New SWB Taillights and Turn Signals from Porsche Classic

[LiveFromNY]

So I got the Euro fronts today from the folks at Chandler. Like Eric said, they are very nice. Also like Eric, they came without seals and bulb holders.

The big question: Are they indistinguishable from original parts? The answer: No, they're not.

Don't get me wrong. They're very well done and much better that most of the Porsche Classic offerings I've experienced. And I can absolutely imagine using them on certain cars. For those of us building drivers, or who aren't extreme-detail geeks (God bless you), these are going make people very happy. For the rest of us, those building very original cars, or who are afflicted with the disease that causes us to lose sleep over the tiniest of details, the quest for NOS parts will continue for however long they're still out there and can be found.

I'll make some time in the next day or so to take some detailed comparison photos.

[LiveFromNY]

Perhaps the worst part...

But before I go any further, let me acknowledge again that there are some of us who won't care as much as others of us will. That said, I remember when Marek's otherwise excellent Euro lenses had the incorrect U.S. markings and it sparked endless comments and conversations. Why? For the same reason we pay a huge premium for the Bosch LWB lenses with the correct markings. It's not that we love Bosch, it's that some of us want our cars to be 100% original down to every detail. Anyways...

For the new lights, there is both good news and bad news when it comes to the markings.

The good news: the original Bosch markings are there and look pretty damn good. Maybe not perfect but unless you're looking at them side-by-side with an original lens, most of us would be hard-pressed to make the call.

Now the bad news: It seems that Porsche, despite all of their talk about correct markings, were ultimately unable to escape the plague that is government regulation and the new lenses are double marked. That is, they have BOTH the classic markings as well as a set of new markings meeting the various governmental requirements for current lenses. For the rears, the new markings are on the inside of the clear reflector window. For the fronts, they're in the mold at the clear front of the lens. Bottom line, nobody is going to confuse these with original parts.

Rear lens photo below courtesy of Eric L. More photos coming soon.

[718RSK]

With some effort you can sand down the lettering on the front lenses and polish. The rears are another story, very disappointing. Don't know the regulations but could a sticker not have done the job

[italux]

Maybe in US is different, but in Europe a car cannot pass the annual ministerial inspection without those approval marks on lights. It means that the car cannot be driven on streets, only on private roads.
It would be like wanting to mount old tires just because the new ones have different markings like approvals and year of contruction.

[LiveFromNY]

Maybe in US is different, but in Europe a car cannot pass the annual ministerial inspection without those approval marks on lights. It means that the car cannot be driven on streets, only on private roads.
It would be like wanting to mount old tires just because the new ones have different markings like approvals and year of contruction.

Let's not group all of "Europe" together as that's not the case. That said, are you quite sure that law pertains to vintage cars running original equipment? My 1972 911T passed inspection in Italy several years ago wearing original lenses with no modern markings and I have sold and traded numerous NOS lenses to friends in Europe whose cars are on the road. It seems likely to me that vintage cars wearing original equipment would be grandfathered? Am I wrong?

As for the U.S., some States, but not all, require annual inspections. I've personally had cars inspected in half a dozen States that do require inspections and none of them went so far as to examine markings on any of the lenses. Of course, you're correct, in that the U.S. does require specific lens markings, I've just never seen it enforced at inspection. I HAVE seen people get tickets for weird, non-approved lenses from time to time but that's a different story.

All of this is probably irrelevant as far as the new Porsche units are concerned as Porsche must follow manufacturing regulations.

[stout]

Watching this thread with interest.

I wonder if the sticking point is what a small manufacturer can do vs what PAG can do…or is willing to do. I know that some materials…just can't be used in manufacturing anymore. I wonder if there is a law on the books in the EU or some countries that doesn't allow new lenses to be sold without certain markings, and it's not worth hoping it "gets by" when you're a manufacturer?

The funny thing, at least for me, is that I'd want fresh new Euro lenses on a SWB—and on a U.S. car, they'd already be wrong. For anything less than concours (then I get it) or a survivor (which may not need lenses anyway), maybe someone said it's fine vs any legal liability.

[NickP]

Same here Pete, all very interesting. As NOS supplies are a finite and diminishing source we all may need to reconcile how to live with some of these offerings, be they Porsche supplied or by the aftermarket. Without a doubt we need Eric L to expand his offerings and hope that others follow suit. A few years ago I cracked the bung on my 85L plastic gas tank which I was super bummed about. I replaced it with a new Porsche issued plastic tank and the only discernible difference being the date stamp. It kind of bugged me at first, but I came around as I feel like a new gas tank just has to be safer than a 40+ year old item. Same thing with seat belts, windshields, and other consumables. Maybe lights and lenses belong in that category for some if they operate better and are brighter? Maybe. Still not NOS but some day all those parts will be gone....

[jaudette3]

JP...

I’m curious how the last set of SWB turn signals that I restored for you compare to these.

Thanks,
John

[LiveFromNY]

As NOS supplies are a finite and diminishing source we all may need to reconcile how to live with some of these offerings, be they Porsche supplied or by the aftermarket.

You're probably right, Nick. Absent Eric or someone with his attention to detail stepping up, we may find that parts like these are in all of our future as NOS parts become unavailable. Harder to take on highly visible parts like the lights, I suppose.

[LiveFromNY]

JP...

I’m curious how the last set of SWB turn signals that I restored for you compare to these.

Thanks,
John

I'll take a look over the weekend.