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The Evolution of the 911 Front Headlamps 1964-2011

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The following is based on specific camera images available at a specific point in time.

Early 911, 1964 through to 1977
Same design throughout, Candle power for the 60's and 70's.
Headlamps%3dEarly911.jpg



911 SC and Carrera 3.2, 1977 through to 1989
Still the same candle power design since 1964 into the 1980's.
Headlamps%3d32SC.jpg



964, 1989 through to 1993
A few changes in internal reflector technology but essentially no real change since 1964, that's almost 30 years!
Headlamps%3d964.jpg



993, 1993 through to 1998
29 years after the 1st 911 was lauched we finally have a headlamp design change but the 1st hints of an oval design to accommodate the sleeker front of the car.
Headlamps%3d993.jpg



996, 1997 through to 2005
All change for the ground breaking water-cooled 996 series with a shared design with the Porsche Boxster and that infamous 'fried egg' design, which may not have been as successful on the 911 as Porsche had intended. However ground braking it was with a completely integrated unit housing the indicator, fog and washers, but still the round 911 headlamp hidden inside.
Headlamps%3d996Mk1.JPG



A further change for the ground breaking water-cooled 996 series with the Mark II facelift 996 mid-way through its production. The single design remains with a complete unique redesign of the the integrated fog lamp unit and headlamp washer. The car's aerodynamic profile demands an oval design headlamp, but hidden in there is still the original round 911 headlamp.
Headlamps%3d996.jpg



997, 2004 through to 2012
Single headlamp design returns with the fog lights relocated into the car's bumpers and headlamp washers in front of the lights. Design brings back the rounded styling cue of the 993 generation, following the sleek design of the modern 911.
Headlamps%3d997.jpg


The Generation 2 997 series brought no major design change but it was the insides that brought a insight into how headlamp technology is evolving with a clever integration of the lighting clusters to further improve the efficiency of the 911 headlamp.
Headlamps%3d997Gen2.JPG


991, 2011 Onwards
All new 991 series and an oval headlamp unit with an updated internal light projector from the 997 Gen 2 and now with LED technology. The most radical design change is a more upright face to the headlamp (not seen from the above angle) compared tot he 997 series. A lot has changed in 47 years, but the trade mark round 911 headlamp design still remains, even in the 911 generation oval shape, which will now be with us till 2018.
Headlamps%3d991.jpg
 
News images update, cheers GT4 for the help
 

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