Year Galvanization Began

[rmfent]

Wanted to get the answer on this. Was told that Porsche started galvanizing the cars in late '71.
Just wanted to confirm that this is true. All thoughts and opinions welcome.
Thanks

[w00tPORSCHE]

1976 was the first year where all the panels were galvanized for the 911 series. Porsche began offering the 6 year warranty against rust from that model year.

[beh911]

Certain vulnerable areas underneath were galvanized in 70-71.

[rmfent]

So the there was only a limited amount of galvanizing done in '70-'71? I surely thought late '71 all 911's were galvanized for rust prevention. Would appreciate a few more comments on this as I remember reading about this in a thread. Appreciate any feedback or insight.

[72t4tom]

I just happen to have 1 last issue of Panorama left...July 2002. In Al Caldwell's article on changes in the 911, he states that "during the early 1970s, Porsche gradually introduced galvanized panels. The complete car was galvanized in Europe for 1976 and US cars in 1977

Tom

[eprnjp]

I had a 72 coupe that had galvanized quarter panels.

Ed

[911T1971]

Didnt have the 70-71 cars underneath an increase of a black "tar" rust treatment. It clogged later quickly, water and humidity filtered in and the body rusted even faster. But that area was not (yet) galvanised.
I think on 70-71 cars, this was the first factory attemp for rust prevention.

[beh911]

Traveling without the tome so can't look it up but I believe the topic was covered in Excellence was Expected if I remember correctly

[NorthernThrux]

Body Galvanizing in Porsche 911 : From http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...s-history.html

If you have galvanized quarter panels and your car is pre '75, I believe you have replacements.

Thyssen steel = steel with Zinc layers on both sides; thickness of the Zinc layers varied from 10 um to 20 um, depending on exposure conditions (Frere, p. 201)

1970 – Galvanized steel (not Thyssen type) used in floor pan and wheel arches (Bob White in Pano V: 142); the “entire platform, including the floor, the longitudinal members, the wheel arches and the seat pans were galvanized.” (Boschen & Barth, p. 124)
1971 models – had galvanized steel in areas particularly exposed to rust (Frere, p. 201)
1972-1973 – Thyssen steel use began (Bob White in Pano V: 142)
1973 – Thyssen steel: rocker panels, inner rocker panels, floor pans, & some other parts (Chuck Stoddard in Pano V: 142)
1975 – Thyssen steel: entire body treated (Bob White & Chuck Stoddard {began in Feb. ’75 production for US cars; earlier for Euro cars – had trouble with paint} in Pano V: 142, 192)
1976 models – had Thyssen steel in entire body except roof (Frere, p. 201)
1977 models – on – had Thyssen steel in entire body (Frere, p. 201); an “important step forward was the use of zinc-coated sheet steel for the manufacture of the entire body structure (except for the coupe’s roof on early production cars). Coated on both sides, this made the structure virtually immune against the formation of rust….” (Boschen & Barth, p. 143)


The Zinc steel added 22 lbs. to the weight of the body structure (Frere, p. 202)

Pano = Panorama volume: page number
Frere = Frere, Paul. 1997. PORSCHE 911 STORY. 6th ed., Patrick Stephens Ltd. Newbury Park, CA.
Boschen & Barth = Boschen, Lothar and Jurgen Barth. 1978. THE PORSCHE BOOK: A DEFINITIVE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY. Argo Books.


Note: the Panorama and Frere comments can be harmonized since most cars for one model year are constructed in the previous chronological year

[beh911]

Great post. I had the right year but my reference was the only one not mentioned.