no tail deck lid on it ?

Cevan · 10-31-2015, 12:47 PM

Mine doesn't have a radiator.

early89 · 10-31-2015, 02:50 PM

I very much doubt it. No evidence anywhere to suggest that. He also do some other very specific modifications to the car. I think he really just didn't like the tail on it, and had specific tastes about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbrumossalesman

Any chance that the car was hit in the back during the 2 years you didn't have the car & they put a used no tail deck lid on it ?

early89 · 10-31-2015, 02:54 PM

Great picture! So let me get this right .. this is a lid for a whale tail .. and that tail would sit right over the top of that opening (where the black grill is on mine). So both the whale tail and non-whale tail lid have this same opening, but in one a grill covers it and in the other the tail sits on top covering it over?

best, James

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cook&Dunning

There are 5 holes drilled in a whale tail lid to look for, per John Walker. Here is a whale tail deck lid with holes. They could have filled these, or found a different lid for your car

I have a guards red whale tail in case you consider a trade for your non-tail.

Michael T · 10-31-2015, 03:03 PM

I would try to restore it back to stock. Maybe a COA to see if it came with the factory spoilers. Does it have the front spoiler, as they came together. The third brake light that you have is not stock. They were either inside the car on the rear window or the "ET" one that you used to have. I believe all the 1989 were inside and 1988 was a transition year. I can be corrected on this.

Nachtfalter · 04:25 PM

The cabriolet deck lid with the E.T. tail lights is an altogether different deck lid than a coupe and may be tricky to find. The whale tail option you had was a the same as a coupe with a plant on E.T. I would imagine they took the tail off and filled the holes and repainted.

early89 · 10-31-2015, 04:51 PM

Thanks .. I do have the COA and it shows it having front and rear spoiler. What is the front spoiler? Is it that black thing in the front under the bumper (that's gotten a bit beat up over time)? In know the light I have now is not stock (JC Whitney special). I actually bought a light from the Porsche dealer, but not sure it's the extra tall one. I agree, bringing it back to stock would be nice, but it also seems enough people take off these whale tails that it shouldn't affect value too much. If anyone else can comment on if the light was inside on the '89 Cab I'd appreciate it - I can't see how it would be. best, James

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael T

I would try to restore it back to stock. Maybe a COA to see if it came with the factory spoilers. Does it have the front spoiler, as they came together. The third brake light that you have is not stock. They were either inside the car on the rear window or the "ET" one that you used to have. I believe all the 1989 were inside and 1988 was a transition year. I can be corrected on this.

early89 · 10-31-2015, 04:53 PM

Could be they filled the holes and repainted, but I'd need an expert to take a look. To me it looks absolutely perfect and looks completely stock / OEM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nachtfalter

The cabriolet deck lid with the E.T. tail lights is an altogether different deck lid than a coupe and may be tricky to find. The whale tail option you had was a the same as a coupe with a plant on E.T. I would imagine they took the tail off and filled the holes and repainted.

Michael T · 10-31-2015, 07:02 PM

It sounds like you have the factory front spoiler. I have the correct front and rear spoilers on my 1989 Targa. I would recommend for two reasons to find an original tail, one to make it correct and two because the car sits down at 80mph plus quite a bit better. Some have written that the car needs to either have the spoilers or not to be stable at very high speeds. These cars are becoming collector cars, so getting correct parts will only get more difficult. Good to hear you have your car back.

geoz · 10-31-2015, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael T

I would try to restore it back to stock. Maybe a COA to see if it came with the factory spoilers. Does it have the front spoiler, as they came together. The third brake light that you have is not stock. They were either inside the car on the rear window or the "ET" one that you used to have. I believe all the 1989 were inside and 1988 was a transition year. I can be corrected on this.

Since this is a cab the third brake light can't be inside the car. It's the ET type for the cabs.

early89 · 11-08-2015, 03:19 AM

Thanks and where would I find the part number of the ET, any idea? Years ago I did buy that brake light, but I'm thinking I got the "regular one"! best, James

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoz

Since this is a cab the third brake light can't be inside the car. It's the ET type for the cabs.

early89 · 11-08-2015, 03:21 AM

Thanks I will keep my eye out of a tail. Just a little concerned about matching paint. fyi, thinking back, I don't believe I've ever had the car to 80 mph (maybe 70 mph once a long time ago).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael T

It sounds like you have the factory front spoiler. I have the correct front and rear spoilers on my 1989 Targa. I would recommend for two reasons to find an original tail, one to make it correct and two because the car sits down at 80mph plus quite a bit better. Some have written that the car needs to either have the spoilers or not to be stable at very high speeds. These cars are becoming collector cars, so getting correct parts will only get more difficult. Good to hear you have your car back.

geoz · 11-08-2015, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by early89

Thanks and where would I find the part number of the ET, any idea? Years ago I did buy that brake light, but I'm thinking I got the "regular one"! best, James

Download the parts catalogue and search there. If the part is still available our host can surely get it for you.

early89 · 11-13-2015, 08:21 AM

What does ET stand for? Extra tall.? I found a picture of the third brake light on an '88 cabriolet and it definitely looks "shorter" than the spare one I bought years ago. So I think I have the right part (if I were to return the whale tail).

kjchristopher · kjchristopher's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by early89

What does ET stand for? Extra tall.? I found a picture of the third brake light on an '88 cabriolet and it definitely looks "shorter" than the spare one I bought years ago. So I think I have the right part (if I were to return the whale tail).

Extra Terrestrial - E.T.

As in:

See the resemblance?