Seeking Advice on RS Headlights

[jaudette3]

I can't believe I don't know the answer to this. I thought I knew quite a bit about Bosch H1's. I just heard that they were standard equipment on the RS. For some reason I thought that H4's were standard and H1's were an option. It makes sense that they would be standard on the RS though given that it was a premium model.

Thanks,
John

[911MRP]

Bosch H4 standard equipment on 73 RS. No parking light ie no extra bulb. Pebbled top to lens— not plain.
There were left hand drive and right hand drive versions of the H4. The RS model wasn’t officially sold in North America and customers had to sign a notorised document saying wouldn’t use RS on road in the odd few supplied as grey imports to friends of factory, race teams etc in markets like that.

I’ve posted the above image before not about the 73 RS (911.744) specifically it is about the supersession to H4 in Europe — the H4 was used in most of the so-called rest of world markets outside North America so was the equipment on RS unless by exception H4 not allowed by national regulations in some (niche) market where 73 RS was sold perhaps? That would be determined by the country equipment and importer code eg c16 EG for Great Britain etc. RS got the same lights as 73 TES in country it sold. Having said that I don’t recall seeing 73 RS other than H4 in pictures at new ; which makes sense because H4 had replaced H1. Can ignore NA as being not relevant market equipment spec for RS as it would’ve had the so called sugar scoop if it had sold officially I suppose unless wine country it sold in happened to use USA lighting regs? I’ve seen plenty RS with incorrect later H4 but but that’s just sloppiness using the much more common G series H4 replacements instead of correct for preimpact much rarer early H4 — perhaps dune due to lack of knowledge or not going extra mile to loxate harder to find correct ones if required by 73 RS owners and the repair/ restoration workshops they should expect to get it right?

Premium model is not exactly how I’d term it if think of why it existed — for example a 73 targa S if ticked sportomatic worked out more expensive in UK. The 73 model Carrera RS was a “premium model” in the sense that it was conceived as a limited edition special lightweight homologation model ( at least that’s the case the circa 1000 true homolgation examples of 911.744 they made up using special build procedures and materials until around first week of April 73 when certification granted). Porsche were, due to the model’s raison d’etre clearly very focused on the specification and weight of each of those chassis so as to be able to count the first 500 (plus 500) chassis made being ordered, built weighed to be evidence of being in compliance — proof of order and being made to spec was potentially required if audited for FIA certification.

The 500 and 1000 was the production figure required under the relevant FiA group 3&4 rules. My first series EG C16 RS still has its correct original H4 rhd - not plain top lens, no redundant parking (city) light … based on the presence of dated part stickers. Pictures of 73 RS taken at new or nearly new typically show H4 rhd and lhd



After all why would the 73 RS — a so called rest of world road-car (leaving aside the roughly 50 the factory converted to be a race variant — still have the older H1 when that light been superseded for 911 in the way described starting March 72 , so more the six months before model 73 and 8 months before RS launch. Other than odd exception (perhaps due to nuances of country spec etc) the H4 was the equipment in relevant markets forpart-way through model 73 which covers RS afaik. Always open to hear if period evidence proves to contrary

Steve

PS what’s it say in “Service Bulletin No. F 16/67” that should be noted?

[rgupta250]

Now that’s a comprehensive answer.

Thank you, Steve!

[recarno]

alongside: the gentleman on the right in the picture is a recently deceased german actor (Fritz Wepper). regards uwe

[fourteenten]

I have another picture of Fritz Wepper with his RS, any idea which car he owned?

Regards,
Cees