'71 911S Gold/CAD Air Cleaner Housing?

[Nickm]

About 2 years ago I purchased a '71 911S. It's an original 42K mile car, which checked out
100% with the paperwork that came with the car. I also happen to know the family that
owned the car (since 1981). In 1981 it was put on mothballs, never being driven since then.
Only started up once and a while.

There is a fairly rich history to the car, as it had been originally special ordered by Joe Lavia
(Lavia Porsche Santa Barbara). The gold metallic original paint had been repainted in the late
70's to black.

Here's my question... Yesterday I picked up a bit more paperwork (from his son) that was
found as they were cleaning house. I talked to him for about a 1/2 hour, and he told me
how he remembered when he was 8 years old, how cool looking the engine was... with its
gold CAD air cleaner housing. Being that his entire family has been car enthusiasts (which
is how they knew Joe Lavia) it leads me to believe many of the details I've been told about
this car. The family has owned many "special" cars over the years. For him to remember
details like the gold CAD air cleaner assembly, is believable (to me).

So... now that you've heard my semi-long boring story... getting on to my question: Who
on this 911S registry, has heard of the air cleaner housing being gold CAD? instead of black?
Posted are a few shots of the housing.

Being that MUCH of the car was in almost perfect condition (chrome, gauges, suspension,
glass, seat belts, seats, engine, zero rust, etc) I am wanting to believe the gold CAD air
cleaner info. I was told yesterday. BUT... I've NEVER seen one ANY other color besides black.
Has anyone hear ever heard of a gold CAD housing? If not... then, could Joe Lavia have
special ordered it, being that the car already had the gold metallic/88 paint, and a gold
CAD housing might look unique, and "match" the car.

I'm also keeping in mind the car had been used from 1971-1981, and the air cleaner housing
could have been changed when the car was painted black in the late 70's. Just seems like a
strange modification for a person to go out of their way to have done (to a part on the engine).

[Frank Beck]

I wouldn't go into a euphoric drunk fest yet.

In the '70's/80's we were doing yellow on anything that bolted or clipped on.

I think what you have there is some personalization by a previous owner.

Got any pics of the rest of the car?

[Harvey Weidman]

While working for a SoCal dealership in the 70s I had quite a few parts cad plated. We had just come from the 60s full chrome 356 engine era and I was looking for something to clean up some of the small parts when we hot rodded the engines. I found a very large industrial cad plater in Ontario area as I remember. They did industrial plating and only if you got to know the foreman, would he plate stuff out the back door. We mainly had hardware done (by the bucket load) but then I tried some 914 steel wheels and they didn't look too bad. So I tried all sorts of stuff. Backing plates, suspension bits and yes, some engine tin. I don't recall if we ever did a air filter housing but it wouldn't have been unusual to do one. I didn't know Mr. Lavia but we did do business with the Santa Barbara parts dept from time to time....
H

[Nickm]

No euphoric drunk fest going on here. ;o) I've had quite a few 911's over the last 28 years (100+)
and have never seen this, or heard of it being a cool modification to do to a car. Not saying that it
couldn't have been done here in California. Just checking to see if anyone has heard of one originally
finished in the CAD.

[Nickm]

While working for a SoCal dealership in the 70s I had quite a few parts cad plated. We had just come from the 60s full chrome 356 engine era and I was looking for something to clean up some of the small parts when we hot rodded the engines. I found a very large industrial cad plater in Ontario area as I remember. They did industrial plating and only if you got to know the foreman, would he plate stuff out the back door. We mainly had hardware done (by the bucket load) but then I tried some 914 steel wheels and they didn't look too bad. So I tried all sorts of stuff. Backing plates, suspension bits and yes, some engine tin. I don't recall if we ever did a air filter housing but it wouldn't have been unusual to do one. I didn't know Mr. Lavia but we did do business with the Santa Barbara parts dept from time to time....
H

Hi Harvey.
Did you happen to deal with Gary Betz who was the Lavia Porsche service manager back then (1970-'74).
He's a fairly decent friend of mine, & been my 911 mechanic for the last 28 years. Gary told me he remembers driving Joes (now my) gold '71 back to Ventura (where Gary lives) from time to time. Small world.

[Harvey Weidman]

Just checking to see if anyone has heard of one originally
finished in the CAD.

I have never seen any type of engine customizing from Porsche but as I said, it was not unusual to see 911s with chrome or custom painted air filter housings on the cars that we serviced.
Some even had very complex pin striping on them....I would tend to think it was dealer installed.
H

[Harvey Weidman]

Hi Harvey.
Did you happen to deal with Gary Betz who was the Lavia Porsche service manager back then (1970-'74).
He's a fairly decent friend of mine, & been my 911 mechanic for the last 28 years. Gary told me he remembers driving Joes (now my) gold '71 back to Ventura (where Gary lives) from time to time. Small world.

I'm sure that I did. (The first thing I would have asked him is if he was related to hot rodder Stanley Betz) I'm sorry most of the names have been lost to time. I was very active selling factory race and aftermarket parts during that era. And came into contact with most of the other SoCal dealer representatives that were Porsche guys (fewer of them than you would think). Does Gary remember the cad plated filter?
H

[Nickm]

I wouldn't go into a euphoric drunk fest yet.
In the '70's/80's we were doing yellow on anything that bolted or clipped on.
I think what you have there is some personalization by a previous owner.
Got any pics of the rest of the car?

I'll probably start a thread on my restoring the car, in a few weeks. Even though the car has
only 42K miles, & been owned by 2 families... the family that owned it before me started an
RSR steel conversion on it back in '81. They never had the time to finish the RSR conversion
over the years, as the dad and two sons worked constantly. So the project got put on hold.
Last year I sold the front steel RSR fenders, quarterpanles and RSR 11's & 9' Fuchs. I bought
brand new parts from Porsche and put it back to the narrow body, which is how it sits now.
I've removed everything to do a rotisserie resto on it (as I'd like the car to look like new/stock
again). At first I wasn't a big fan of restoring the car back to the metallic gold/88 paint. But
it's been growing on me as I gather more and more info. on the car. I can't wait for the paint
now. lol

[Nickm]

I'm sure that I did. (The first thing I would have asked him is if he was related to hot rodder Stanley Betz) I'm sorry most of the names have been lost to time. I was very active selling factory race and aftermarket parts during that era with most of the other SoCal dealer representatives that were Porsche guys (fewer of them than you would think).
H

Harvey,
I don't think Gary has a brother named Stanley... but I'll ask him when I see him Monday. Gary is 75 now... so he's been doing this for a while as you may have guessed. He started out his training at 14 years old at the Porsche factory. He has many interesting stories of the "sheds" they built the 550's in. One of his jobs was to buy bread & beer for the workers, on his bike. 14 years old. hehe There's a story on Gary in our local PCA magazine I think I have. I'll see if can post it.

Veering WAY off my original posting now. hehe But is's sounding to me like the air cleaner cover was probably modded here in California. ;o)

[john rice]

Nickm: Please, if you are able to find and post that story on Gary Betz? Please at least cross reference it here so we are sure to find it. Sounds like fun!