72 Restoration Detail Questions

[Guru]

We're in the last stages of the restoration and there are a couple of details that are nagging us.

1. The hood and trunk latches should be silver, not yellow in color, right? I assume this applies to the latching pins on the hood and trunk lid as well?

2. Should the dash switches have chromed rings at the base of the switch or black plastic rings? Every 72 car I've seen so far has chrome, but according to PET, the "Rosette verchromt" - i.e. chromed ring - is given as only being used up to 1971.

3. Does the heater lever with the red knob next to the handbrake have a chrome or a black painted finish to the arm?

4. Does anyone have a good description and/or picture of what the smuggler's box finish should be like on a 1972 car? Our current best guess is dark gray at the back (as seen when facing the car from the front), and lightly misted body color over gray on the sides, front and bottom. The effect is as if someone lightly sprayed the front, sides and bottom body color while leaning over the passenger side fender.

Hope these questions aren't too trivial! Any help from the experts here is much appreciated,

Best, Guru

[robmog]

1 silver, although springs are gold.
2 silver bases on my car.
3 black
4 black with body color overspray as you described

[fryardds]

Hi Guru,

Matilda is about done, hooray! Can't wait to see the finished photos. So sorry I missed meeting you at Essen.

Agreed with Rob on the details.

1) Silver finish on the latches
2) Chrome bezels on the switches
3) Black painted handle

I looked at Jurgen's site as he has 3 really good reference '72 911s. Check out the smuggler's box on Bert's Jade Green '72.

[Guru]

Bob, thanks as always - whenever I have an obscure 72 question, I can count on your help!

Brian, it's a pity we couldn't meet in Essen. Thanks for the link to Jürgen's car. That's exactly where I started looking, he has the best pictures I've seen so far and his 3 72 cars apppear to be very original. The finish on the Jade smuggler's box had me scratching my head because it appears so even and straight - the other cars we are looking at (71, 72) seem more random and amateurish. Also, I got a little confused because the screws on the door hinges on this car don't match what I expected from PET, but maybe this is another case of using up old parts during the new production run.

This detective work is all part of the fun, isn't it? Why do I feel like 1972 was the worst year in terms of transitions from one finish to another

Best, G.