3rd braking light question

[Nico911]

Hello everyone.

I just bought a 1985 Targa (pics coming, the car is not yet in my garage) and I noticed when I first saw the car that it doesn't have the third brake light that became standard on all cars in the '80s.

So, does anyone know precisely when Porsche started to put them on 911s ?

[Nickshu]

Not sure what year but around where I live there are TONS of SUV's so those little stock brake lights on my lowered 911 are almost invisible to them. I just got the Hella Model 37 light from Daniel Stern, planning to install soon at the top of the rear window.

Here's a thread with tons of info: How to: 3rd brake light install

Here's a link to a post from the above thread showing the Hella model 37 light (This particular light kit has the correct viewing angle for the 911's heavily sloped rear window): How to: 3rd brake light install

[BE911SC]

My '84 cab came to me with one and I am glad it's there. I think it's more of an '87-ish addition to the line but I'm not certain.

[RSBob]

They were federally mandated on a passanger vehicles in 1985. Don't know why yours doesn't have it. Easy to add on though. Plenty of threads on how to.

[Arne2]

I'm pretty certain than the new regs allowed them in '85, but they weren't required until the '86 model year. I know that I've owned several non-Porsche '85s that did not have the 3rd light.

[tirwin]

+1 on the Hella from Daniel Stern.

[RSBob]

Originally Posted by Arne2

I'm pretty certain than the new regs allowed them in '85, but they weren't required until the '86 model year. I know that I've owned several non-Porsche '85s that did not have the 3rd light.

You are correct sir!

[Nico911]

My car is an '85 but built in late 1984, so I figure that it is normal that it lacks the 3rd light.