Another Porsche 911 Project #11
by Mads – November 8, 2021
Vinyl Covered Dashboard
At some point, you stop counting weeks.
Then months. Then years.
And suddenly you realize this “small project” has quietly turned into something that has been part of your life for a very long time.
Still not finished — but getting closer
Yes, I’m still working on it. And yes, it has taken far longer than I ever planned.
The dashboard and lower switch panel had already been installed in the previous step, but I didn’t want to leave it at a “functional” level.
It needed to feel finished. So I handed it over to someone who actually knows how to upholster properly.
Not me. Definitely not me.
When professionals make the difference
Sometimes you reach a point where doing it yourself stops being the smart decision. This was one of those moments.
The dashboard came back wrapped in vinyl, and the result was exactly what I had in mind — tight surfaces, clean transitions, and especially the air vents integrated in a way that finally feels intentional, not improvised.
Those are the small details that separate “built” from “finished”. And I’m very happy I didn’t try to force this one myself.
Five years in and still not done
Every now and then I sit in the garage and try to understand how something like this stretches over so many years.
At the beginning, it was simple. Strip the car. Build it. Drive it. That was the idea.
Taking it apart took less than a week. Everything after that… did not follow that timeline. Welding, sourcing, testing, redoing, waiting for parts, changing direction — again and again.
And yet here we are. Still moving forward.
Details that start to define the interior
The small things are starting to matter more now. Vent integration in the dash. Surface transitions.
The way light reflects off materials inside the cabin.
Even seat hardware details — small metal rings prepared for future upholstery work — suddenly become part of a larger picture. Nothing is random anymore. Everything is starting to belong somewhere.
Gauges, decisions and small uncertainties
The gauges shown here are temporary. Just used to get a feeling for layout and proportions inside the dash.
But even in this stage, questions remain. Black bezels or polished Subtle or more contrast?
And one thing I already know for sure: I want the body colour to appear inside the cabin as well. Not just outside.
Miami Blue should not only be something you see from a distance. It should be part of the driving experience.
Engine coming together
While the interior slowly moves forward, something else is already waiting. A new engine build based on a 911 SC case, with JE pistons, S-cams and Zenith carburetors.
Built by a friend, properly sorted, and almost ready to go in. Oil system, lines, tank — all of that still needs to be finished before the first real startup phase begins.
But the direction is clear now. It’s getting close.
Tires, stance and second thoughts
Even something as simple as tire choice ended up being a decision point. I initially bought 205/50/15 tires for the 7-inch Fuchs.
But after reading more about suspension behaviour, torsion bar setup and original Porsche dynamics, I changed direction.
195/65/15 Dunlop tyres will go on instead. More period-correct proportions. Better stance in the wheel arches. Better overall harmony with the chassis setup.
Sometimes the “correct” choice isn’t the first one you make.
