Deansdream in 911&PW

05-09-2002, 12:13 AM

Many of us have expressed our dislike for the 986/996 headlamps. Well now we got the round headlamps that we've been talking about. In the latest 911&PorscheWorld there's an article on the Deansdream Boxster with round Mercedes E-class (?) headlamps. See pics at: www.deansdream.net

They even did a 996 like that. (pic)

So now I'm curious to hear what you guys think? Do you like it or not? I think the front fenders look too long when you view the car from the side. Also I think 911/964 headlamps or maybe even 993 headlamps would have looked better. Still it's an interesting rebuild.

05-09-2002, 12:15 AM

For some reason it wouldn't accept the 996 picture...? Here's another try...

82SC · 05-09-2002, 12:28 AM

AAACCCKKK

layzee · layzee's Garage

That 996 one looks pretty bad. The car in 911&PW was nice though, but I thought some of the panel gaps looked a bit big

Adam · Adam's Garage

It looks simply awful... bad tuners! Bad!

Matt Holcomb · Matt Holcomb's Garage

From the guy's website:

"As you can see, the conversion looks as good on a 996 Coupe or Cabriolet. This looks more like a 911!"

Matt Holcomb
1974 911 Carrera 2.7 RoW
1975 Mercedes-Benz 280SE
Dedicated Homepage
Engine Rebuild Homepage
Porsche Owners Gallery Profile
Pelican Gallery Profile

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Wow. That looks really, really bad. It wasn't just the headlights that many find a problem on the 996, it's the gaping hole(s) in the front bumper too. -- Curt

dickster · 05-09-2002, 02:48 AM

well i like it - the boxter anyhow

but then i always thought i was a bit different

smarjoram · smarjoram's Garage

I think they tried to keep too many of the original panels. The back of the boxster hardly looks different at all.

One of the most distinguishing features of the 550 has got to be the twin air intakes on the back lid. The side intakes look completely wrong.

Now if someone could wedge a boxster into an accurate 550 body - that would be something different.

As for the 996, that just looks plain weird - if you want a modern Porsche with round headlights - get a 993.

smarjoram · smarjoram's Garage

Actually it reminds me a bit of the type 3 VW...

05-09-2002, 03:27 AM

smarojam

LOL exactly my thoughts...

They failed making a Porsche, but at least they tried

Got a VW instead.

Jgordon · 05-09-2002, 05:26 AM

I think the problem on the boxster is that the fenders come in too far to make the round headlights look good. There is an opportunity here to backdate the boxster's look, but they didn't capture it. I saw the Boxster at Hershey, and the modern Ruf additions clashed with their attempt at retro styling. it looked pretty good aside from the headlights though. They had leather buckles on the rear trunk lid, which I thought was cool. The 996 though, that's just a disaster. they really made no attempt to style the front end to match the car at all, they just tacked it on. oh well. to each his own. I actually kind of like the 02 carrera headlights. Granted, the 993 is better in almost every way in my opinion, but the new carreras aren't all bad.

Dean's dream? come on......

Superman · 05-09-2002, 08:04 AM

I think I recall Jack once retouching a photo to add round headlights to, I believe, perhaps a 993. At any rate, it was clearly an aesthetic improvement.

Apparently there is little hope for the 996 body style.

pegasus9 · pegasus9's Garage

Just doesn't look right.

The Spyder of yesteryear is timeless and there is no going back to that cool design.

Jack Olsen · 05-09-2002, 09:57 AM

The guy strikes me as someone with a pretty clear idea of what's gone wrong with the 911 design, but neither the resources nor the design skills to make his own version that looks right.

I personally think the 996's biggest flaw is the amount it raised the rear taillights up, giving the car a (common-has-dirt) wedge shape instead of the unique fastback profile it maintained up through the 993. Then there's the problem of the flat sides. And finally there are the headlights...

But this guy has put the headlights too far forward, and not changed much beyond that. At least that was my impression when I saw the Boxster one at Dunkels.

As a counter-example of a body designer getting it right, I'll show the DeansDream alongside the Abarth Carrera:

boyo · 05-09-2002, 10:21 AM

Wow! Leather straps on a Boxster hood. Cute...

He should've just gone with the Strosek headlight covers. Gives you a round light that actually looks good. Sure it doesn't look like a "911" headlight, but that's OK for this car.

Where's the Cayenne version?

-Boyo

1Gunner · 1Gunner's Garage

Moses · 05-09-2002, 10:55 AM

A SWIIINNG and a miss!

The before pictures are so much nicer than the after ones. It's a shame, really.