Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 21

Thread: Historical Experts: 911s Lightweight Prototype/ 911ST rear bumper details

  1. 09-06-2023, 07:45 AM #1
    Atomic
    Atomic is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2022
    Posts
    107

    Historical Experts: 911s Lightweight Prototype/ 911ST rear bumper details

    OK, so I have a 1970 911 that has been a race car its whole life, found itself in the Larry Wilson collection, and then found me. I am towards the end of its re-restoration and have decided to take it in the direction of the 911S lightweight prototype:

    Name: LWrear.jpg Views: 331 Size: 89.8 KB

    Here's another restored version of the same bumper setup:

    Name: realrear.jpg Views: 324 Size: 90.2 KB

    Basically, looks like a stock bumper with the guards removed. Easy enough. Here's a shot of mine with the guard removed:

    Name: mine.jpg Views: 334 Size: 90.6 KB

    I like the look quite a bit and can clean up some of the paint work to make it feel better, but I am curious about the gaping hole on the side of the bumpers that the guards normally cover. It appears the restored car has some kind of a plug there? Was there such a thing or did teams use different methods of dealing with this eye sore?

    I guess the unfinished look of it bothers me a bit and I'd like to see if there are some sort of period correct solution that makes sense. Hoping some of our historical experts have ideas or thoughts...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 09-06-2023, 07:53 AM #2
    Chuck Miller
    Chuck Miller is offline
    Moderator Chuck Miller's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Reseda, CA.
    Posts
    12,458
    Just a guess, but I'm betting they're custom fit of pieces of black vinyl glued in ... I think it looks better finished as well...

    Cheers and luck
    Chuck Miller
    Creative Advisor/Message Board Moderator - Early 911S Registry #109
    R Gruppe #88
    TYP901 #62
    '73S cpe #1099 - Matched # 2.7/9.5 RS spec rebuild
    '67 Malibu 327 spt cpe - Period 350 Rebuild

    ’98 Chevy S-10 – Utility
    ’15 GTI – Commuter
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 09-06-2023, 07:58 AM #3
    Atomic
    Atomic is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2022
    Posts
    107
    Quote Originally Posted by Chuck Miller View Post
    Just a guess, but I'm betting they're custom fit of pieces of black vinyl glued in ... I think it looks better finished as well...

    Cheers and luck

    Agreed. Hopefully some folks will have examples of solutions as I really want to go guard less...

    And while I have you Chuck, you guys do a great job on this forum. I run a very large non-related automotive forum and really appreciate the tone you guys have created here.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 09-06-2023, 08:19 AM #4
    Scott A
    Scott A is offline
    Senior Member Scott A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    South East USA
    Posts
    908
    i don't think there is a cover inside there. it's just real clean.
    and you should remove that back rubber edge trim.
    and you'll need screws at the top.
    and the screws at the bottom have a plastic spacer washer.

    Current long term ownership: 63 Cab, 71 911, 74 914
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 09-06-2023, 08:30 AM #5
    Atomic
    Atomic is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2022
    Posts
    107
    Quote Originally Posted by Scott A View Post
    i don't think there is a cover inside there. it's just real clean.
    and you should remove that back rubber edge trim.
    and you'll need screws at the top.
    and the screws at the bottom have a plastic spacer washer.
    Agreed on the hardware and rubber... But I think there is something there:

    Name: detail.jpg Views: 317 Size: 72.6 KB

    Maybe a piece of vinyl...

    I'm thinking about 3d printing a cap just to get an idea of the aesthetic...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 09-06-2023, 09:10 AM #6
    Rick Cabell
    Rick Cabell is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    3,172
    In the race cars days they didn’t care what it looked like, just get rid of the weight.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 09-06-2023, 09:20 AM #7
    Atomic
    Atomic is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2022
    Posts
    107
    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Cabell View Post
    In the race cars days they didn’t care what it looked like, just get rid of the weight.

    Totally get that. And that's part of the charm as well... I actually love the way the guard brackets sit proud and naked when you toss them... I was just hoping someone might have seen a cleaner more contemplative way to do the bumper ends...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 09-06-2023, 12:54 PM #8
    Brad Davis
    Brad Davis is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    611
    You can see a glimpse of the reflector stuff in the picture. I agree it was just bare, nothing added. Falls in line with the way the race department did everything else.
    Brad Davis
    RGruppe #691
    Early 911S #1547
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 09-06-2023, 02:51 PM #9
    RickWhite
    RickWhite is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    NW CT
    Posts
    362
    Have a look at the S/T thread. I'd think the lightweight S in '70 was done to the same spec as a '70 S/T and a few period shots in that thread suggest it was bare. I know the S/T in '70 has GRP bumpers and an aluminum license plate panel as that's what my racecar has and that part of it was specified by someone who cares tremendously about the details (and unlike me, has quite a bit of knowledge too). The other resource might be the recent sale of the narrow body S/T. Sorry, I couldn't come up with straight links.

    It certainly is a look distinct to the '70/'71 race car that is overlooked when people just slap on some plastic RS or RSR bumpers. I like it, but then I also have an RS clone, so I like both!
    MBR #3926
    '71 911 T Targa "Rick White"
    '71 911 E "Karen"
    '70 S/T
    '16 CD
    '10 E61 "Vomit Comet"
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 09-07-2023, 09:48 AM #10
    Longballa
    Longballa is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Corvallis, OR
    Posts
    2,564
    The factory did it both ways. They left the ends open on the earlier race cars but on some (not sure if all) the 72 Factory built ST the ends were closed off with a metal plate and finished nicely. If you're going with the ends open then there's no black rubber trim around the edge.
    72S, 72T now ST
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules


Message Board Disclaimer and Terms of Use
This is a public forum. Messages posted here can be viewed by the public. The Early 911S Registry is not responsible for messages posted in its online forums, and any message will express the views of the author and not the Early 911S Registry. Use of online forums shall constitute the agreement of the user not to post anything of religious or political content, false and defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise to violate the law and the further agreement of the user to be solely responsible for and hold the Early 911S Registry harmless in the event of any claim based on their message. Any viewer who finds a message objectionable should contact us immediately by email. The Early 911S Registry has the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary.