1973 911 - fuel tank proper finish?

[mac73s]

I would appreciate hearing what is the correct finish for the 73 fuel tank. They seem to have been coated with a Wurth SKS or underbody seal type of material - looking to understand if this was the final finish in either black or gray (if either?), and if they were then top-coated with the body color. Thank you.

[ESully]

Here is a picture from an unrestored 1973. The original car color is Beige Gray. It seems to match. My tank had been oversprayed with rust proofing paint so I am not sure. It seemed to have a similar color to this when I stripped it, and my car is Light Ivory.
https://plus.google.com/photos/11115...07185382059393

[mac73s]

Thank you for the reply. I did take note of this car that recently sold along with its accompanying photographs. Unless others have different information, I am unaware that the tanks were indeed painted the color of the car which this one certainly seems to be. While this car claims to be original and unrestored, I honestly question that....cleaning and detailing alone in my opinion (and we all have them) did not return this car to its present condition. Sepia 911S (whose car is well known on the Registry and concours circles is indeed unrestored and not refurbished) was most generous with her time and photographed her 73's tank for me. It is heavy textured (almost a hard plastic-like finish) and light gray which is consistent with other information I've received.

[RSTarga]

I've never seen an original in body color.

[ESully]

You are right, the gas tank was not body color. When I removed it, the tank was similar to this one.
After the first cleaning it looked more like the photo in my previous post.

I did find that as I stripped mine down it was a white base, but I did not tanke a picture of it till it was stripped to this point.



For reference I found these other pictures that claim to be original color.

[Chuck Miller]

Sully's is exactly like mine was before I cleaned the outside and put a coat of light gray porcelain enamel on it.....

Sorry, no before pics...........

Very similar to the color of the very light beige/grey shutz shot under and in our later/early cars... without direct or over spray body color that was added after........

[Sepia911S]

For reference, here are the photos of Sepia's trunk. I assume it is the original, unrestored finish. Jim was always tinkering with the S and I'm really not sure what he did or did not do to the car. There is a log book; however, everything wasn't entered into it. Sometime, it is confusing for me to read ... not sure what everything is.

.

[37yrold911]

Surflex is a good low cost way to coat a tank that has the original nubbling in good shape - call them as i t is a special mix (they know about the "Porsche people" calling with special needs); otherwise, Wurth if the tank has been badly scraped

but replace that brown fuel vapor hose first, as it is not safe any longer - do not use regular PVC hose; there is a special Pvapor rated PVC made that you can use

[RSTarga]

That brown hose looks just like all of the ones I've seen including mine. I think they turn brown pretty quickly. If they aren't leaking they should be ok. The plastic couplings are brittle and hard to find.

[37yrold911]

Brown usually means inflexible, and needing to be replaced; the vapor rated PVC will go at least 5 years before turning brown or brittle.

What happens when you squeeze or wiggle it?