DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Calling all you Biode / Bi-Iode experts.

As mentioned by Mike a while back, the buckets should be painted
"unusual Hella Grey"
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=46384&hilit=unusual
Does anyone have a RAL code or other paint match for "unusual Hella Grey", please?

Also, with full credit to Mike for the original pic:


Does anyone have part numbers and / or a good source for the items I have labelled?
1) Bucket appropriate for these lights
2) Retaining ring
3) Retaining ring

Many thanks in advance,
Richard.

Hi Richard,

I've no idea of part numbers but I ended up buying a number of buckets and lenses to make up a few sets, http://www.thesamba.com/ is a good source. A few are VW buckets, I've not been that particular and doubt people would have been 'in the day' although the rings are just the same (I think?), Gary Cook at GDC Automotive built up all of mine and he'll be able to advise.....colour wise we matched to an original correct Hella bucket, I'll get back to you with the paint code.....



Cheers,

Thanks Darren, much appreciated.
I have various buckets lying around - as you say I probably shouldn't overthink it - just pick a set and get them painted Hella grey.
I also have the outer chrome trim ring with adjustor and retaining screws, and a spare couple of pairs of clear lenses.

I'm still interested in any info the DDK collective brain can offer on parts 2 and 3 in my pic - the retaining rings. My only hands-on headlight experience is with H4s, which don't have those parts. Early car / US sealed beam territory.

It might be worth looking at early VW Beetle retaining rings which are available as a repro. I used these on my SEV Marchal Ampiluxes but not sure if they are the same for the Biodes. The headlight buckets are also available for early VW Beetle and again I think these may be the correct item. However, I found two original Hella buckets on German ebay. As for paint on the headlight buckets I cleaned up an area on one of my Hella buckets and had it paint matched into a rattle can. I may have some paint left if you are interested.
Kirk

Thanks Kirk. I'll take you up on that paint offer if I fail to get the paint code.

Have you contacted John Audette? He must be the definitive Guru when it comes to all early Porsche headlights.

From the numerous sets I've had over the years, I'd say there was no standard shade of grey used for the buckets - they were painted in batches & the final colour varied from batch to batch.

I've had NOS Hella buckets, still sealed in the original packaging, that were distinctly different shades.

Personally I wouldn't get hung up on trying to establish the 'correct' shade ...

Thanks Darren, Andy.
Good thought - I'm a customer of John Audette, and can indeed ask him.
Regarding shades of grey, it sounds as if my OCD would be better directed elsewhere.
BTW I have also found a source for retaining rings.
Looking forward to building these up and seeing how they look.

Thanks again for the help, cheers, Richard.

Richard, I'm chasing my painter to see if he made a note of the paint codes we used, but not hopeful.

Agree with Andy that 'Hella' grey seems to vary a lot, and have to say the shade I went with matched to an original could only be described as a muddy brown/grey, not nice at all. Go with a more neutral mid silver/grey for a cleaner look, almost a vht exhaust paint shade for instance.

Agree with all the above; I also don't think there's any difference with actual rings between VW/356/912/911 variants although the actual bucket does differ (SB19 being the 'correct' type), not that you'd notice when on the car.....



For reference we used Ford Polar Grey 1657 which matched the set we had at the time....



Cheers,

Thanks Mike, thanks Darren.