sc911

I am in the market for a 1987 - 1989 911 Carrera coupe. I see that many of the listings include rear spoilers (whale tails). My preference is not have a rear spoiler. Is it difficult (costly) to remove a spoiler, or would I be better off only looking at cars without spoilers?

Mark Salvetti

I don't think the tail is hard to remove, but it will leave holes in the rear lid that you would have to fill and then repaint. I would focus on cars without tails, but if a car with a tail comes along that is exactly what you are looking for, especially if you want an unusual color, then I think you should buy it and worry about the tail later.

Mark

needspeed

I replaced the whale tail lid on my '87 with a new lid without a spoiler. Easier to just buy a new one - I recall it was around $1k.

sc911

Thanks, Mark and needspeed. That's good information.

George

oldskewel

And then if you change your mind later, or the next owner ... This way it will be easy to swap back.

fastdiablo

Removing the spoiler and filling holes would be unwise. Simply buy a 2nd deck lid.

AG81

^
X2.

Franco44

It’s a tough call. My cab came with a whale tale and I decided to try the smoother look. Bought a used lid that had had a tail on it, had the holes (9 of the little buggers on an SC between the tail bolts and the SC badge) welded up and lid painted. Ran about $1400 with the purchase of lid, body shop work, grill and fixins. I like the look on the cab but reserve the right to change in the future…

Before..

And After…

AG81

^
Nice !!!! I like it.

parkerfe

How did removing the whale tail affect your AC ?

wildcat077

I think your cabrio looks better and cleaner without the rear tail ... nice !

Cheers
Phil

ahenthus

I’m not sure whether it’s the same thing when removing a tea tray that it is removing a whale tail. Tea trays replaced whale tails when the intercooler was added to the turbo cars. If the turbo look cars had the same tea tray the turbos had it’s totally different than the whale tail shown in Franco’s post. I believe changing either one to a regular 911 lid would be the better choice. Another benefit would be the resale value of the tea tray because there are always several people looking to turbocharge and inter cool normally aspirated 911s and I see them on the 930 forum from time to time.

Aventurine 992

@Franco44 I like the color match painted wheels! 👍

Franco44

It didn’t affect the a/c at all since it was removed some time ago( before my time). That being said I understand the question. The hole is the same so it should fit and work ok I would imagine. It was suggested just to buy a new lid…. I agree.

theiceman

The answer is no doubt a second tail , the challenge is getting the paint to match , some of the metallic paints can be very difficult to match. I would not expect perfection but if you can live with a small colour deviation on the tail then do it. This is also why i would not fill and paint the holes on your tail as you will have the same issue.