Rare Early Options

[D Moran]

My '73 S also came with both AC (since removed) and a front oil cooler.

[JackOlsen]

I remember hearing somewhere that the only 1973 S's delivered with fender oil coolers were the ones also equipped with AC. This makes some sense, I guess, but I never gave it a whole lot of credence, since I don't remember the source.

[marcw58]

The 73"S" came into this country with the oil cooler as an option unless the car had factory a/c at which point the factory automatically added the cooler. In the case of my car, the car came in with the factory loop cooler, but the dealer added the air.

Ironically, the 72"S" came in with the front radiator cooler as standard equipment on all "S" cars. This cooler was much better than the simple loop that was optioned on the 73"S".

Also, yes my car is a bloated little thing, but all of that bloat looks great in silver. I have found that I enjoy it best when my wife falls asleep and I have the sunroof open doing 130 mph. Nothing like getting out of the car looking like maniac chickens!

Nothing beats the early cars, now if I could only find an early soft window targa... an "S" of course!

Thanks,

Marc

[neilk]

I have seen or heard of several '73 911S with factory A/C but without a fender mounted oil cooler. According to my CoA, the A/C was factory.

[marcw58]

Neil,

That is very interesting indeed. I was going through all of my documentation last night and all of it says that if a/c was installed at the factory in a 73"S" then the oil cooler was standard.

Are you sure that someone didn't remove the cooler for some reason? I have never seen an "S" with factory a/c that didn't have the cooler.

I am a bit confused on this one.

Marc

[neilk]

Marc,

I remember discussing this topic here. Here's the link.

Is you car a US or European car? I can find no evidence of my car ever having an oil cooler.

[JCR]

Well, I guess I spoke too soon. Guess this one's still a mystery.

Mine has no evidence of ever having a front cooler. It's a US car with factory AC as listed on Kardex.

Those who do have front oil coolers with or without factory AC, is it listed on the Kardex as an option??

Whether or not a car has a front cooler with dealer installed AC is irrelevant to the (sub) topic.

[marcw58]

This is really interesting.... My car is a US car. I am going to do a bit of research on this one and report back in.

Thanks,

Marc

[lateapex911]

What about the plastic gas tank??? My '73E has one....

[yopurp]

Mine is a '73S, US spec. I have my COA from PCNA. My car had both the front cooler and AC when I got it. WE thought the AC was factory until we got the COA and pulled it apart. It was dealer installed. My COA does state that the front Oil Cooler was and Option. I was told by my restoration guy, that it was cheaper to order the car with the oil cooler and have the dealer install the AC than to get it from the factory.

My guess is that the dealers ordered the cars this way, as there was more profit in it for them to install the VW units themselves, than just passing through the factory ones.

But who really knows? I love topics like this. The mysteries go on and on.