1966 correct headlights?

[tcsracing1]

Just pulled a 1966 sunroof coupe from a wharehouse.

would these headlights be correct?

and would the correct fog lamps be with a yellow tint or without?

[jaudette3]

Those are Hella sealed beam headlights with slotted adjustment screws. They’re definitely correct for a U.S. car and appear to be original. You can tell the date of production of the buckets with the code written under the SB 19 lettering in parentheses - for example (C 40). Porsche used a lettering system that started with “A” for 1964, “B” for 1965, and on up. The number is for the week.

Another thing distinctive about the Hella buckets is that they have one small drain hole in the bottom of the bucket. Buckets used outside of the U.S. were made by Bosch and have three openings.


Hopefully the rest of the car is as original!

Cheers,
John

[tcsracing1]

Those are Hella sealed beam headlights with slotted adjustment screws. They’re definitely correct for a U.S. car and appear to be original. You can tell the date of production of the buckets with the code written under the SB 19 lettering in parentheses - for example (C 40). Porsche used a lettering system that started with “A” for 1964, “B” for 1965, and on up. The number is for the week.

Another thing distinctive about the Hella buckets is that they have one small drain hole in the bottom of the bucket. Buckets used outside of the U.S. were made by Bosch and have three openings.


Hopefully the rest of the car is as original!

Cheers,
John

thanks John.
I love the 1972 lights i got from you.

I will have to send these to you for restoration!

[NeunElf]

US cars got white fog lamps, Rest-of-World cars got yellow (yellow reflector and clear lens) fog lamps. To match those headlights you presumably want white fog lamps (unless you believe you have a Europe-delivered car that was fitted with US-legal headlight on import but kept its other lights.

Twenty years ago you could get those headlight units from Stoddard, Performance Products, etc. for $129. They're very rare now.

[tcsracing1]

the car was a tourist delivery U.S car.

however, i have a mint pair of NOS fog lamps that do not have yellow lenses but they have a yellow/blue tint inside. Would this be correct?

US cars got white fog lamps, Rest-of-World cars got yellow (yellow reflector and clear lens) fog lamps. To match those headlights you presumably want white fog lamps (unless you believe you have a Europe-delivered car that was fitted with US-legal headlight on import but kept its other lights.

Twenty years ago you could get those headlight units from Stoddard, Performance Products, etc. for $129. They're very rare now.

[NeunElf]

All Hella 128 fig lights from the SWB 911-912 era had clear lenses. Without seeing your NOS lights I can't tell whether they have yellow reflectors or a little discoloration.

Here's Eric Linden's picture of a clear (US-style) Hella 128:

www.autoforeignservices.com

And, here's his yellow reflector (Rest-of-World) Hella 128

www.autoforeignservices.com

I pulled out my hardcopy parts catalog and found:

• 644.631.201.03 Fog lamps, white glass with yellow reflector Europe, for normal lamps.
• 644.631.201.04 Fog lamps, white glass with white reflector USA, for normal lamps.
• 644.631.201.00 Fog lamps, white glass with yellow reflector for halogen lamps, not for USA
• 644.631.201.10 Fog lamps, with yellow reflector for halogen lamps, not for USA

So, two sources, my hardcopy parts catalog and Brett Johnson's The 911 & 912 Porsche: A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity say American cars got all white foglights.

When we try to figure out what's most correct, all the repros I know of now have Halogen bulbs--back in '65-'66 they had 35 watt "tungsten" bulbs. I am certain a '66 would have the "V" lens, like Eric Linden's. I think the halogen foglights got a very different lens:

1968 Porsche 912 Targa

Stuff happened.

Here's an April '65 brochure showing a car with German plates and whte foglights:

And here's a March '65 brochure showing either

• a before it's time Porsche pimpmobile with gold-plated foglights, or
• a photo with white foglights (same registration plate as above) retouched to look yellow.

--------------------------------------

I fear your chances of finding the exact correct all-white, 35 watt "tungsten" bulb Hella 128s for a US specification '66 are poor--unless your NOS lights really are "all white." Do what you think makes you happy.

[tcsracing1]

All Hella 128 fig lights from the SWB 911-912 era had clear lenses. Without seeing your NOS lights I can't tell whether they have yellow reflectors or a little discoloration.

thanks for the pictures!
Yes, my NOS fogs have the "Yellow refelectors" (not yellow lens) so they must be for europe. They look pretty.
My car was a tourist delivery but most likely came with white lights.

Im considering an attempt at a concours restoration. The car is fairly complete. Would i be a fool to attempt?

[NeunElf]

You might try changing just the reflectors, or maybe having the reflectors refinished without the yellow. That's something that has probably been done for Horseless Carriage era cars--you could inquire to some of those clubs.

Before you embark on a very expensive fog light project, make sure your NOS Hellas really are correct for a '66. They changed a lot over the years Porsche used them (356B, 356C, SWB 911 & 912).

Eric touched on "the rivets." Circa 1965-1966, Hella managed to make housings without riveting the flanges to hold the screws for the bezel:

[Presumably] original Hella 128 housing from my '65 911

By '68 (the photo I posted of the lights on a 912) Hella was using rivets again.

There were also many changes to the lenses, multiple logos, different legends. Here's what's left of an original lens from my '65:

I have a spreadsheet that originated at the 356 Registry and touches on many of the changes.

[tfiv]

Eric's repros on my 67S, original ones scattered and in a box somewhere. Good enough for the girls I date. You'll be stunned by what they get to re-plate reflectors.

[Bradford]

Eric's repros on my 67S, original ones scattered and in a box somewhere. Good enough for the girls I date. You'll be stunned by what they get to re-plate reflectors.

How do they re-plate/mirror the reflectors?