I have a spare set of backing plates that Irecently picked up that are about as perfect as can be for a 30+ year old part subjected to weather.

I've always thought that these came originally with a satin black finish, and these DO have that finish (said to be original by the PO). However, strikes me that a saw a post on one of the forums several months ago indicating these parts had originally been cad or zinc dichromate coated w/no paint.

Anyone out there have more info about this...........

I have a set of 914/6 ones that are original good condition and are gold color.

Never seen them in other than Black and Ive torn down quite a few cars.
Geoff my last car I striped was an orig 76 they were black

I've got the gold cad on both my sixes. Black on my '75. I'll have to check my '71 parts car.

Don

The PET shows the -6 backing plates to be from a 911 application and the -4 to be from a VW, that would explain the difference in finishes. Every four I've seen was black but I don't know what type exactly.

Yes, my 76 had black ones, kinda of a satin black finish. Still have them.

Well, these reponses seem to settle my question about the 4's - they were black, as I suspected.

But.......my '73 911, which is NOT a concours car has the same black shields. I scraped off the crud & came up with black paint! I know the PO well & also know he didn't get into refurbishing things. The original owner, who I don't know, had a cell antenna on the rear window so I seriously doubt he gave a sh_t about originality.

Would have thought there might be a lineage between these parts on a 6 & 11, but maybe my 11 is too new????

Good info though!

heck, I'll dig them out and shoot some pics. Can't find that early rain tray...yet.

I have yet to put my new OEM ones on the front..
They came out of the warehouse in Reno back in 97/98....
They are the Satin Black finish..
Here is the grabber though..
I got em...SAID Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..
The new ones paint was pretty poor..
So I powder coated my originals..and they came out better..
AND THE NEW ONES ARE THINNER STEEL!!!!!
THANX AGAIN PORSCHE

My backing plates are yellow plated, my understanding when I purchased them was that they were either 914-6's or pre 73 911's.

Well, I can add more fuel to this fire ( a small one, as it is). Got these '72 plates from a Nevada '72 car. Somewhat grimey, but the only rust was surface rust in the edges. Carefully cleaned the crud off & they are GLOSS black. At first thought maybe they were repainted, but after sanding the surface rust into the paint discovered there was only original paint on them, and it is glossy.

Not sure about the later years, but I'm going with glossy on these, I think. Picking up a set of rears from a '72 this weekend. Hope that settles my issue, because I would prefer glossy. It's a four, not a six. I'd really prefer cad plating, but it would be wrong.

Yep this just goes back to that, different mfr's and years
produced different black finishes.
What was shot in the 70's.......
Would not match later years...
Stands to reason though....

Gloss black on -4's
Cad on -6's

Also, did you see Andy's donut thread? Black hats on the rotors...