Correct Lights and Indicators?

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:56 pm

The idea of putting a "B" handle on an earlier car was to make it more "modern".
This is from a time when the older 356s were less thought of, I have an early 60's photo of my cab with this modernisation.
A "B" bonnet handle for this car is correct though.

356 Newbie · Post by **356 Newbie** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:04 pm

I can see my car is going to cause plenty of confusion!

It's a 1960 B chassis number is 111992.

Its had a front end knock in the distant past hence the earlier A front end which is fibreglass (as is the bonnet skin). The inner wings & bulkhead etc are all original steel. Rest of the underside is sound (mostly original) steel.

It comes with the correct B bonnet trim/handle, not sure whether to put it back on or not yet!

Its not got original bumpers, but does have a pair of fibreglass versions with it, but they'll be going up for sale as i've no intention of running them, I do have the original bumper uplight number plate light lenses though.

Front will stay as it is, lacking horn grills (and with a change to clear lenses) ideally original glass behives but that'll depend on budget.

As for the rear? well I now know it should have teardrops, but i'm tempted to keep it as is for the moment (changing the amber for red after its mot'ed).

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:24 am

Is it an original UK car?

356 Newbie · Post by **356 Newbie** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:14 am

Not as far as i'm aware. The story is that it was imported from france in the early 60's

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:49 am

Well, Cubist was correct, it fooled me. I can see now looking at the wheel arch the edges are thicker. Strange its RHD from France has it been converted? The number ties in okay.

I wonder how they attached the fibre glass front to the main sub frame does it include the complete battery box area and area where the fuel tank sits?

So many questions....................

Roy

356 Newbie · Post by **356 Newbie** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:54 am

Tis a LHD -RHD conversion. Front end is all steel apart from the fibreglass skin, it would have been a light knock. Inner arches, wheel well tank area etc all original steel.

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 4:40 pm

Good to know the inner sections are not crumpled. With the way bodies rusted it might have been the reason a F/G front was put on?

Roy

356 Newbie · Post by **356 Newbie** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 5:06 pm

Possibly, but the story from the previous owner (between 1964 and 2005) is that it was involved in a light front end bump. I can imagine that a off the shelf fibreglass front skin was a cheaper repair than panel beating (if possible) or sourcing a steel part.