The Official 356Talk Forum

After working on some 356s that have been unrestored, I noticed that some of the bulbs are "chrome like" . I have a few from long ago when we would go to wrecking yards and field strip what ever would fit into your pockets, bulbs, fuses, bolts, nuts, etc. The old Osram 3 watt bulbs in particular have silver glass, white the new ones are clear. I suppose that over the years the tungsten could have transferred to the glass.
Any thoughts about the originality, see the photo, both bulbs work.

Are they both the same Osram part number?

Yes I have both the 5002 which is the 3watt, and 5006 which is the 5 watt. Both of the old ones in each wattage have silver glass and new ones are clear.
I looked at a nice original car today and the license lights were both silver and the owner says he hasn't changed them in 25 years,

I'm guessing tungsten transfer.
Someone needs to find a NOS, never been lit bulb and see what it looks like.