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Thread: Porsche Headlight Table

  1. #1
    Lighting Specialist jaudette3's Avatar
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    Porsche Headlight Table

    I’ve updated the following table that many here helped me to compile a few years ago:

    Name:  03372469-9F75-4FB0-B1D9-9EF9D2AD2ACD.jpeg
Views: 785
Size:  64.6 KB

    As always, open to input.

    I posted it on Instagram the other day in my quest to get more followers than the Kardashians. I’m really enjoying Instagram, much to my surprise. It’s a very collegial and positive culture, at least in the Porsche community. Come join me there - #audette.collection

    Cheers,
    John
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  2. #2
    Serial old car rescuer Arne's Avatar
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    Sorry, John, I don't do Instagram (or any of the other social media things other than dedicated car sites). So I can't add to your follower count.

    Question - as best you can determine, was the RoW change from H1 to H4 done at model year change (~7/71), or calendar year?
    - Arne
    Current - 2018 718 Cayman, Rhodium Silver, PDK

    Sold - 1972 911T coupe, Silver Metallic; 1984 911 Carrera coupe, Chiffon white; 1973 914 2.0, Saturn Yellow; 1984 944, Silver Metallic

  3. #3
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    March 72 Arne ...if my memory serves me right.

    I posted a period summary of a factory bulletin on this H4 point in a headlight thread. I'm told H4 not ever a north American light on 911; there is much misunderstanding of these lamps. Often later ones get used incorrectly on longhoods

    For example a friend told me someone on this forum once sold him H4 that had originally been type used by a later impact bumper car. These had extra parking/sidelight light in unit but in seller's refurb the sidelight had been sealed or covered up. Fotunately my pal had knowledge to call such a thing out and returned it!

    There are folks here who search old threads quicker than me so likley they'll find my post on your question faster than me digging out the original source to refresh /confirm my memory of date.

    Edit: found the picture of my original source and it seems my memory of March 72 introduction date was correct:Name:  Screenshot_20191211-204211~2.jpg
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    Has anyone got a copy of bulletin referenced in the picture?
    Last edited by 911MRP; 12-11-2019 at 11:54 AM. Reason: Add photo

  4. #4
    Serial old car rescuer Arne's Avatar
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    That sounds right to me. The H4 bulb was not released (invented?) until sometime during the year of 1971, so there would be some lag time before lamp housings were made to use them. So a RoW car built when mine was (8/71) would have had H1s.

    I also find this document useful in that it confirms that (at least for some years) H1s were wired to keep the low (dipped) beam on when the high (main) beam was used. Lots better lighting that way.
    - Arne
    Current - 2018 718 Cayman, Rhodium Silver, PDK

    Sold - 1972 911T coupe, Silver Metallic; 1984 911 Carrera coupe, Chiffon white; 1973 914 2.0, Saturn Yellow; 1984 944, Silver Metallic

  5. #5
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    Not only sounds right... IS right ...the photo I added later which you might not have seen is from a PCGB original 1972 publication that is in my possession

    My 12/72 British market car has its original correct RHD H4 and still has the earlier correct version (not replacement lenses we often see today). Also got spare pair of that original 72 H4 type with the correct Bosch date code / part number corresponding to my 72/3 Bosch parts reference books squirrelled away just in case.

    Ironically my pal mentioned in the story has 10/71 produced USA car should have had those US lights or possibly contemporary ROW H1s ...not a March > H4... and absolutely not a H4 pair from 74> facelift era after which parking light in longhood wing mounted multiple lamp was eliminated on that impact facelift
    Last edited by 911MRP; 12-11-2019 at 12:52 PM.

  6. #6
    Senior Member StephenAcworth's Avatar
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    great work, as always, John!
    1966 911 Coupe - Slate Grey - 304598 - still in restoration!

    Member #1616

  7. #7
    Senior Member Cliff's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 911MRP View Post
    Not only sounds right... IS right ...the photo I added later which you might not have seen is from a PCGB original 1972 publication that is in my possession

    My 12/72 British market car has its original correct RHD H4 and still has the earlier correct version (not replacement lenses we often see today). Also got spare pair of that original 72 H4 type with the correct Bosch date code / part number corresponding to my 72/3 Bosch parts reference books squirrelled away just in case.

