Replacing fenders on a 1973 911 Targa. Dansk vs. OEM

[Paul-HB]

I was hoping to get some feedback on this dilemma.

We have a 1973 Porsche 911 Targa that someone welded steel turbo flares on in the 80's. We want to make it back to stock. It appears the fenders have never been off the car. So the question is

1. do we find some decent used fenders and just have the stock flares cut off and put back on the car?

or,

2. do we buy all four new fenders and have those welded on? And, if we do that, is there a difference between the ones from Porsche vs. Dansk (besides price)?

Thanks.

Paul

[keith]

If it were me, and those fronts have never been off the car, I'd weld in sections to repair the fenders you have from used stuff. At that point (putting in sections) it probably won't matter either way (you'd be avoiding the Dansk fitment issues)

[Paul-HB]

Ok...great suggestion...thanks

[Alan.uk]

Hi Paul, if it were me I would fit all four new from Porsche. We are restoring 2 Targas at the moment and from memory the left rear is out of stock at the moment. In case you ever do them, the new door skins from Porsche are also very good and can now be ordered without the mirror holes which were for the later flag mirrors.

HTH

Alan

[Paul-HB]

Thanks Alan. I think filling in the mirror whole won't be too bad. But, I've also heard rumor that the Porsche fenders were basically from Dansk and were just repackaged...is that really true?

[keith]

Any pictures of that Targa from other angles?

[Paul-HB]

Sure...here you go: (let me know if you need more)...also, there are a ton on our website (over 100) at www.AutoKennel.com..thanks.

[Silverbullit]

If it were me, I would:

Repair the rear qrtr panels with good sections (fender lips) from stock qrtrs.

And in front, even though it's very cool that the fenders have never been off, if you repair them, they become twice altered. I would opt for a good pair of clean, solid used fenders. As the cars were being built, the body men would try and fit a fender (or lid, door, etc.). Any ill fitting piece was immediately rejected and became an over-the-counter new part. So only the best fitting original pieces became part of a car. Most (all?) good, used pieces fit better than current new supply. JMHO

[keith]

yeah, those fronts are weird; really low? is it possible they are short hood flares rotated and modified for the long hood fender?

I think I'm with you on going back narrow on this one (even though redoing the fronts would probably be sufficient to make the car sharp looking)

[Alan.uk]

Hi Paul, I have not seen front Dansk wings but the rears are different. I have not bought to many new rear wings from Porsche (Bar RS rears) as when the Karmann factory closed down (where the panels were made) I drove to Germany and bought over 40 pairs, basically the old stock. Now these are different from those made by Porsche now. My opinion on welding in flares is, unless an RS there was not a welded seam on the rear wing and thus whilst trying to be exact on other areas why over look this. Now this is based on starting position that budget does not restrict the works and I completely understand why this approach is taken, I have done it many times myself when the cars value was low.

HTH
Alan