hood straps

[hoffman912]

which is correct on a 68 car, a leather hood strap/buckle or a rubber t camp hood strap?

does anyone know where to get either the leather or plastic/rubber ones?

[gunzel]

neither one

[hoffman912]

sorry, i know neither is correct for stock applications. I meant period correct in racing 911s of the time. if neither is, then what was used?

[Flunder]

A review of the "Porsche Production Competition Cars 1968" specifications indicates that the latching mechanisms were not deleted by the factory and more specifically that no ancillary positive latching devices were included in the factory specification and it follows that none were factory mounted for 68 factory competition cars.

However, a review of race prepped cars in period photographs indicates occasional usage of a single rubber hold down or twin leather hold downs.

Attached is an image of the restored 1966 European Gr2 champion of Karl von Wendt, shown sporting a single GHE dog bone mounted in the center to hold down the front lid.

At least from the early 60s, the FIA required that front and rear lids be retained by a "positive" hold down mechanism - and the production car latches did not meet this requirement.

The full frontal photo of 911R nbr 911508005 (albeit taken in 1975) shown in Starkey's "R to RSR" on pp 20-21 also has a single GHE hold down.

Note that the hold down on the von Wendt car appears to be the 3 1/2 inch version and is mounted in the "T" up position.

However, the 911R shown on pp 17 and 20-21 in Starkey's book seems to be using the smaller 3 inch version and is mounted in the "T" down position.

You may also find period examples of the leather hold downs in use on SWB 911s, a la 356 GS/GT. As I recall the BP sponsored 911R record holder used the leather hold downs - and that car was prepared by the factory.

As is often the case, private teams used what they had on hand, what they had seen others use, or what had been used to good effect in the past - like the leather hold downs from the GS/GT parts bin.

By the 1969 season, everyone seemed to be using two of the larger GHE hold downs on the front lid, and by then the factory was deleting the standard latches and providing its race prepped cars with the dog bones front and rear. The 1970 German market llightweight 911S, a homologation special, was delivered with the latches deleted and GHE hold downs supplied in their place.

So, as Gunzel suggests, neither is correct for a fresh, out the door 1968 factory prepped race car. However, you seem safe in using either for a period correct, FIA competition rules compliant look.

[gunzel]

Excellent reply, very complete. One other method I used in 1971 was the Pins with the self locking ring.

[bob tilton]

My favorite tie downs in order of appearance:
1. leather front and back or leather front short rubber in back.

[bob tilton]

2. Single short front and short rubbers on the back.

[bob tilton]

3. Tall rubbers front mounted to follow the crease of the hood and short rubbers in the back the width of the recessed part of the hood.