Bridge Spoiler
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:58 am
I'm posting this in the general 944 forum, since it basically applies to all 944 variants. I find it very surprising that the famed "bridge spoiler", one of the most sought after and hard to find "modifications" for the 944 platform, would have so few aftermarket options. This spoiler was only available on the 91 S2 (USA), 91 S2's and Turbo coupe's (Europe) and all 968 coupe's.
I'm sure most know this, but even if you find a good 968 hatch to swap onto your 944, you better hope your electronic hatch release works because the 968 version blocks the hatch keyhole. This is because the 3rd brake light on a 968 is housed on the piece under the bridge spoiler. The late 944 version had a different piece that allowed room for the key to be inserted.
I purchased an aftermarket bridge spoiler option from a seller based in the UK a few years ago, and while the pieces that arrived looked very nice, there were no studs on the "hockey sticks", there was no method to mount the wing to the hatch without customizations to the new pieces, and obviously no gaskets (or hardware). I reached out to them after receiving it and was......ghosted. I ended up trashing it, since my attempts to make the necessary modifications went...poorly.
There is another seller (in eastern Europe) that also sells an aftermarket option. According to them, it mounts exactly the same way as genuine factory pieces, but I'm very leery and would rather buy from somewhere domestic.
I know, I know: "why don't you try to make one yourself and see how easy/profitable it would be" blah blah blah. There are companies in the USA that make aftermarket 944 fenders, hoods, doors, dashes, etc. Why no bridge spoilers? If there was a kit that bolted up like factory (imagine....CF...ohhhhh ahhhhh) and included the gaskets and was $1K or less, I would HAVE to think it would sell well/be profitable....
Is anyone else baffled by this?
And yes - I actually sourced out the individual pieces needed based on the PET diagram. The cost would be over $2,500, with pieces having to come from all parts of the world (AU, US, EU, etc). At least the ones that are not NLA.
I'm sure most know this, but even if you find a good 968 hatch to swap onto your 944, you better hope your electronic hatch release works because the 968 version blocks the hatch keyhole. This is because the 3rd brake light on a 968 is housed on the piece under the bridge spoiler. The late 944 version had a different piece that allowed room for the key to be inserted.
I purchased an aftermarket bridge spoiler option from a seller based in the UK a few years ago, and while the pieces that arrived looked very nice, there were no studs on the "hockey sticks", there was no method to mount the wing to the hatch without customizations to the new pieces, and obviously no gaskets (or hardware). I reached out to them after receiving it and was......ghosted. I ended up trashing it, since my attempts to make the necessary modifications went...poorly.
There is another seller (in eastern Europe) that also sells an aftermarket option. According to them, it mounts exactly the same way as genuine factory pieces, but I'm very leery and would rather buy from somewhere domestic.
I know, I know: "why don't you try to make one yourself and see how easy/profitable it would be" blah blah blah. There are companies in the USA that make aftermarket 944 fenders, hoods, doors, dashes, etc. Why no bridge spoilers? If there was a kit that bolted up like factory (imagine....CF...ohhhhh ahhhhh) and included the gaskets and was $1K or less, I would HAVE to think it would sell well/be profitable....
Is anyone else baffled by this?
And yes - I actually sourced out the individual pieces needed based on the PET diagram. The cost would be over $2,500, with pieces having to come from all parts of the world (AU, US, EU, etc). At least the ones that are not NLA.