What color should the PORSCHE script be for a 73S

[merbesfield]

As the title says. My 73S 22 years ago had a black engine grill with black letters. The one I just got has the black grill, but the letters are natural aluminum color, not black. No way of knowing if they are original or not.

[edmayo]

Mark, I'll bet those letters started out as black anodize, and have faded over the years to what looks like natural aluminum. Just look at an old SC with their black anodize trim that now looks like it was never black. I tried to find an acceptable solution for my 72S I showed at Parade last year. Black paint just didn't look right, I wanted to duplicate a slightly faded set which has what I would call a 'titanium' color. I found a color in the 'Duplicolor" brand that was some Chrysler color (or some such) that gave me that look. I don't remember getting gigged for that, so I guess the judges bought it!

[merbesfield]

Hi Ed, I thought about that too, but these are so darn bright they just do not look like the were ever black. I have seen what you talk about and usually you can tell. 22 years ago I bought brand new original parts to replace the faded black ones on my car. Are they NLA? Were all 73's black?

[edmayo]

To the best of my knowledge all 72 and 73 were black anodize. Maybe someone replaced the faded originals with the earlier silver ones. Do the pushnuts on the back look like they've been tampered with?

[merbesfield]

I looked at them and they, the push nuts, are in very good shape for the age. The car was re-painted once in 1979. Are new black letters available?

[Harvey Weidman]

Ed, I agree. The parts book doesn't even give the bright as an option...Black only.. Maybe a early owner change over?
H

[BlackC4]

I recently looked into this myself. My '73T project came with silver P O R S C H E letters and a silver 911T badge but my understanding was they were all black originally. I have found that all '72 and '73 models came with black letters. I can't imagine mine were changed (one previous owner) and I'm now debating whether to spend the money on replacement black lettering. I did look them over and not even the edges remain black.

How does your grill look? Mine still appears to be black anodized but it needs to be restored. I would be interested in hearing a treatment for both.

Ed would you mind posting a photo of your repainted lettering? I am interested in seeing how that turned out.

[merbesfield]

My grill is black and faded. Nice patina, but no longer
strong black. What was the cost for the replacement letters?

[BlackC4]

From what I've found the 911 badge is about $65.00 and the black Porsche lettering is $120.00, found them at Stoddard and Sierra Madre. If anyone has any better resources let me know.

[merbesfield]

One more thing to add to the list! Ugh.