1968 S soft window steering wheel and instruments

[advanced]

I am not sure if in my 68 softwindow S (delivered in Germany 10. January 1968) is installed the correct steering wheel and the correct instruments. The steering wheel is the same type like in my 69S and the instruments look the same as well. Any help is appreciated.

[classic]

I think the wood wheel was an option in 68 so it may be correct. If you remove the horn push you'll be able to see a date stamp, which may answer part of your question.

A Cardex may, or may not answer the question.

Regarding the instruments, 68-69 was a transitional year and Porsche used what they had available at the time. Again each gauge has a date stamp on the back, which might lead you to a better answer. I don't think the Cardex will list the gauges, but it may.

[mshaver51]

as 'classic' has indicated, the '68 model year was a bunch of transitions rolled into a single model year, but at different times. i have an august '67-built 911 (normal), and i have tried to do a lot of research on differences in equipment during the model year. so far, i have found that Brett Johnson's book on 911/912 to have the most information presented in a general format. the Johnson book indicates that the December '67 to January '68 period to contain several transitions. it would be consistent for your car to fall in this 'interim' period.

first, if you get the cardex, it would be consistent for the cardex to show a wood wheel as an option. it is my understanding however, that a wooden steering wheel was standard equipment in '65, but became an"option" for any model, including 912, after '67, and is not an item of "S" equipment, per se. according to my understanding, the 'S' steering wheel for '69 is a leather-wrapped wheel. your post doesn't really say which wheel you have.

second, based on what i've found in various documents and resources, it would not be unusual for a '68 built in january, '68, to have equipment that was transitioning to the '69MY. according to the Johnson book (pp. 47-49), the '69 instruments would likely be the same as the '68. the '68MY transitioned from green-lettered gauges (as in '67) to white and most of the late-'68MY transitions carried to MY '69. according to the johnson book, the redline for 'S' should be the same for both years, as well as speedo (in yours, for German delivery, i think it would measure km/h, rather than mph.) As 'classic' has stated, however, there is a blue ink-stamp on the backs of your gauges, and they would likely say '12/67' if the gauges are original to your car (given your delivery date). (Mine say '7/67' for an august delivery.)

i hope this helps, but as always, others with greater scholarship might have other opinions. good luck, regardless.

[advanced]

Thank you for your answers. I will pull the Instruments and the horn button and check the date stamps.

[mshaver51]

not sure what your motivation might be, but i think the instruments are accessible from the front trunk. it is possible that you could read the date stamp fromthe trunk with a good flashlight, if you're not wanting to remove them. just a thought....

[Jim Breazeale]

A 68 would have a 420 mm leather covered wheel. A 69 would have a 400 mm leather covered wheel. 68 and 69 gauges are very similar.

Regards

Jim

[advanced]

I was checking the date stamps with a flashlight from the front trunk and they are 10/67, 8/67, 10/67, 12/67 and 12/67. As the car was delivered in Germany the 10. of January 1968 I assume they are original.
The wheel is 400mm and leather covered. Maybe it was added later.
Thank you for your help.