1973.5 T Interesting Oddities on Our Car

[t6dpilot]

So we have a very low mileage and very original 1973.5 T that has a few interesting oddities on it. I would like to draw on the infinite wisdom of the registry to get your collective opinions on what is on this car. Bit of history, the car came to us about 11 years ago and had just over 28,000 documented miles. It is matching numbers and has 90% original paint. Its originality is beyond reproach IMO.

The first question I have is about the tool kit pliers. I have no reason to believe that these did not come with the car, but they are like nothing I have seen in a tool kit. I suppose they could have been swapped out, but with a car so original and complete, why would just the pliers be different? First pics are of the tool kit and pliers. The second pics are of a pair of pliers I have separate that are correct for a 1973 (maybe starting in 1972?) and later tool kit.

[t6dpilot]

Second question I have is surrounding the mirrors. Has anyone seen anything like this before? They are not 914 mirrors as I originally speculated. I have never seen another set like this on a 911. Yet they are factory correct. We have correspondence that the original owner had with the factory to supply a passenger side mirror that he could not source in the U.S. He spoke with an executive at the 19th Parade in Pocono who sounded like he promised to help. He did get a response from the factory that said the mirror he was looking for was no longer available and he could use the next year's model part 911.731.017.00 - it would still be rectangular, but a little larger and have grey beading unlike the driver's mirror. I think the driver's mirror had the beading when we acquired the car, but I am not sure what happened to it in the subsequent years. Have any of you seen a mirror like this?

[t6dpilot]

Last interesting oddity... The car has these really neat lower rear valence protectors installed. I hesitate to call them mudflaps as they really are not. They are made of a rigid plastic type of material and do not look home made. They appear to be made specifically for a 911 rear valence/bumper as a rock deflector. Interesting add on. Maybe some aftermarket part made for 911s?

[Frank Beck]

Cool car Scott. Glad to see it's not Sepia.

Can't speak for tools but I believe the mirror is actually a BMW item. Pretty sure I have an NOS passenger side in my archive.





"really neat" lower rear valance protectors?



Huh? They scream JC Whitney... even if factory. lol

[t6dpilot]

Thanks Frank. I was hoping you might weigh in. Interesting that the mirror might be a BMW part. Car was purchased 10/24/1973. Initial mirror correspondence from the factory was January 9, 1975. There is a second correspondence from the Porsche Audi Atlantic Division dated January 24, 1975 trying to help the original owner. It says that the mirror that he requires has been replaced by one similar (911.731.017.00), which is the one in the original correspondence. He thanks them and says that he purchased two of them from a dealership in OH.

I need to try and see if I can track this fellow down. On my to do list is tracking the previous owners. The original owner also ordered and installed a set of Cibie 35's a year after he bought it. We do not have those unfortunately.

[t6dpilot]

"really neat" lower rear valance protectors?


Huh? They scream JC Whitney... even if factory. lol

Well, maybe so, but they are a part of the history of the car and have kept that area rock chip free.

[t6dpilot]

I guess I should have just googled the part number. Duh... I found this in the 74-77 PET. He must have tried to find a passenger side small rectangular 1972/3 mirror and running into a dead end, decided to buy the ones that are on the car now. Which presents a dilemma of sorts - replace with the correct small rectangular mirror or leave alone. I am inclined to leave it the way it is.

[RSTarga]

That rear under bumper area always takes a beating. Mud flap looks like an unattractive ,but clever fix.

[Frank Beck]

Well, maybe so, but they are a part of the history of the car and have kept that area rock chip free.

Bought several cars over the years with sheepskins which helped protect the seats but that doesn’t mean I leave them on!

Scott, are you saying you would have left the Cibie lights on as well just because the original owner liked doo dads?

[t6dpilot]

Those Cibies, hell no. Sheepskins, uh yeah right - that's a no brainer. The stone protectors have done a great job and aren't that bad. May be time to pull them off though. The mirrors should probably go and get replaced with a correct 73 set.