Match paint headlight rings, yes or no?

[alex d]

What do you think? I prefer chrome rings, even in a car with deleted side trim and one-piece windows the chrome rings in the headlights somehow define the "face" of a VW, there are some cars in which painted bezels can look right but not many IMHO!

[Tim C]

I think an "upright" painted headlight rim works well (67's especially)... see Greg Brinton's and Sarge's 67's...

I had black headlight rims on an old 66 of mine (about 11 years ago), it was also dechromed but with the slopers I think it looks a bit dated now!

[El Diablo Gris]

I think it looks best on '67 (American spec) and later cars.  Period correct to "80's Cal-Look" standards.

[alex d]

I think an "upright" painted headlight rim works well (67's especially)... see Greg Brinton's and Sarge's 67's...

I had black headlight rims on an old 66 of mine (about 11 years ago), it was also dechromed but with the slopers I think it looks a bit dated now!

what wheels are on the 66?

[Tim C]

Porsche 356 rims: no hubcpas, black painted centres and chrome rim with chrome nuts. A good cheap cal wheel.

[Sarge]

I'm in the paint 'em camp...especially if the car has no chrome moldings and vertical headlights.  I also feel it's important to do what YOU like!

[jick]

it's hard to disagree with the Sarge.

[carlo]

For me is very cool whit the vertical headlights!   

[Jon]

I would paint it on a decromed "periode" looker with vertical headlights.... unless is a black car.

[Sarge]

Porsche 356 rims: no hubcpas, black painted centres and chrome rim with chrome nuts. A good cheap cal wheel.

I've always been partial to Porsche steel rims.  Up until rejoining DKP in 1999, I had Porsche 5.5" chromies and nipple caps on the 67.

[Gary Justus]

I agree with Darrell, painted bezels on '67 and later look great. I did it on my '72 (way back when) because an article in HVWs covered a car that "hit me" at the time and said it gave the car a "frenched in look". Color also has an influence on the decision IMHO.

[Zach Gomulka]

Some cars look "okay" to me with painted rings, most would look better chromed

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

I Like The Look of Painted Headlight Rims on all Late Models and like them on early cars if you use 911 Headlight rings

[lawrence]

Sarge, you should throw your chromies with nipple caps back on to change it up. You dont see that often, nowadays. Could you snap a few pics of the car for us vw pervs

[SilverPig]

If you ask me, I'd have to say "no"...but why ask everyone else about something that will and should be decided by your personal taste?

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

What about Flat Headlight Glass? Lots of Guys Ran Flat Plexi Glass  over the Headlights on Early Cal Looks Back in the Day both Tinted and Clear Were Used I had them on my 64 Sedan but I used Clear Lexan its not as Brittle as Plexi Glass and easier to cut.

[Eddie DVK]

I agree with:
''on '67 and later it looks great''
I dont find it tasty on earlier models....

Kind Regards Edgar

[Zach Gomulka]

What about Flat Headlight Glass? Lots of Guys Ran Flat Plexi Glass  over the Headlights on Early Cal Looks Back in the Day both Tinted and Clear Were Used I had them on my 64 Sedan but I used Clear Lexan its not as Brittle as Plexi Glass and easier to cut.

VERY COOL!!

[Jon]

I Like The Look of Painted Headlight Rims on all Late Models and like them on early cars if you use 911 Headlight rings

Are you talking about the "flat" profile 911 rings? In lack of a better word

[alex d]

What about Flat Headlight Glass? Lots of Guys Ran Flat Plexi Glass  over the Headlights on Early Cal Looks Back in the Day both Tinted and Clear Were Used I had them on my 64 Sedan but I used Clear Lexan its not as Brittle as Plexi Glass and easier to cut.

I prefer euro-spec fluted glass, you get better lighting too, and it comes free with our cars 

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

I Like The Look of Painted Headlight Rims on all Late Models and like them on early cars if you use 911 Headlight rings

Are you talking about the "flat" profile 911 rings? In lack of a better word

Both Flat an the wedge type early 911 Headlight rings

[deano]

Try painting Hella SB12s.... and retaining the logos!

[SOB/RFH]

I have flat glas lenses on my car....it turned out that there were chap replacement made in eastern Germany in the early 60's and I was lucky to get a set of them.............rare!!

[Sarge]

What about Flat Headlight Glass? Lots of Guys Ran Flat Plexi Glass  over the Headlights on Early Cal Looks Back in the Day both Tinted and Clear Were Used I had them on my 64 Sedan but I used Clear Lexan its not as Brittle as Plexi Glass and easier to cut.

A number of us old DKP guys had flat Lexan headlight lenses.  The other cool deal was some of Ernie Haneline's engine-turned stainless inner bezels.  I think the flat lense deal was a take-off on the gassers we used to see at the drags back then.

Try painting Hella SB12s.... and retaining the logos!

That requires some pretty thin paint, Deano 

[Sarge]

I think the painted bezel thing really depends on car and color. On Sarge's car it definitely looks "right." On my car I think it wouldn't.
Depends on color too. Non stock colors probably work better than with orig VW colors.

One thing I like that I don't hear much about is painting inside of headlight bucket on "early" type headlights a satin black finish. Looks mean.

I agree with you on the black, Jim...had 'em like that for a while on the 63.  To me, it seemed like the brightness of the headlights was considerably less with the black as opposed to the original silver-grey, though 

[Gary Justus]

I tried the satin black and color matching inner housings and went back to the grey. These are the flat lenses I have on now...........

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

Try painting Hella SB12s.... and retaining the logos!

I have Painted Hella SB 12's Before It Took me a While to Find a set that had a Deep Stamping  even if you rechrome a set inless there deep stamping they will disapear

[deano]

I have Painted Hella SB 12's Before It Took me a While to Find a set that had a Deep Stamping  even if you rechrome a set inless there deep stamping they will disapear
[/quote]

I de-chromed my SB-12s first... We'll see how they turn out.

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

The Hella SB12 Rims are made of  Brass so there also very Soft When getting them rechromed you better take them to someone who know's  what there doing or the SB12 will be Buffed right off like it was never there even if you find dented ones they can be fixed as long as there not crunched or cracked at the screw hole