Correct Hood Crest for a 71S

[Gearbox]

While finishing up on my 71S restoration, I found a old orange band hood badge in my 30 year collection of Porsche parts. I'm not sure if I had replaced it with the more current ruby red band over 20 years ago. The badge is in good shape and needs a bit of polishing on the gold areas, but the enamel is in excellent condition. Does anyone know if my car takes the orange or ruby red badge? If not, what years did the orange band go on? Thanks Allan

[kenikh]

Orange, absolutely, positively.

[gulf908]

Allan,

....a old orange band hood badge ....

..if you send it to me,I know someone down here who does a marvellous polish and resto job on such items !
Could be here a while ,though !

Cheers,
Dennis.

[ThomasTe]

An orange badge is correct for all 1965-73 cars.

[Gearbox]

It's coming back to me now, I had swaped badges 20 years ago since the original was looking tired, plus the ruby red version looked better to me at that time. I understand that these badges are plated, so what would be the best way of bringing the gold back? Or should I leave the patina so as not to make it look like those repos that are all over e-bay these days? I guess I got another winter project lined up Thanks Allan

[fryardds]

Don't restore/polish the orange badge it looks great just as it is.

[schmidt]

Agree with Brian, just a light polish.

[911T1971]

and pretty valuable too, the orange one.

[Gearbox]

Finally found my wife's stash of silver cleaning solution used for jewlerly and silverware. Said it was safe for plated silver. It's a dip in process and smells like a very dilluted acid. I carefully swabed the back of the badge to see if anything bad happens, and it didn't. So the entire badge got dunked in, and check every 5 seconds or so. The effect was immediate, and the longer it soaked, the brighter it got. Didn't want to over do it, so after about 1 minute, a washed it off and dried it completely. Wow, what a difference. I'm not sure if the darker spots could be removed with more soaking or if the plating was worn in those areas, but I'm happy with it as it is. Doesn't look brand new, but just the right amount of patina to offset it from the repos. Very cool, better living through chemistry. I'm toying with clear coating the badge with urethane clear coat or at least giving it a good wax job. So what do you guys think? Happy new year Allan

[kenikh]

WOW!!!

I say clear coat it.