1974 Carrera Coupe - RHD, UK car

[KS]

Here's the real deal. This is a rarity.
They are not mine but this is what I was looking for.

The crucial word here folks is WAS....

Come on Paul, we know you better by now!

[squirdan]

have you purchased or perused the latest 911 Porsche world magazine Paul?

"1974 carrera ... why its the next big thing"

[Ferry Man]

The crucial word here folks is WAS....

Ooops, have I slipped up on the suspense? I may have to slow the thread down and take more care with tenses in my typing...

[Ferry Man]

have you purchased or perused the latest 911 Porsche world magazine Paul?
"1974 carrera ... why its the next big thing"

No. Not seen that.
Why is it the next big thing?
Is it the chrome fog lights?

[sladey]

Somebody wake me up when he's found the sodding lamps




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[Highfield]

I can see those lamps turning out like the seats I found - both 'were' for sale.

Have to take my hat off to you Paul, the depth of investigation and research is to be admired, and a man after my own interest ....... how did we do all this before the Internet !

By the way that dash looks great and an excellent find in the original box of bits - rather like the original two piece grill I got in a random box of bits with my Alfa, that I know find are like hens teeth.

Will this be your mode of transport for CLM 2014 ?

Ian

[Ferry Man]

Somebody wake me up when he's found the sodding lamps

Enough of your lip young Slade, see me in my office after school.

[Ferry Man]

So, I set about hunting for the correct lamps.
And after a few years looking I still didn’t have the right lamps.

Yes, you can get sick of eBay alerts.
Enter ‘Porsche Fog Light’ and you’ll discover thousands of auctions and none of them were the correct style.

I lamented the same thing to Nick at Early911 one day and explained my struggle in finding a pair. And he voiced the thought that he might have some.
What?
I’ve been looking all this time and now you tell me you might have some?
Oh yeah, sorry Nick, maybe I should have told you I was searching for such a thing.....

[Ferry Man]

So I pestered him to look in his stores.
And kept pestering him. But it took months of pressure.

I think Nick forgot where he’d put them.
Or they were in the dustiest corner of his loft?
Or he keeps them in a cave where the entrance is only revealed at the lowest of tides?

Anyway eventually he turned up a set of lamps he’d taken off a 1974 Carrera he’d once owned.
The lights were genuine and correct for ‘74.
I happily paid more than he asked for them.

[Ferry Man]

Despite being correct for 1974 they will need to be restored.
Or – should I say? - despite being correct for 1974 they have already been restored.

[Ferry Man]

So I set about trying to source new parts.
Whilst I was searching a DDK’er volunteered he had some components that might help.
And indeed they did.

Ian Gunney offered me some NOS parts from a 914 (the Porsche 914 of the era uses a very similar lamp but has a different fixing. I don’t believe the body of the 914 lamps were ever chrome plated but enough of that, let’s get back to the topic in hand).
These are the parts Ian sent me.
It comprised two brand new chrome trim rings and two brand new reflectors. Unused and in original boxes!

[Ferry Man]

He’d sent me photos when I expressed an interest and when I said “I’ll take them, what’s the price?”, he let me have them for a donation to DDK’s chosen charity.
No gain for himself.
Now that’s generous, very generous.
A true gent.

He even packed them carefully and paid for the postage out of his own pocket.
I do meet many good guys in my dealings in the early Porsche world and this charitable act personifies that culture.
Thanks Ian.

[Ferry Man]

Being NOS they are obviously in superb order.

[Ferry Man]

I was able to replace the trim rings on my old lamps.
You can see the difference the new parts make.

[Ferry Man]

The new reflectors made an equally impressive transformation.