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I have been torn as to what to do with my headlamps.  The standard clear lens from VS is not to my liking.  I did quite a number of photoshop overlays to determine what exactly I wanted to do with the speedster. (attached).   I also removed the hood straps but did not show all those iterations, as that would require repainting the car.

At first I wanted to install the vertical grill over the headlights.  But after running quite a few overlays and checking out a number of green speedsters, convertible D's, and coupes; I expanding the options to mesh stone guards and switching out the lenses.  

I searched on here and feel quite comfortable in installing the stone guards and grills.  What I really haven't found is what is necessary to switch out the lenses.  At this point I do not have a desire to change the headlight bulb.  I only wish to switch out the clear lens for the Bosh or Hella Assymmetrical lens (either clear or yellow).  Do I need to purchase addition gaskets and/or springs for this project?  Will the lens fit in the standard VS chrome trim?

Attachments

Images (9)
  • front-current: how the car is currently
  • front-bumper_guards-straps: added bumper guards
  • front-foglights-bumper_guards-headlight_covers: added bumper guards and stone covers
  • front-foglights-straps: added amber fog lights
  • front-foglights-straps-bumper_guards-yellow_lenses: added yellow lenses, foglights and bumper guards
  • front-grills
  • front-drivinglights-grills: added headlight grills and driving lights
  • front-bumper_guards-drivinglights-grills: added grills, driving lights and bumper guards
  • front-plain: plain, remove hood straps
Last edited by Kevin - Bay Area
Original Post

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At the end of the day, you're the one who has to look at it.

Every time you park it and walk away, you're the one who will be taking that one last over-the-shoulder glance.

You'll probably get a lot of different opinions here, but for me, the car is all about simplicity. The reason the shape has endured as well as it has and become a classic is that very simplicity and how well it flows - there's really no weak angle. So, I see any ornamentation as breaking up that flow and detracting from the whole. And I think that's even more true with a strong color.

I think that green is the only accessory you need.

 

Green01b

 

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Images (1)
  • Green01b

@Sacto Mitch I have to agree with you.

I usually like the hood straps. But not so much on my green speedster.  

I've been testing alternatives to keep the straps and find "bolt-on" solutions to help make the straps feel right, only because I don't feel like having 12 small holes in the car that need to be filled.  Eventually I may go that route. The Porsche emblems bug me as well as they are for a 356b, and not for a 356A. Perhaps they went this route because the "B" emblems are only held at two points, rather than five. 

That said, I really do like the asymmetric lenses of Bosch or Hella, regardless if I keep or remove the straps.  

...finally, someone as picky as me, or as my wife calls it: O.C.

you can get some touch-up paint and carefully fill the hood-strap holes with 5-minute epoxy, carefully sand and touch-up the holes. if you're careful, no one, including you, will see them.

...even with the brilliant green, tall guards and overrider bars would enhance the esthetics...

Sacto Mitch posted:

The reason the shape has endured as well as it has and become a classic is that very simplicity and how well it flows - there's really no weak angle 

Can I get an "amen!"?

I've wanted so badly to pimp my ride. I've got bumper guards and mesh grills in boxes in my stash.

There they remain. How can one improve on perfection?

Last edited by Stan Galat
Stan Galat, '05 IM, 2276, Nowhere, USA posted:
Will Hesch posted:

...finally, someone as picky as me, or as my wife calls it: O.C.

 

Well... I'm about 95% complete on the world's most expensive 3 br home-- so, apparently there are 3 of us. 

Maybe in the suburban Midwest, but not the world.   Don't forget, you are the host of the worlds greatest ever car event 'Children of the Corn' I mean 'Corn Daze' after all. We could not have newcomers pull up to some shady old house in their very expensive plastic cars, now could we?

 

 

Last edited by Marty Grzynkowicz

Mitch: I've got nobody to blame but myself. Really cool ideas are never inexpensive.

Marty: Yes. At this point, yes I would. 

I was fine until I went to the accountant to pick up my taxes. This year is/will be brutal, and property tax season is coming. This year, that's 4 (non-income producing) properties in the property tax leader in the whole wide world. 

Last edited by Stan Galat

My lens purchase was "rushed" a bit. I took the speedster up to wine country Wednesday. When I returned, I noticed my passenger side lens was cracked quite well.  What's sad is I specifically left so much room between me and the car(s)/truck(s) in front to, what thought, would avoid rocks chips. Well I guess I did avoid them in my paint. Oh well. Such is life. 

I came home and felt like spending major worthless cash; so I bought "concours quality" Bosch Asymmetrical clear lenses. I should be shot for what I spent for the pair. I guess it's all part of the madness. I'll snap some photos when they are installed. 

 

 

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Images (1)
  • IMG_4905
WOLFGANG posted:

Yup just take them off car and clip the spring out.  As long as rubber gaskets are old and dried out you need nothing else.  Not a fan of the yellow.  If you have old sealed beam you'd be pleasently supplied by increased light given off by H4 lamps.

Did you look at the 911 version at CIP1.ACC-C10-7606-3

Stone guards won't work on these.

16395280471_6c81463c33_oYou might like the euro look Hellas... I love them they have a P45T base rather than a P43T H4 normal base but you can get adapters to allow P43T to fit the P45T base and then the bulbs can be had in 55/60  or 55/80 to 100 Watt high beams.  They are focused lights of course. Check Sierra madre or others. 

Here is a few picts on mine. IMG_8377

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Images (2)
  • IMG_8377
  • 16395280471_6c81463c33_o
Last edited by IaM-Ray

@IaM-Ray to be honest in the 1,400mi I put on the car since buying it in March 2017, I've only driven at night twice, and briefly. (I hate cleaning bugs off the front,  ;-)   )  Therefore I really have no basis of measurement. What I do like, and I assume yours are the same (I do love your lenses as well), is that the fluted portion at the bottom hides the parking light bulb. Now when I turn on the parking light, the entire lens illuminates, albeit very lightly. Like a daytime driving light. 

 

@Will Hesch you are too kind. I wish I felt the same. That's the problem I have with the 356, it looks amazing in any shape and color....you want them all!  

 

-Kevin

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