Opening Front Vent Wings?

[37yrold911]

search button is not finding anything, so I'm starting a thread

I know there are chrome plated brass front vent wings that open, and aluminum ones, also ones for targas and ones for coupes. I also know that Porsche got rid of them by... the early 1970s(?)

Can somebody straighten me out what years had what?

Also, how do you tell one type from the other (e.g. coupe vs. targa)?

And, what will fit well on a coupe?

[NeunElf]

Coupés had opening vent windows through 1968.

From 1965 through 1967, coupé window frames were chromed brass. In 1968 coupé window frames switched to anodized aluminum. The aluminum opening vent window was one-year-only.

Targas had opening vent windows through at least 1973 and they were chromed brass through at least 1973.

I’m less sure about how to tell them apart, I think the top of a Targa’s vent window is a bit squared off while coupé vent windows are rounded (sort of a quarter circle).

[Rusty]

I have an extra set of window frames with the opening vent window, has anyone put these on a later vintage 911? Have a 71 that I would like to fit them to.
The early ones are the chromed brass.
Thanks,

[Greg D.]

my 68 has them My 69 does not. So that's my guess in terms of date...

Slight hi-jack: I have a set of those on a 68 that are very loud at speed (wind noise). Clearly they need to be closed tighter (pulling on them a little makes them quiet). Everything looks good on them so I am not sure what the common failure mode is. Is it the tab that needs to be bent some more ? (that would do it, but trying to bend it might damage the chrome)....The latch that presses on the tab that needs to be "built up" to pull on the window more (worn out?). Or the rubber seal needing to be thicker? (looks good, not cracked and not old). Just wondering...

[304065]

Greg, both the tab and the base of the latch wear out, and the seal gets brittle as well.

But you can change all of that and the car will still hiss like the cheek vents of a DC-8 at takeoff thrust. The window seal design was changed a few times in the history of the car to make it quiet- but an original '68 will be very noisy indeed.

When I drove 1800 miles round trip to Parade I actually taped myself into the car with blue painters tape and wore Bose Headphones.

[Greg D.]

I actually taped myself into the car with blue painters tape and wore Bose Headphones.

Ha, funny... The thing with mine is if I pull on the latch, it gets *a lot* quieter. Say DC-3 to glider. So I wouldn't mind trying to fix it but I hesitate to bend the perfectly chromed tab and didn't see any adjustment in the latch itself. I guess I could insert something in between the 2 to put more pressure on the seal. It'll fall out if I open them but I never do, in truth !

[silverc4s]

I usually open mine just a wee bit, regardless of the outside temp, and find its much quieter that way. Not a quiet car anyway. ...

[jjs3rd914]

Twice I put the early opening front vent windows on 911's that did not have them. First in the mid 80's I put a set of chromed brass frames on my 73.5 911T coupe. However the chrome was bad and we ended up going with lightly sandblasting them and painting them black as well as the rest of the trim on the car. Porsche had already started to offer black window and door frames in the mid 70's. So it looked great. Like an idiot I sold the car a few years later.

Just recently I got a 74 911 coupe and this time found a set from a 68 912 which were bright anodized AL and installed them.

Having the vent windows that open is great for ventilation especially if do not have AC which neither of my cars had. As for the wind noise yes it is great when you try to close the car up. But living in a warm climate I rarely ever have a need to do so, so the vent windows are open all the time.

For the record, 69 and latter coupes had the fixed front vent windows. Targa's retained the vent windows that opened fro many years after 69 but they ultimately started to only offer fixed windows on the Targas as well at some later point. The frames are different, so you cannot put the Targa frames in a coupe.

Best ones to get for the coupe is from a 68 911/912 but try and find a good set now. If you do did deep into your wallet.

I love the being able to direct fresh air into the car. Since the 74 (and the 73) have rear quarter windows that also open the flow of air is not bad. Add a sunroof which the 74 has and it really helps on a hot day.

As for installing them, it pretty much is a direct swap. I did on the 74 have some minor alignment issues with the AL frames. I do not remember having the same issues with the 73. As I have posted before I do not know why someone does not offer a kit to convert existing frames to accept the window glass that opens. Essentially the door frames are identical except for the areas around the vent window. The glass is still available from Porsche as is the rubber seal.

jjs3rd914

[37yrold911]

you cannot put the Targa frames in a coupe.

jjs3rd914

You mean they won't work (well)? Or that the frames literally will not fit?

And, how do you tell the targa frames from the coupe frames?

Also, what is it about the '68 911/912 frames that make them the best ones?

Thanks!

[edmayo]

Refer to post #2, the targa frames have different shape to match the roof line. The 68 frames are the only year that are aluminum anodized frames, therefore lighter, also in post #2.