RS flares or factory?

[Dave Pugh]

Does this matter or effect the cars value? I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I'd like to get opinion from the board. The car is a '73S with matching number trans and motor to the COA. I'm in discussions with a body guy to possibly change my quarters that have been on the car since '74.

I know the adage, "Drive it and enjoy the car" which is easier said than done. We all have that something on our cars we'd like to change or enhance. Now you know mine!

So...does this really add value (perceived)?

Thanks for your opinion.

Dave

[obrut]

My vote - keep the flares, build the motor to 2.7 and call it a tribute to the 73RS prototype.

Ps. A mate has the twin of this car in the UK, including the colour and the rear flares.

[ChristianS]

Dave, very nice car but these look like SC-flares to me?

[Dave Pugh]

Christian, I've gotten both RS and SC from many. Do you have a source for determining the difference? In your opinion does it matter as far as value goes?

[Dave Pugh]

I'll build my next car from a "T" and do a 2.5 motor in Gulf Blue and not care about the originality as much as I do this car. Your friend has good taste!

[Flieger]

If the flares really were done in '74, leave them. That said, they do look like SC flares in that photo.

Ask Chuck about period modifications.

Remember, there was a class for hot rods at Pebble Beach- if they were made "in period" and preserved as they were.

[John Z Goriup]

Dave,

I am attaching several photos to try to eliminate some apparent confusion.

Photo #1. New RS flares, factory supplied ( they are still available from Porsche ) I bought these for my car 5 years ago and installed them on Ruprecht. Please note the outside edge of the flare, especially the edge of the flat surface facing outward - it is wider at the 12 o'clock position than at 9 & 3 o'clock and the transition of the flat into the main body of the flare is rounded.

Photo #2. An SC flare. Please note the outside edge of the flare - a uniform width flat surface with sharp edge all around. The flare itself is identical in contour and profile to the RS flare other than the outside edge.

Photo #3. Your car shot a few weekends ago, .....clearly those are SC flares.

In my opinion the "incorrect" flares on your beautiful S will have a negative impact on its value. Replacing them with RS flares will be expensive because (again, in my opinion only ), I don't believe you'll be able to get away with merely re-spraying the rear quarters after you have welded in the RS flares. Silver metallics are notoriously difficult to match perfectly, so you're probably looking at a complete repaint to a standard commensurate with the rest of the car, which is quite high I submit. In my opinion the substitution of RS flares for the SC units is a financially "neutral" modification, i.e. the value would be pretty much what an unmolested '73 S would sell for....but there's the cost of performing that whole step. Also, nowhere is it written that you have to make an RS clone out of your car ( engine, ducktail, graphics, etc. ) if you choose to go with the RS flares only. It would merely look like an optioned '73 S.

Going to standard '73 fenders will in all likelihood cost pretty much the same as the RS flare conversion due to the same paint considerations, but you would probably not recover the total cost of the modification if the job is done properly & completely.

My recommendation,..........( again, it's only an opinion ), leave it as it is and enjoy it, or sell it for the max. $$$ it will bring in its present state, because whatever you do will cost more than any potential increase in resale value,....... and devote your energy to your new project.

[Dave Pugh]

Excellent information, John. Thank you for clarifying and your logic.

Dave

[Macroni]

Do not change!

[RSTarga]

Leave it it's very nice!