JPS vs. VS license plate lights

Other than $225 vs. $75, can anyone comment on how these two license plate lights compare to each other and to an original Hella?

I have the VS type, and wish it was of higher quality. Where would you get the hella. STODDARDS?? or Henry at IM.?

I have the CMC type and it doesn't look very authentic. It is hard to tell from the pictures that I have found exactly what the VS and JPS ones look like.

Maybe the JPS one is a real Hella and that accounts for the price difference.

What don't you like about your VS light?

I originally posted my message before an auction on eBay ended for a license light. It was a reproduction that went for $99. I didn't bid because I thought maybe the VS light at $75 was just as good.

Mike McKelvey

I am going to send a inquiry to Stoddards to see if theirs is a Hella unit.
I am waiting for a responce from Henry at IM. about amber turn lens,and if they will fit in the Stoddatd base assy. They need to be 2 inches or just under.
I will make a inquiry to him, then .


The VS licence plate light case is a flimsey p.o.s. and I susect the chrome work will fail in no time at all.

(Message Edited 11/16/2002 6:55:52 PM)

My car is less than a year old and the chrome is gone. I will look locally to have it rechromed.

My VS shine up lite is in good shape. Car has almost 60,000km and is probably 7-8 years old. Spent 98-2001 in SoCal and last two in N Va.
ed

The license plate light I recived with my kit was also a POS. It fell apart when I snugged up the mounting screws. I fabricated a new mount plate and that made it better. I have since changed my mind and am using a really nice lighted license plate frame w/ a third brake light (Since my car has the flared fenders I havent been too woried about keeping an original look). For back-up lights I am using small aftermarket motorcycle marker lights.

Another way to skin the cat...

Jerome

All of the replica shine-up lights I have seen are poor quality. I managed to find a very nice original Hella chrome outer shell to put on my car; unfortunately the nice used Hella unit (complete) was $400 (they are in great demand by people restoring 356 Porsches).

To my knowledge none of the accessory houses have the original Hella units as they have not been made for many years.

The amber Lucas beehive lenses from IM will fit the rubbers on the front lights; there are also white Lucas beehive lenses.

(Message Edited 11/18/2002 3:40:41 PM)