Early slant exhaust tip

[356rider]

I've been trying to figure out what the deal is on 64/early 65 exhaust tips. I've seen numerous factory photos and all have a slant exhaust tip instead of the normal one we are used to. I have an early 65 car and have a photo of it taken in '65 when new and it shows the slant tip. If you look close, it almost looks like it is a normal tip just installed backwards as there appears to be a ridge on the muffler side. BTW, the photo was taken at Sea World in San Diego and was sort of a centerfold in the Nov '65 issue of Pano. Does anyone have any info on the early muffler tips? Different part or just installed differently? Thanks.

[VA_alfa]

I read once where owners would put them on backwards to achieve this different (more sporty) look. Other more experienced members can confirm or correct.

[356rider]

I believe these are factory photos. I've noticed several early photos with the slant tip.

[Bobs 67S]

Nope, not a tail pipe cover. It is a welded on Chrome end. The Michael Cotton photo came from the Drivers Manual, the two red car photos are a 1964 car that was retouched and used for color printing (same photos) for at least two years. The separate chrome cover was in place early in 1965.

If anyone thinks they can install the cover backwards - be warned - it will stick out an extra 2 or so inches and attack your shin.

[Jay Laifman]

Well, as long as we are discussion identification of items in the picture, that's not Sea World. That is Vacation Village, aka Vacation Island, aka Paradise Point, across the bay from Sea World. Perhaps the owners were staying at Vacation Village when they also visited Sea World. Vacation Village was built in 1962 by Jack Skirball a Hollywood producer (of the Skirball Museum in LA). And was owned by Princess Cruises for a while.

We stayed there years ago, and climbed that tower. It was a wonderful family trip. We were not there for Porsches, we were actually there for a Sunbeam Tiger event!

[356rider]

Bob,

Thanks for the info on the tip. The question would then be, did the orig owner pull the tip and turn it around on a brand new car or did this car come with the welded chrome tip? The car was built at the end of May '65. The car was so new in the photo, it still had the CA temporary permit on the lower passenger windshield and it still has Euro plates, I believe from Holland as the car did not come through a US dealer but was imported through Ben Pon's company.

Also, thanks Jay for pinpointing exactly where the photo was taken.

[John Straub]

My '65 came with a slanted tipped original muffler...rusted out and long gone now.


John

[356rider]

Does anyone know about what chassis number the factory changed from the early, welded, slant exhaust tip to the later slip on tip?

Thanks,
Chuck

[Bobs 67S]

Hi Chuck,
it will take some investigation to find the change from slanted to the square tip cover. Going back to the car reviews for 1965 is a real mix and match of photos. "Sports Car World", March 1965 pictures a slant tip - but keep in mind that it was a press car provided by a distributor/dealer: and the lead time for a monthly publication was about 4 weeks back then: pub date March, printed February, photos taken December/January... on close inspection the engine rear latch panel is flat...means a 1964 car thru January 1965. Includes the display engine photo that is in the Cotton book - slanted tip. No conclusion.

"Auto Car" 2 July 1965, slanted pipe (but again the flat rear latch panel and .... six center panels in the front seats. ie, 1964 car - oh, it has the ring under the dash used in cars up to 300 254).
No conclusion.

The pre-production Targa with the crest on the roll bar has the slant pipe - spring 1965. No conclusion

The 912 reviews all have the cover with the square rolled end pipe cover. July 1965. No conclusion but closer to spring/summer of 1965.

Original car - John Straub made in April 1965, slanted end - the most concrete of anything so far.

Just to show how the photos of the period magazines were typically unreliable the cover photo used on "Sports Car Graphic" December 1965, Aga Blue 911, count the center panels on the hounds tooth seats - six, used into April, 1965. Yup a 1965 car on a 1965 magazine but we are looking for a month by month changing of parts study. It's not going to be easy.

[Bobs 67S]

1965 912 Brochure photo. Pub # W 233e 6.65 (June 1965)
Blue and red over print of a B/W photo, side view photo. Slanted tip.
Studio photo of the white car on page 2 square tip.
Note all other photos are cropped very close so not to see the tail pipe. Illustration on page 6 - square tip.
No conclusion.