246 question

Guys,
Does anyone know why it seems that some 246's have headlight covers, while others are flatfaced? hard to describe what I mean, sort of like the difference between a 275 GTB and the 275 spyder they had that had flat headlights....If you know what I mean, please tell which years had which. I think the fully covered headlights were FAR nicer looking.

 

Headlight covers were outlawed in the US. European cars have them, US cars don't. Some US cars have been retrofitted by their owners.

 

I agree w/ Bill, plus, my understanding was that the headlight covers were also dealer options? like the radios, were not installed at the factory? My impression is that they were most prevalent in the UK - I've seen plenty of euro-spec Dinos w/out the covers . . .

 

You are correct Bryanp, headlight covers were never installed at the factory. Our car had covers installed by the second owner and personally I like them. If you show your car you can count on having one point taken off for the covers. I take the hit on the point as I think the car looks better with the covers.

 

And the covers do make a difficult lighting situation even worse. Dinos don't shed a lot of light on the highway to begin with, and the covers certainly don't help.

They were not a factory item. Installed in Europe as an option, and correct that they are illegal in the US, although I'm guessing that it's been a while since anyone got pulled over for having them.

At least according to some accounts I've seen, thay are also difficult to install properly.

 

In the UK headlamp covers were fitted by the importer as an option. The top of the cover secured by large chrome clips, today Nick Cartwright uses a pin system which is neater (see pici). Unfortunately they mist up if wet and are very labour intensive to fit, as they normally have to be sanded down to mould to individual cars.

 

My "two Liras" worth, I've seen a variety of covers installed. Some continue the line and curvature of the fender(correct) and some are flat plexi formed into a tube then trimed to fit. These look odd in certain angles and break the light line of the fender. Many of the UK cars have this type. It is important that the lense follows the lines of the fender as on the 206S, 275GTB, 250LM etc. I have also heard that you can have the covers installed when new at Scaglietti. My "L" Dino, an Italian spec car has the curved covers which follow the lines perfectly with two metal tab mounts brazed to the body. This was done in Italy either when new or after. All I know is they've always been on the car. You can see an image of my red Dino on www.fast-autos.net at the Rodeo Drive Concours. It is my opinion, whatever it is worth that a 206 or 246 Dino should never be without headlamp covers. The design was always intended to have them as evidenced by the prototype and the blueprint and homologation drawings. No one can prove that the factory "never" installed them on some cars. It is far more beautiful with them than without and it is correct and not a modification of the original design. Remember, this is only my opinion. Freeman

 

Freeman.

Dunno, I like it without, too. ALthough your point is well taken about the design.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania frowns on them, though, and you won't pass the annual state safety inspection with them on. At least not at any station that actually knows the rules and cares to enforce them.
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Takes five minutes to take them off with a screwdriver. In California if its pre '73 there are no inspections. The only inspections we have are for smog for post '74 cars so its not even an issue here.

Freeman

 

Dave -

If I remember correctly, don't the Euro cars also have smooth parking lamp covers too? The U.S. ones (like yours) appear indented into the nose, while Euro ones are flush with the bodywork. Right?

-Daniel

 

Euro cars do have flush parking lamps, and no side markers, I believe.

And Freeman, I understand they can be popped off. Did not realize it was a five minute deal. Assumed if they were tough to install, they would be equally tough to remove down the line.

I've never seen a Dino with the headlight covers up close and personal, only in pictures.

 

I always had the idea of headlight covers in the back of my mind, but have never liked the idea of the ugly little tabs that must be grafted onto that beautiful coachwork. Then too, they can never be sealed adequately, and to be visually correct must conform to some very crucial compound curvatures, as was mentioned above. Then I met Mr. Pininfarina at Concorso Italiano a couple years ago. (Have his autograph in the inside of my 246GTS' glovebox) When I pointed to the headlight buckets and asked about covers he just shook his head-as in "don't do it". That decided it for me.

 

Links

http://www.fast-autos.net/events/37/

http://www.fast-autos.net/view/21922

 

Freeman- Saw the picture of your car- gorgeous! Just curious- when and how did it end up with an outside mirror? Not sure that such was original equipment; mine does not have one, making for "exciting" dirving if you're alone on the freeway!

 

Indeed, I remember very well these headlight covers being able to be purchased as an aftermarket part in the late 70's and early 80's. However, they were such a pain to fit as they were almost always off size plus if ever you were caught out in any inclement weather water would get under the cover then dry, leaving sediment stains, which you would then have to remove the covers, clean and re-attach. I do agree that they look better with them on but realistically not worth the problems.

 

Daryl, that is a curious assumption that Sergio Pinninfarina did not approve of headlight covers, as he had them on his personial Dino.
Cheers,
Mark

 

Perhap the voice of experience?



.

 

Or perhaps miscomunication.

 

When I got my Dino in 1987 I immediately got some covers to put on.
Problems:
1) the thought of drilling holes to attach them made me queasy
2) it takes a ton of time to make them fit right. For a while there was a body man in the LA area doing them, but one day he declared it just wasn't worth the hours and said he'd done his last.
3) most the cars I see with them have all kinds of bits of road debris in the area forward of the headlight itself, as they aren't sealed and the air flow must blow stuff in there. Which means you'll have to keep taking them off.

So if you have a car where someone has done a great installation job, count yourself lucky.

The car is stunningly beautiful either way, so I just haven't felt the need to install mine.

Jim

 

I really do like the headlamp covers and almost ordered a set from Superformance, who supplies the mounting brackets as well. However, I concluded that, for my car - a US specification 1972 model - they would not be right. Although the appeal of the covers to me is aesthetic, their ostensible purpose is aerodynamic efficiency. That didn't seem consistent with the upright front indicators on my car. If I decided to install the covers, I should use the flush European front indicator lenses - a big job - and, while I was at it, the smaller side indicators as well. I decided, for now anyway, to remain original. So no headlamp covers.

Now if I had a European car, that would be a different story.