On headlight lenses....

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
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Al Manzo
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Re: On headlight lenses....

#91 Post by Al Manzo »

Lots of good info here and I have three pages of notes to prove it. But like Columbo I have a few more questions.
1. When did the SB19 lenses begin to be installed?
2. There seems to be a "correlation" between the digits leading the part # 60370 and the general installation time period, e.g., 28-60370 is "early 1970's (ref Jan Kolm post dtd 082513), 26-60370 is 1964/65 (ref Jan Kolm post dtd 111014). So where would the following series fall, date wise?
a. 6 thru 18 -60370-3
b. 21 thru 24 -60370-03

Jan Kolm
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Re: On headlight lenses....

#92 Post by Jan Kolm »

Answer to Question #1: December 1963, unless someone can prove they have a November car with them installed at the factory. The "monkey wrench" in this theory is that Karmann didn't rotate their vendor stock in the warehouse, so there are documented 1965 model year 356s with 1963-dated headlight assemblies.

(Partial) Answer to Question #2: The "SB19" lenses are common to U.S. and Canadian-market Porsches and VWs, except Karmann Ghias and Type 3s, so there are lots of them around. After 1967, they were only produced in small lots for the spare parts market and the final few batches from the early 1980s had the raised lettering on the inside of the lens. For my earlier posts, I pulled the numbers off original, matched-pair VW assemblies with readable date codes and original lenses.

If you really want to get into the weeds for originality purposes, look for low number lenses with a gap between the "60" and "370," as there are variations in lettering among lenses with the same leading prefix number.
Jan Kolm
356 Registry #1066
1960 1600N Coupe

Al Manzo
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Re: On headlight lenses....

#93 Post by Al Manzo »

Thanks Jan! Lots of really good information. Now I can clear out a shelf in the garage of the boatload of SB19 lens 'cause apparently my Mar 63 Karmann coupe should have 180E lenses installed. SB19's were on the car when I bought it from the umpteenth owner in '84; who knew or cared at the time. Oh well, gives me something to look for at swap meets.

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Jay Broemmel
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Re: On headlight lenses....

#94 Post by Jay Broemmel »

I have two 4 & 8 o’clock adjuster screw headlight buckets I’m going to put on the classifieds. According to the drivers manual, these are for sealed beam lights? The date codes are faded away. I’m assuming they were original to my C, and my dad updated to H4s at some point. Can these just be used on C cars, or will they work on earlier models? Just want to get as much into as possible. J
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Re: On headlight lenses....

#95 Post by Jan Kolm »

The "Z25" date code indicates the bucket was manufactured the 25th week of 1963, so it would be original to either a very late 1963 356B or a flat-hubcap (no crest) 356C.

The lens has been replaced at some point, as the "SB19 SB20 SB21" lenses first appeared around December 1963.
Jan Kolm
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1960 1600N Coupe

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Jay Broemmel
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Re: On headlight lenses....

#96 Post by Jay Broemmel »

So, they are only for C cars or will fit earlier models?

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Re: On headlight lenses....

#97 Post by Jan Kolm »

Jay Broemmel wrote:So, they are only for C cars or will fit earlier models?
They will fit any year 356, but are only correct for mid 1962 model year through November 1963.
Jan Kolm
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1960 1600N Coupe

Jerry Havel
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Help with headlights, please

#98 Post by Jerry Havel »

I have a pair of Bosch 4430 E1 headlights, supposedly from a '64 C cabrio. I can't seem to find any info about these lights, would appreciate anything anyone knows, so I can identify them accurately before I decide to sell. Is there a right and left side lens to these headlights?? There is a unique pattern on the headlight at about 3 o'clock, but on the same, right side, on both.

thanks, Jerry
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Jerry Havel
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Correct headlights

#99 Post by Jerry Havel »

I have a pair of Bosch 4430 E1 headlights, believe they belong on a '64 C (cabrio?), but don't know for sure. Any help identifying the lights is appreciated.
Thanks, Jerry
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David Jones
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Re: Help with headlights, please

#100 Post by David Jones »

They are probably VW but possibly original to your car if it was European delivery. That outside glass lens is set up for asymmetric light beams to light up more of the right side of the road and illegal over here. USA delivered cars had clear lenses with the beam cut off as part of the sealed beam glass. European cars had bulbs and a clear glass lens though later cars had clear glass sealed beams I believe. There are some experts on lighting on the forum so we can hope they chime in and correct me if I am wrong on any of those points.
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Brad Ripley
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Re: Help with headlights, please

#101 Post by Brad Ripley »

Those are normal Euro Bosch headlights for LHD VW and Porsche models. Out of production now but there is a Hella product which looks and operates about the same
Photo is backside with bulb holder shown -- takes a P45t bulb and a BA9s 4 watt for parking light (in the small hole).
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Jan Kolm
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Re: Correct headlights

#102 Post by Jan Kolm »

Are there any date codes on the buckets or reflectors?
Jan Kolm
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1960 1600N Coupe

Erik Thomas
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Re: Help with headlights, please

#103 Post by Erik Thomas »

I doubt these are very old, as they have the "E" mark.. as in Euro.. not sure when the stated that. I would guess them to be late production, say, from the 1990's. Also possible the lenses are newer..

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Re: Help with headlights, please

#104 Post by Jan Kolm »

Are there any date codes (most likely 3-digit) stamped on the back of the reflector or on the bucket. I have a Hella VW lens from 1967 with nearly identical markings.
Jan Kolm
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Greg Bryan
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Re: On headlight lenses....

#105 Post by Greg Bryan »

Just a reminder - this headlight sticky in the Main Discussion forum (top of list) is there to compile all headlight-related issues.
Greg Bryan

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