TheSamba.com :: View topic - Wear those funky headlights, white car ...

Tue May 19, 2009 9:51 am

Okay, this ad had been nagging at me for quite a while and for all I know, it may not even still be available. I have to ask this question to the general expertise here before I get tempted to pursue this car ...

Are these headlights specific to a 411 only or are they the same as some Jaguars (and maybe others) I have seen?

Tue May 19, 2009 10:11 am

Specific.

Tue May 19, 2009 10:22 am

I was afraid of that. I know at some point new ones would be needed.

Thanks.

Wed May 20, 2009 9:17 am

There was an NOS set on here recently for sale pretty cheap. A few others have popped up as well over the years.

Edit, just checked- the ad is still there!

Wed May 20, 2009 2:30 pm

ubercrap wrote: There was an NOS set on here recently for sale pretty cheap ... still there!
Australia.

I suppose I could start nosing around to see if someone will be my liaison for checking on the car from Belgium, and assist in shipping it if it is okay. At that point, risking another couple hundred bucks wouldn't be so bad ... I guess.

Two follow-up questions. (1) I wonder if these "rarest of the rare" headlights are meant for a RHD vehicle since each of the pair is left and right specific. (Okay, that wasn't a question. I might just email the seller on that one.) (2) What type of bulb to these take? H4? (I might bug the seller on that one, too.)

Also, what other extraordinary rarities might I find with the car besides the headlights and the standard shift components?

Wed May 20, 2009 3:54 pm

They very well may be RHD, and in that case, not really usable for LHD driving. As for other stuff, I've seen just about anything you can imagine come up, you just have to be patient.

Thu May 21, 2009 4:16 am

In general, the adjusting and mounting inserts are marked on all type 4 as left and right hand specific. However since the aim is custom for each side.....it makes no difference which car you install them in.

While in reality the headlight muntings for even later four headlight cars....can be universally installed on either side (same stamping)....it puts the adjusters in the wrong position and makes adjusting hard to do....say if you had two lefts installed etc.
That does not mean that they could not be modified to make them work.

Also...you think like I do.... :lol: ....you KNOW that sooner or later one or both will get broken by road debris.
These were an optional light I believe. You should be able to simply bolt in the later 411 twin headlight mounts and bezels. Even if you do find spares...its prudent to collect a pair of late models so they can be installed in a pinch. Ray

Thu May 21, 2009 7:40 am

ubercrap wrote: They very well may be RHD, and in that case, not really usable for LHD driving. As for other stuff, I've seen just about anything you can imagine come up, you just have to be patient.
They're still available. Shipping to US is $85. No real surprise there. Did not answer RHD-LHD question.

Right now, my patience in finding a replacement for my '71 Super is wearing thin. It has been 15 months. I do realize I have a rather specific and ecclectic taste in what I want. I think I would have decent patience once I have an operating air-cooled toy again although I have not been tested by looking for Type IV goodies.

raygreenwood wrote: In general, the adjusting and mounting inserts are marked on all type 4 as left and right hand specific. However since the aim is custom for each side.....it makes no difference which car you install them in ... That does not mean that they could not be modified to make them work.
That's good to know.

raygreenwood wrote: You should be able to simply bolt in the later 411 twin headlight mounts and bezels. Even if you do find spares...its prudent to collect a pair of late models so they can be installed in a pinch.
That is also good to know.

The guy with the headlights also said they take the normal three-plug bulb. Excuse my ignorance but are these bulbs "normal" for Europeans and Australians only or are they common enough to buy in the states also?

By the way, the guy in Belgium with the car for sale hasn't responded yet.

Thu May 21, 2009 7:58 am

oasis wrote: The guy with the headlights also said they take the normal three-plug bulb. Excuse my ignorance but are these bulbs "normal" for Europeans and Australians only or are they common enough to buy in the states also?

I think by 'normal' 3 pin bulb he was refering to the H4 type of bulb? I seem to recall from previous questions I have had that these are available in the both the US and Europe (I'm in Europe so know that they are 'normal ' for here :wink: ).

Thu May 21, 2009 9:43 am

oasis wrote:
Shipping to US is $85. No real surprise there.

I didn't say it would be easy or cheap, or that the parts wouldn't be on the other side of the globe... 8) They are out there, though! Not too shabby for one the rarest of all VW's.

Thu May 21, 2009 11:54 am

Yes and no. There are normal sealed beams with three pins...and then H-4's with three pins. I can't seem to remember that I had to do any changes when I wnet to H-4's from sealed beams. Ray

Thu May 21, 2009 10:48 pm

ubercrap wrote: I didn't say it would be easy or cheap, or that the parts wouldn't be on the other side of the globe... 8) They are out there, though! Not too shabby for one the rarest of all VW's.
I agree. I wasn't lamenting the shipping fee. In fact if I had the car, I would be PayPal'ing one of my Aussie friends and have him buy it and ship it back to me.

wshawn wrote: I think by 'normal' 3 pin bulb he was refering to the H4 type of bulb?
raygreenwood wrote: Yes and no. There are normal sealed beams with three pins...and then H-4's with three pins. I can't seem to remember that I had to do any changes when I wnet to H-4's from sealed beams.
The picture I placed a few posts ago shows the back of the headlamp units. They look kind of H4'ish to me, but I can't be certain. It would be great if they were already H4 units. I switched from sealed beam to Hella H4's with my Super Beetle. It was easy and relatively cheap, but one of the best improvements I made to that car.

Since I haven't heard from Belgium yet, I now wonder if a reverse swap is possible should I purchase a different 411 -- going from dual sealed beams to cyclops. (I love the nickname, cyclops, even though there are still two headlamp units per car.)

Fri May 22, 2009 1:14 am

Those oval headlights use a ball-type bulb that was common here in Europe before the halogen lights came to market. At least here in Finland those bulbs are still available. Sorry, couldn't find a picture of those. The original quad head lamps use H-1 halogens, but ofcourse you can convert to H-4 if you buy some aftermarket headlamp units.

The wiring for the oval-type and quad headlights are different, so you'll need to make some modifications. But i think it's not toodifficult.

You can see the obvious differences between the wirings in these diagrams:
http://www.vintagebus.com/wiring/411_from_August_1968-1.jpg
http://www.vintagebus.com/wiring/411_from_August_1970-1.jpg

Fri May 22, 2009 7:00 am

Lahti411 wrote: Those oval headlights use a ball-type bulb that was common here in Europe before the halogen lights came to market. At least here in Finland those bulbs are still available. Sorry, couldn't find a picture of those.
The seller of the car said "regular 40/45 watt bulbs." I was hoping they would be H4 but the seller said he could throw in some extras if needed. For all I know, those ball-type bulbs may be readily available in the states, too.

Lahti411 wrote: The original quad head lamps use H-1 halogens, but ofcourse you can convert to H-4 if you buy some aftermarket headlamp units.
I wonder if US-spec 411's and 412's had H1 halogens. I do know if I buy any car with sealed beam headlights, I will convert them.

Lahti411 wrote: The wiring for the oval-type and quad headlights are different, so you'll need to make some modifications. But i think it's not toodifficult.
Great reference for the future that may come in handy.

Thanks!

Sun Oct 24, 2010 5:33 pm

old thread but did all the early 69 headlights have that Crappy looking metal ring around them?

i love the quad headlights

they are 5 3/4" , correct?

Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:11 am

Yes, its what holds them in. Actually most of thsoe ehadlighst were probably of teh Quartz-iodine variety. Very bright and the best thing going until more advanced lights came out. Ray

Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:31 pm

So are these lights able to be put in a later 411 ?