Identifying LWB Headlights

[jaudette3]

We've done a good job in an earlier thread of identifying SWB headlights. Now I'm interested in collecting the same amount of information on LWB headlights. My level of knowledge is modest as I always have had H1's on my cars. I do know that they are correct as they were introduced in 1968. And H4's are correct, at least for '72-'73, as they were introduced in 1972.

What I am unclear on is LWB stock lights. I know that for some years the U.S. lights came with sealed beams and sugar scoops. What about the LWB Euro cars, how were they equipped? Did they have the same Euro lights as the SWB cars?

Look forward to an informative discussion.

Cheers,
John

[Jim Breazeale]

John

I'll post picutres of 68 thru 73 US spec Headlights tomorrow.
We need to stop using the "SWB/LWB" crap to describe cars and their respective parts. It just doesn't work! It seems to be used by "serial sellers " to describe their grossly overpriced stuff because they really don't know what it fits or where it came from.
"SWB" cars came with "LWB" headlights, too!

Respectfully

Jim
911 Curmudgeon
PS: Pictures of 68 and later headlights on US cars ain't pretty

[jaudette3]

Jim...

Looking forward to your knowledgeable input.

On the SWB vs. LWB thing, I have always had that distinction in my head going back 30 years ago when I first started messing with these cars. It's always seemed to me that 1965-1968 and 1969-1973 were two different distinct eras (well, maybe 1968 was an era in it's own right). I do understand what you're talking about though. The recent explosion in prices, and presumably interest, in longhoods has turned a lot of our old jargon into marketing-speak. "SWB = $$$" to many. I don't care for it either, but I'm not going to change my 911 vocabulary in reaction to it.

To be more specific in what I'm looking for in this thread, my knowledge seems to be pretty much limited to the years 1965-1968. Things may have been much the same continuing on but I don't know that definitively. There's no better source than you, curmudgeon or not.

Cheers,
John

[Jim Breazeale]

John

I have taken some pictures of headlights that were fitted to all US delivered cars beginning with the 68 (Still a SWB) year model cars. I can't speak for ROW cars, though. All 68 and later cars came with tabs welded to the headlight bucket to mount the headlight assemblies. The "sugar scoop" headlight doors are a separate part and mount just the same as the earlier headlight assys. Notice the color of the plastic insert in the sugar scoop. Those inserts are supposed to be grey and all of them came that way. They just faded to that ugly yellowish color almost instantly. If you want any more pictures ore more detail, just let me know. I will be happy to provide any info or photos you may need. These headlights remained unchanged through ym1973.

Regards

Jim

[jaudette3]

Thank you Jim, perfect. Can someone else chip in with a description of ROW headlights, 1968-1973? Were they just a continuation of the Euro lights found on the earlier cars?

The U.S. certainly lagged behind for a long time with the inferior sealed beams.

Thanks,
John

[NeunElf]

I don't know if this is really news, but the downloadable parts catalog shows only three basic headlights for LWB cars:

American Cars

Sealed beam "sugar scoops" There's no single part number for a "sugar scoop" headlight assembly, just 10 separate parts.

European Cars 1969-1971 - H1s

• 911.631.101.00 Left Hand Steering
• 911.631.101.01 Left Hand Steering with yellow lenses for France
• 911.631.101.02 Right Hand Steering

European Cars 1972-1973 - H4s

• 911.631.102.00 Left Hand Steering (used a yellow bulb in France)
• 911.631.102.02 Right Hand Steering

[jaudette3]

That's really interesting Jim. Did all ROW 1969-1973 come standard with either H1's or H4's? No non-H4 Euro lights?

John

[NeunElf]

That's really interesting Jim. Did all ROW 1969-1973 come standard with either H1's or H4's? No non-H4 Euro lights?

John

That's how I read the parts catalog; either H1s or (shortly after the H4 bulb was introduced) H4s. The "tungsten" (P45t bulb) non-sealed beam headlights do not appear anywhere in the LWB parts catalog.

Somebody might have an old hardcopy LWB catalog and it might show something else. Porsche did "simplify" things a little in creating PET.



The SWB parts book shows H1s replacing the "tungsten" (P45t bulb) non-sealed beam headlights partway through 1968 on the RoW 911S. I believe H1s were optional on other RoW 911s in 1968.