Early Bosch headlights

[Nick Moss]

A pair of early Bosch headlights for 911s and possibly some 356s, but that's not my area. RHD, chrome and lenses in good condition. On eBay

[Darren65]

Are they SWB buckets Nick?

Cheers,

[Nick Moss]

Click on the pics for more images. They are from SWB 911, but the headlamp bowls are all the same, so they are interchangeable.

[visualfx]

PM sent

[210bhp]

Those lenses are 356 not 911





Regards
Mike

[visualfx]

Enlighten me Mike

[Nick Moss]

According to PET they were fitted to early 911s as well

[Ian Gunney]

Mike - aren't the lenses the same as 911's and 912's up to '68 ish - pre H1s?

[210bhp]

Those units may well have been fitted to early 911's, they do not have the 356 tab at the bottom so it's highly likely they are early 911. The lenses, however, have been replaced somewhere along the way with Rhd 356 glass lenses with the oval central section. It the same lens type on Lyvie's headlights.



The correct lenses are these, in either Hella or Bosch format but these (on my car) you will notice are lhd but no oval centre section.



I have been looking for a set of Rhd lenses for many years and rather coincidentally I have just found a set (I think) and they should be with me in a day or two. I will post a pic when they are here.

Lhd lenses are easy to get, Rhd 356 lenses are relatively easy to get, but Rhd early 911 (at least those fitted to the 67S) are like hens teeth because there were so few cars built. They all fit the same unit though (which is what Nick is selling).

Willing to be shot down as always if someone else can add to the debate but I have looked at this subject for years because my car needed a set and this is how I understand it. I know relatively little about 64/65 cars but I'm assuming they are the same. Over the years headlight lenses are one of those things likely to have been changed through damage and different later replacements have muddied the waters of originality especially in Rhd. Hence Rhd lenses with the oval centre section are now fitted to many early Rhd 911's.


Regards
Mike

[210bhp]

Here is the lens on the 67S 'motor show' car recently auctioned. Despite it having a rotten body and plenty of challenges ahead in its restoration the headlights have the correct rhd lenses and LIKE GOLD DUST!



Regards
Mike

[KS]

Damn, I'm so glad I'm not a restorer!

[DEEMAN]

Interesting that the early Spare Parts Catalogue ('65-'68) shows four kinds of glass. Two have ovals, one clear and t'other is as shown and described confirming it is a later type from the chassis number reference. The others all have slightly different numbers but no mention is made as to the year fitted or why they are different.
Looking at the '64 drivers handbook, that shows a non-oval type which appears to be asymmetrical!.
There seems a total lack of consistency when I look through my 'library' of early Porsche books/literature.

[*]

Ian

[210bhp]

Regards
Mike

[Nick Moss]

The lenses, however, have been replaced somewhere along the way with Rhd 356 glass lenses with the oval central section. It the same lens type on Lyvie's headlights.

Well it seems amazing that so many early 911s had their lenses changed to 356 lenses. I have several books showing these lenses in 911s, including Peter Morgan's "Original Porsche 911" and Dr. Johnson's "Restorer's guide to authenticity", which staes that 4 different lenses were used.

[210bhp]

Ok, no worries Nick. You are probably right. I don't have access to those leading authorities nor the PET so I am at a disadvantage. I have based my findings on observation of original cars and period photos from the factory (which hardly ever shows anything in Rhd) and admittedly I have limited the search to the 67S model.

Regards
Mike