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Posted by: pete000 Mar 1 2013, 09:15 PM

I have found three nice orig white early head light surrounds, question is is how white were they when new?

These are a bit on the cream side. Both inside and out are the same color. For sure not pure white, but an off white. Did they just age this way?

I have seen people paint them, but I would like to keep them close to original as possible.

Posted by: Garland Mar 2 2013, 08:39 AM

They were off white when new, with slight texture on the outside surface. Never painted.

Posted by: Pat Garvey Mar 2 2013, 08:52 PM

I have a NOS set, and they are paper white, not off-white.

I've had some success with the off-white/aged ones by soaking them in a 10% bleach solution for a day or so. Brightens them up quite a bit.
Remember, you're fiddling with plastic components that are over 40 years old. Plastic changes in shades at that age, even if heat or weather isn't introduced.

Off-white is better than grungy, but you can do betterfor about 20 cents.

Posted by: pete000 Mar 4 2013, 07:36 PM

I will give them a bath in bleach to see what happens.

It would be cool to see a picture of your NOS pure white ones!

Posted by: Pat Garvey Mar 4 2013, 07:52 PM

Will do.

Posted by: Pat Garvey Mar 4 2013, 08:18 PM

Here is a pic of the passenger side surround.
I should metion that:
1. Cramped area, so this is the best I could do
2. Since I am a former concours weenie, these have been polished a bunch
3. My Nikon dating is out of whack! Pic was taken on 3-4-13.
Pat

Posted by: ThePaintedMan Mar 4 2013, 10:12 PM

Pat,
Though I have no personal interest in concours stuff, I appreciate your attention to detail and love for that side of these cars. No shame buddy, once a concours weenie, always a concours weenie!

Posted by: JmuRiz Mar 5 2013, 09:44 AM

Nice picture, my original one is also more white than off-white, but not brilliant. Shame is my car was in a wreck at some point and one side is a painted black one

Posted by: Pat Garvey Mar 6 2013, 07:23 PM

Yeppir! Though I seriously doubt that I'll do that gig anymore, keeping it hardcore conc is just my thing.

Four times now I'ved had multiple porsches in the garage. I all cases, all ceased getting the attention that I wanted to give them. Did it obce, twice, three, four times....and guess who gets to stay - my original! Its family after 40+ years. Yet, I still miss all the others, because they gave me grins.