Original headlight question (1980 911SC)

[dyusem]

I'm trying to determine the value of the headlights, trim rings and hardware that were original equipment on and removed from a 1980 SC.

Any chance that one of you guys could (please) enlighten me???

[porwolf]

Looks like you have US "sugar scoops" with non DOT approved Hella H4 lights. I doubt that the Hella lights were original equipment on a US car. The car must have come with DOT approved sealed beams. The value of the "sugar scoops" is about $50.- to $100.- and I don't think they add value to a car if they were sold with the car originally. I think Euro H4's would be preferred by a buyer.

[dyusem]

Thanks for the feedback.

I did recently sell my SC with the Euro H4's and just located these lights.

Now I'm wondering when/why the original lights were replaced with these...

Originally Posted by porwolf

Looks like you have US "sugar scoops" with non DOT approved Hella H4 lights. I doubt that the Hella lights were original equipment on a US car. The car must have come with DOT approved sealed beams. The value of the "sugar scoops" is about $50.- to $100.- and I don't think they add value to a car if they were sold with the car originally. I think Euro H4's would be preferred by a buyer.

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by dyusem

Thanks for the feedback.

I did recently sell my SC with the Euro H4's and just located these lights.

Now I'm wondering when/why the original lights were replaced with these...

Well, if the car was originally a European car imported into the US, or sold new in the US it would have had the "sugar scoop" headlights or converted upon US entry to them to make the car DOT legal. The Hella H4 were then very likely added later. I understand that the Hella lights put out the same light as the Euro H4's but are substantially cheaper. People prefer the Euro H4's mostly for the streamlined looks and they are what Porsche wanted for their cars.

[dyusem]

Porwolf, the car was first sold in the US (as a US model) so the headlights must've been replaced at some point by the first or second owner; unsure what the motivation was because I believe that the Hella H4's are substantially inferior to the Euro H4's. When I used a 100w-55w bulb in teh Euro H4's, it was like night and day.

BTW, love your gorgeous Targa...spousal unit misses mine...

Thanks again for the feedback!

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by dyusem

Porwolf, the car was first sold in the US (as a US model) so the headlights must've been replaced at some point by the first or second owner; unsure what the motivation was because I believe that the Hella H4's are substantially inferior to the Euro H4's. When I used a 100w-55w bulb in teh Euro H4's, it was like night and day.

BTW, love your gorgeous Targa...spousal unit misses mine...

Thanks again for the feedback!

I understand that the light output of your Hella H4's is about the same as for Euro H4's. Just the shape is different. I would be careful with using 100-55W bulbs because the Porsche wiring is not designed for it. And, of course, Headlights of any kind should be used with relays otherwise all the power runs through the light switch and the directional steering wheel switch causing contact problems and voltage drops. Just installing headlight relays can supply plenty of light on the road from regular 55/50W H4's.

And thanks for compliments on my Targa. For me it's just about the perfect pleasure car for California, especially in the cooler coastal regions:

[dyusem]

Originally Posted by porwolf

I understand that the light output of your Hella H4's is about the same as for Euro H4's. Just the shape is different. I would be careful with using 100-55W bulbs because the Porsche wiring is not designed for it. And, of course, Headlights of any kind should be used with relays otherwise all the power runs through the light switch and the directional steering wheel switch causing contact problems and voltage drops. Just installing headlight relays can supply plenty of light on the road from regular 55/50W H4's.

And thanks for compliments on my Targa. For me it's just about the perfect pleasure car for California, especially in the cooler coastal regions:

I did install the proper headlight relay kit when I installed the Euro H4's so the new owner is set.

I used to think that my SC Targa was perfect...and then I purchased my 997.2 and my feelings changed. But as I said, the Targa is missed...