The Official 356Talk Forum

Jan,

What would be correct for an early '62 car?

Thanks,
Ed

Edwin Ek wrote:Jan,

What would be correct for an early '62 car?

Thanks,
Ed

Ed,

The lens will look like the one you posted previously, except the part number (X-60370) will be cast into the face of the lens at about the 8 o'clock position, just to the left of "180E0/25-4-SB2."

I finally visited my car in storage at the local airport. Here are pictures of the headlight lenses. One has the numbers curving at the bottom, the other straight across. I welcome expert opinion about these. My car is a T- 6 delivered in February of 1962.

Sorry for the lousy pictures!

The second picture w/the numbers curving across the bottom is correct for Feb 1962 production.

Jan, many thanks! You have been very helpful and your expertise is fantastic.

I was hoping that the curving one was correct. Now at least I have a lense to serve as a model while I look for another one.

You don't have a secret stash by any chance?

Hey wait a minute! I just noticed in the second picture, the one with the numbers at the bottom, that the line of numbers looks to be repeated in two rows. Is that right, or is it something funny with my photography?

Edwin,

All 4 numbers across the bottom are different applications. Did you take a picture of the left side of the lens, where the part number (X-60370) is stamped?

As you noticed, pitted lenses do not photograph well. Most used lens are going to be heavily pitted and/or scratched on the face from being improperly stored.

As an aside, the photos revealed that your buckets have the blanking plates covering the VW/356A parking light holes, which is a T5/early T6 detail.

Another trip to the airport (for other business). More pictures. Want to be sure before I make the effort to find mates. Tia

I did take 2 pictures of the left side, but by some bad luck they are too big to upload (more than 5 mb).

Jan if I may ask, shoot me your email address and I can send them directly. Thanks.

It looks like a 3 before the dash and 60370 on the left side. Could that be right?

Sorry for the slight hijacking away from the lens discussion but... does anyone know where I can find (qty2) headlight buckets without the 5W parking light? Been looking with the typical vendors and on eBay.

I need the blocked out version with sealed beam (USA).

Jim - you can place a 'want to buy' classified ad here in the site Classifieds
I've had good response any time I've done it - the members have an amazing amount and variety of stuff stashed away
Good luck!

Although the topic of this thread is headlight lenses, it may be a good place to discuss buckets as well?
From this thread, I have learned which of the headlight lenses in my T6B is correct and I have been able to source a second correct lens.
In doing so, I purchased a complete Sept '57 bucket (Hella).
I was going to use the entire bucket, but noticed that the aiming screws on the 57 bucket are at 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock. It also has a single rivet ring with no Hella logo.
The buckets in mine have the aiming screws at 7 o'clock and 2 o'clock. (FWIW, I think one of my buckets is original and one is a later replacement and both are Hella)
Was there a change in aiming screw position from early to late buckets?
Further, I have perused the Barndoor headlight thread on the Samba, which appears to be the most definitive early German headlight thread available, but it would be nice to have a repository of info on later (55-65) buckets.
For one thing, I have not been able to decipher how to date my late buckets???

If your 356B was a U.S. or Canadian-market car, the original Hella buckets would have adjusting screws at 5 and 7 o'clock.

Pictures, especially of the stamped part numbers and date code on the underside of the bucket will help tremendously.

T6B was US delivered.
Here is a photo of the text on the bucket. From what you have said about the aiming screws being at 5:00 and 7:00. I guess this is not an original bucket. What can you tell me about it?
Thanks