Color of headlight housing

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Greg Bryan
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Color of headlight housing

#1 Post by Greg Bryan »

I'm looking for a color match for the headlight housing for a recently purchased '65 912. I'm assuming that it is the same or similar to the '65 356.
Although very worn, it appears to be almost a primer gray color - flat or semi flat.
I did look for past threads and found this from 2009:

Krylon "Stone Gray"
Rustoleum "Light Gray" or "Smoke Gray"
All work well. Buy the satin finish version of either or use a clear satin finish over them.

Anyone have a favorite product to do this?
Greg Bryan

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Adam Wright
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#2 Post by Adam Wright »

My brother is restoring a very original 65 912, one family owned. Here are some shots.
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65_91201.JPG
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Richard Shimmon
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#3 Post by Richard Shimmon »

I used krylon "aluminum " then clear coated. I'm pleased with the results.

Rich
59 d
Hawaii.
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IMG_0736.JPG

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Paul Hatfield
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#4 Post by Paul Hatfield »

Not sure if this helps but here is a photo of an unrestored headlight bucket from Miss April. I can send you an full pixel shot if helpful. I do not know of a spray paint that replicates this color.
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Headlight Date Code1.JPG
Paul Hatfield
"Miss April"
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Greg Bryan
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#5 Post by Greg Bryan »

Thank you Adam, Richard and Paul - I'll experiment with the paint above. I have the time as the car is going to the metal man to get some rust holes fixed. I'm not going to strip the car completely - just get the worst done for now and then a complete job later - I don't want to get into a full blown resto at this point - a rat-rod sounds like fun for a while.
912non the road.jpg
'65 912 Sunroof
Greg Bryan

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Adam Wright
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#6 Post by Adam Wright »

Greg Bryan wrote:Thank you Adam, Richard and Paul - I'll experiment with the paint above. I have the time as the car is going to the metal man to get some rust holes fixed. I'm not going to strip the car completely - just get the worst done for now and then a complete job later - I don't want to get into a full blown resto at this point - a rat-rod sounds like fun for a while.
912non the road.jpg
'65 912 Sunroof
Greg, is it a painted dash car? Those are my favorite.
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Greg Bryan
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#7 Post by Greg Bryan »

Not a painted dash - one of the last 65 VINs and is actually registered as a 66. Kind of a fancy 912 with 5 gauges and a sunroof and built at the Porsche factory as opposed to Karmann.
Not matching drivetrain, so anything goes!
Greg Bryan

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Steve Raucher
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#8 Post by Steve Raucher »

My '58 T2 Speedsters headlight buckets have been this chrome color forever, but I think it is likely incorrect. Can anyone confirm what the proper color finish should be?
Thank you,
Steve
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IMG_1195(1).JPG
 

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Jim Alton
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#9 Post by Jim Alton »

steve raucher wrote:My '58 T2 Speedsters headlight buckets have been this chrome color forever, but I think it is likely incorrect. Can anyone confirm what the proper color finish should be?
Thank you,
Steve
I've never spotted a color difference between the sealed beam headlight units in my:
  1. 1958 Porsche 356A T2 Cabriolet
  2. 1965 Porsche 911 coupé
  3. 1966 Volkswagen Type 2
They're all light grey with maybe a slight pinkish cast.
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

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Alan Hall
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#10 Post by Alan Hall »

I have always thought that preA and A had a flat silver finish and B and C had the flat grey finish.

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Jim Alton
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#11 Post by Jim Alton »

Here's a photo of a pretty unmolested 1955 Speedster (I wasn't trying to get the headlight in the photo).
1955 Speedster
1955 Speedster
It looks like the same old light grey to me.
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

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Greg Bryan
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#12 Post by Greg Bryan »

Follow up - I bought about 10 cans of paint and experimented with matching the 912 buckets. Like Jim, I've observed that the housing color was very similar over the years.
Here's the stuff I settled on - perfect, probably not, but close.
Paint - Valspar Color Radiance - Hazy Stratus - 84507
IMG_1306.jpg
Since the Valspar is high gloss and the original paint appears to look almost like grey primer, I finished it off with:
IMG_1308.jpg
Rustoleum Matte Clear
IMG_1310.jpg
Finished product
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Mike Wilson
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Re: Color of headlight housing

#13 Post by Mike Wilson »

Looks good to me, Greg! Can't wait to see the newest acquisition.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

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