    Ironically my pal mentioned in the story has 10/71 produced USA car should have had those US lights or possibly contemporary ROW H1s ...not a March > H4... and absolutely not a H4 pair from 74> facelift era after which parking light in longhood wing mounted multiple lamp was eliminated on that impact facelift
    Are you speaking of the clear top H4`s?
    To err is human; to blame it on someone else is more human...

    "You must always strive to be the best, but you must never believe that you are."
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    ”What would PORSCHE do”

    67 911 de Luxe, 356 B silver metallic / brown interior, ( buck skin really ) 67 PORSCHE [ built ] 912, Crystal blue, black interior, 72 T, Silver metallic/black interior, appearance group,factory AC.

  8. #8
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    No but remember there were only a few hundred RHD made in model year 72 and in model year 73 so I am talking about the rare lens RHD H4 used from March 72 until the UK joined the common market in Jan 73 after which the relevant standards began to harmonize.

    This nuance is from decades of looking at RHD 72/73 TES and RS cars that I have access to in UK so patterns can be discerned even on an item like headlamp lens prone to damage.

    The comment above refers to a small number of lens within that already small number on those cars built to RL i.e. RHD I. That period. One of those anorakish details that are important on originality and a pointer to provenance.

    My RS is one of quota of 51 built to C16 England RL specification in that relevant narrow time window acording to its build sheet. Also it has never left the UK according to continuous owner change official records held by DVLA and contact with the each of handful of PO confirm it has not been owned outside the UK. So never need to swap lens to to change its RHD lamps to the relatively more common LL spec used in markets that drive on other side of the road.

    Incidentally the Bosch stickers on back of these lamps with the appropriate Bosch manufacturing date code and part number for the period are different shape and colour than often seen these days. I know there will be head shaking by some at date coding lamps. To be clear I don't advocate retrospectively date coding bits (like folks do fitting Fuchs these days apparently). However having date matching parts still present is quite different. These are the lamps on the car as bought in early nineties and used as an everyday runaround for some of its ownership. The presence of rare parts with narrow factory usage consistent to car date of manufacture in that situation is actually reassuring provenance by being present on a car as acquired 25 + years ago -- long before anyone would've thought of date matching such niche parts let alone a PO having a practical way if sourcing such a niche dated matched things before www part sales. Neat detail when so many cars back story is largely unknown or have been " buggered about with" ...to use the technical term...

    There are some subtle differences even within the roughly one year only 72/3 H4 era. European and ROW is probably too broadbrudh as a grouping given the Bosch part number for LHD and RHD applications H4 are different in 72/3 iirc, early lens evolution difference and so forth

    Possibly nuances not of interest to NA since I'm told H4 were not for street use in market/s so not factory fitted but subtlies are important to 72/3 owners whose cars had factory fitted H4s originally.
    Last edited by 911MRP; 12-14-2019 at 01:37 PM.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Cliff's Avatar
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    Did RHD have the clear top too? Reason I ask, I have a nos set of RHD H4`s with flat lens [ NFS] that are for a RHD country; pie shape on the right. Perhaps the lens were changed out?
    Last edited by Cliff; 12-14-2019 at 12:23 PM.
    To err is human; to blame it on someone else is more human...

    "You must always strive to be the best, but you must never believe that you are."
    —Juan Manuel Fangio[48]

    ”What would PORSCHE do”

    67 911 de Luxe, 356 B silver metallic / brown interior, ( buck skin really ) 67 PORSCHE [ built ] 912, Crystal blue, black interior, 72 T, Silver metallic/black interior, appearance group,factory AC.

  10. #10
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    Off top of head NOT sure about the clear top rhd you mention.. so maybe was something swapped.
    Last edited by 911MRP; 12-14-2019 at 04:01 PM. Reason: Add the NOT to correct mistype

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