Campeck

my new car came with them removed. I like it.

KuHL 951

It seems most people think that the side moldings were 'standard' issue on all 944's. 90% of the cars from the factory that did not have them actually and were offered as a dealer option. The dealer would color match and install them at the time of purchase. The comment about keeping the car 'stock' is like saying a rear center light panel is stock because the dealer offered and installed them too.

potent951turbo

Exactly what I was about to post. The car can still be original with or without them, you could get it either way. To say its not original looking anymore without them is totally not true.

ButtSled

I specifically ordered my 944 in 1983 without the moldings. It allows the contours of the car to flow together properly. I think the moldings "break it up." So my vote is Keine.


Deano

Oddjob

It was certainly optional on the early cars, and not very common to see them with the rub strips.

Most 86s did not have them. Seems like most 87 did have them, but you will find many without.

I know you wont find an 89T or S2 w/o them, and I kind of doubt that any of the 89 944 n/a's did not come with rub strips - kind of like AC and sunroof "option". So, technically, it would not be "stock" to not have rub stips on an 89T.

I personally like the clean/without look, but Im so used to seeing them on the late cars, that it would be an obvious indicator of a repaint and/or body work to see one w/o the strips.

I pulled them off of my 87T track car - I am fairly certain that you cannot easily remove them w/o needing a repaint.

Yabo

(edit - i dont know what my first sentence meant) I don't think you need them.. A door hits that trim and it chips the paint off the trim. Then you have trim with paint chipped off that you need to repaint.. Otherwise you'd have a chip from your door to repair. I guess it could prevent creasing.. but i don't know, seems pointless to me in most situations...