License Plate lights?

On originals it's a year thing. The earlier bee-hive cars have shine down, the later cars have shine up.  Not sure of the exact transition point.

On replicas, it's a mater of taste.

Ahh - makes sense, since it was a '56 that I was looking at (the red IM on ebay), whereas thus far I've been looking at '57's.

 

I was just wondering if it was a 'telltale trademark' of an IM.

Thank you!

FWIW - The bee-hive/shine-down configuration on 356 changed to tear-drop/shine-up mid 1957. Good luck on your quest, Sir Lapalot! Keep us posted on your progress!

 

Signed,

The Knights that say nii 

Also, be aware that it is not the same light flipped over (at least on the originals, some people do this on replicas).

I'm in the UK and legally we have to have shine down (although some replicas seem to installed shine up ?? maybe a sympathetic tester) I like the shine up but.....

Late C models actually did away with the shine up/down light fixture and mounted the lights in the rear bumper which actually is a cleaner look.  BU light was under bumper.

 

From the TYP356NE club members:

 

A 1955 Shine-down:

 

 

 

And a post-'57 changeover shine up light:

 

 

 

And I found this; a car VERY similar to what my older brother had when I was a kid and only added here because I like it:

 

 

 

But you know, I wouldn't get to hung up on shine up or shine down on a replica.  I've seen plenty of things not even close to original that look OK.  Like Bee-hives with a shine up, PLUS a 3-gauge dash rather than 2-gauge, VW dash knobs (not Porsche) and a centered hood handle (most of the pre-A's had the handle off-set by up to 1/4").  

 

The bottom line?  Don't sweat it......

Thanks Gordon, you're right about not sweating it.  I was just looking to see if one style was unique to one particular builder.

 

I'm a fan of the shine-up with teardrops-look, since the light doesn't upset the car's silhouette when it's further down/closer to the bottom.

But after seeing that C that Wolfgang posted with the lights integrated into the back bumper....ooohhhweee I like that best!

 

 

My car came with a shine-down light that was positioned too low.  I ordered the 'correct' part a did the shine-up thing and had the same feeling you do about it having a more natural flow to the rear of the car and was very pleased.  Customization is one of the endearing things about these cars.

Frank - the other Knight that says 'Nicht"

I stepped outside the box and did Beehives and a Spyder 550 Shinedown on my 59 Roadster.  Its very nice

Better than nice!  Spectacular even.

Marty,

 

Did the builder (IM?) give you an option between your dark red beehive lenses and the lighter 'strawberry' red lenses?

 

Also, your shine down light housing appears to be the same as a Ghia shine down.

Beehives are from NLA Porsche parts (If I remember correctly) 

 

Ghia Shine-down:

 

550 Spyder.  As you can see the 550 Spyder light has nicer curves and does not stick out as much as the Ghia: