Buying OEM porsche items

Well as a few may know, I've been looking for a few little things to finish my car off and have been offered a few original 356 goodies.

The one item that has really got me thinking is the shine up licence plate light. Bringing a new repop one in from the states is going to set me back about $100 once it arrives on my door. I've had someone ask if I want to buy a lot of his old gear and low and behold a licence plate light is in the lot. He wants about $150 for it. This is a big purchase item as it's something I'm really considering as I can't get anything locally.

It's original porsche, totally original and NOS........comes off a 356A.

What you lot think?

If it's a TRUE German part (but it's not, really, New Old Stock, since it's coming off of a car, so it's an original part) the underlying metal and the chroming job should be first rate and better than any Asian or Brazilian reproduction you may find. Bear in mind, though, if you live close to the sea coast (within 10 miles or so) or it has lived that close to salt air for a while there may be some minimal pitting.

That said, I know of a 356 coupe thats lived it's whole life within 10 miles of the Atlantic and the chrome always looked great, but the owner always "waxed" his chrome with either Blue Coral or MeGuire's Gold Class a few times each year (356 drivers tend to be anal like that.....)

gn

Okay, just confirmed that it's not NOS, it's an OEM part that's been refurbed.

How the heck do I tell a OEM part from a repop?

Any hella badging on a repop?

my repop has a hella mark. I would hope the originals have thicker metal.

Gary, once you bolt that baby up no ones gonna ask... Unless there are P-purest. Remember you're using some true and OEM parts on a replica. Just enjoy it... and if it makes you happy add it to the tub! then of course post the pix too! :-)

SWF/Bosch/Hella on OEM pieces. Repro probably have made in Taiwan, CHINA, MX or Brazil. Originals often on brass vs pot metal.

Gary,

The new reproductions from NLA or Stoddard (same company) of the shine up lights are VERY hard to tell from an original. There are cheap reproductions as well. Quality costs more. What year is your car? You need a set of correct wedge fron turn siginals? I have some! They are correct for 58/59 year models.

Hey Guys

Well I'll make a plan to have a look see this weekend. It's a bit priceier than what I planned, but at the end of the day, it's $50 more than a repop. I was also thinking heavier gauge as well as hella stampings or marking on it.

Dave, I'd have to cut the car up front to fit the wedges as local speedters have a small lip base where the turn signals mount.......Too much work. Thanks for the offer though.

Screw it, I'm gonna buy it. Will post pics when it's on.

Hey Gary, remember back when we said "Welcome to The Madness"?

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!! Jim

I know........it's very addictive. Where to draw the line though?

My friend has just bought a replica coupe that he's tearing down and pulling moulds off an original 356 to get the front and luggage area right.

Gotta love it though.

I generally don't draw the line anywhere.
Keep doing things to keep it on the road; it's worth far more than the sum of its parts.
Disclaimer; don't do your R&D as you go. It's probably beneficial to have some sort of plan. ...

Once again Gary... Welcome to the Madness!

Your friend is as mad as YOU... LOL..

Gary,

I like the attitude.......that is why I went over budget on my build........hey it's only money!

Cory, I hear 100% what you're saying about R&D. I've been guilty of doing it a LOT on my car as there isn't anything locally to compare it to as the rest of the speedters are missing even the basics. So sometimes you have to do things the hard way.

I really want to have something that basically is a showcase of what I'm about.........That's what's nice about the speedster community in here, everyone's car is different, but I've seen at least 20 different things on 20 different cars that would look good on mine.

"I went over budget on my build"..... that's my motto and I'm stick'n too it!

Oh Allen, just shut up. You have spent more money on old and new tub parts, bits and pieces than any other ten SOC members. Just cuz you trade 'em up by selling your fine work, does not change the story. You do tend to go w/ repro all the way, tho. How much "real" P-stuff have you ever added to your masterpieces?

Our VS has a lot of origional parts including the beam up plate holder. Ours is pretty well worn and is rusting from the inside out. Actually drips orange rust water onto the black paint if I get it wet sometimes. Nice to have some authentic rust somewhere. I think it is pretty cool.