Is this another job for Unobtainium Supply?

I've fitted several sets of these.

The trouble is, there's no two cars exactly the same, so parts like this have to made over size to allow compatability with all cars.

I made a stencil from the first set I fitted (took me 3 days), and it didn't cross over to either of the next two cars, so I threw it away.

 

They came from a UK source, and they're the ones that everybody was using at the time.. late 90's. Haven't fitted any since.

Although they look nice when done, the hassle of installing, maintenance and cleaning make them a "no thanks" for me.

 

The covers in that photo look too long to me, in my opinion, they should not extend beyond or hide the crease in the bodywork. I installed a set obtained from Maranello (UK) and on mine they sat just behind the crease, so one could still see the outline crease of the headlamp "housing". It was a point of discussion at the time, should a chrome surround be made, as in the 275, that was thought to be too heavy for the Dino's shape, the ideal shape was thought to be one that followed the crease but sat inside it 1/16 all round. They supplied three "L" shaped brackets, two for the back one for the front, all to riveted on with slightly domed top chrome screws to hold the perspex/plexiglass in place. Regular not phillips. Of the three in the following thread, the 365 example is correct, the red one is wrong and the plum is beautifully done, but from what I can see may still hide the line of the car. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79580&highlight=headlamp+covers.
Although, it's true, that no two cars are alike, the front section was pretty caccurate side to side and car to car.

 

They change the look of the car. The dino is so clearly recognised without them. It has a face and the covers change that face. I don't know if I'd want them on again and as there is no way(that I found), to take them off without leaving bits of metal on the car, I'll vote to leave it.

 

I love the covers and would fit them if my car were a Euro model. They seem inconsistent with the recessed signal lamps on US cars - don't care for those signal lamps at all. But on a European car with flush signal lamps, the covers look great.

 

I was given a set of "original" covers a few years ago. They were from a UK source originally fitted to a car from new (in UK by dealer). The owner took them off and over the years all the brackets were lost. I have been toying with the idea of putting them on, but would have to make up the brackets and drill holes in the car. Then, there is the originality problem. They are actually quite a good fit for my car, not to much modification needed - amazing. If the brackets became available, I might just put then on.

 

I have 5 set (4 sets will be available) made for 206 GT 0136 by friends from GM design Studio in Burbank. This group of designers and studio fabricators do this type of prototype work for a living! The A team.

 

Covers and clips or just clips?

 

I bought a pair of lenses from Maranello Concessionaires in the UK about a decade ago. I then bought another pair from Dennis McCann. I had the set I bought from Dennis trimmed for my car during the restoration and it was quite a bit of work. I never mounted them and still need mounting brackets but have a friend who had lenses fit to his Dino in the 70s and should I decided to go forward, I'll use his car as an example. I'll snap a photo of his brackets and post it when I'm over there next - his look really good and were fitted in the UK by Maranello Concessionaires in the day.

I'm going to sell the Maranello Concessionaires lenses on eBay soon - no reason to have an extra set and perhaps someone can use them.

Cheers...Keith

 

Just spotted this thread.
I do like the look, makes the car sleeker than the 'face' appearance. However, tastes are personal.

They look like they're sheet acrylic that's heat formed over a mandrel. Suspect that like motorcycle fairings made with the same process, each one comes out a little different. So they'll needs to be hand fitted, due to variations in the covers, & body openings.

This would be new technology for me. Would be fun to learn tho.

Altho, Sounds like shaughnessy may already have a source who's way down the learning curve..

 

O.K. it is not on a 246, but on this car they do look good.
http://www.exoticcarsite.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=35959

 

Assuming your posting wasn't a joke, I don't think that is the look that anyone here has in mind for a Dino.

Be that as it may, why would the covers have to be made out of a heavy acrylic? Why couldn't they be formed out of a much lighter and thinner material that could be easily mounted and easily removed or replaced? I have some light plastic bubble style headlight covers on my 2002tii to protect my Marchal headlights -- they look like they were made using a vacu-form - kind of like slot car bodies used to be made out of. I would think that after 30 years there would be something better to make them out of that would also be easier to fit and mount.

Mark

 

Toungue in cheek stuff, whenever I see a GTO shape I salivate....
I looked at ways to have removable covers without leaving bits of metal sticking out. Came up with a nice design for a removable bracket as well. Just never thought about it anymore until the recent postings. Do you have pitcures of your set up?

 

Somewhere I saw a photo of a Dino with 275 GTB style covers, with the chrome surround all the way around the edge. It looked like an old photo, but they looked really good to me, like they were really part of the car. I never cared for the little 'L' brackets and screws. Maybe I saved that photo...

 

Here it is. Don't know whom to credit. I like this look and would put these on my car.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

On the Series 1 Lotus Elise, the optional headlamp covers are held on by adhesive, doub;e-sided tape being the usual method. The Elise headlamp covers however have colored trim on the edges, which hide the double-sided tape.

Andy (a Lotus buff)

 

Looks good, but somehow, to my eye, they clash with the slots in the hood

 

I have a set on my 73 chairs and flairs Dino. They look awesome. Looks great next to my e type. My set was a NOS set from a UK dealer that I had installed years ago. You cannot believe how poorly they fit out of the box and they still fit poorly after hours and hours of fitting.

Skip McCabe (renowned restoration expert in Chicago) is able to have sets custom made if he has the car at his shop. I think he has a glass/plastic shop nearby that he uses. If you live locally, he can make them for your actual car and they will fit perfectly. Just a thought.

Joe Seminetta