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I'd love to know when in 95 the coups stopped getting basket handles and were switched to the top mounted light.
If anybody has the answer, please chime in.
It's commonly repeated that "late build 1995s" had the roof-mounted third brake light, but my former race car was built in April of 1995 and had the window-mounted light. No evidence whatsoever that the deck lid had holes from the basket handle light filled in and painted either by visual inspection or paint meter.
It's commonly repeated that "late build 1995s" had the roof-mounted third brake light, but my former race car was built in April of 1995 and had the window-mounted light. No evidence whatsoever that the deck lid had holes from the basket handle light filled in and painted either by visual inspection or paint meter.
The $10.000 question!: Did the "basket handle" disappear at the same date as the soft back sport seats where replaced by the hard back sport seats in 1995? (Like February 1995??).
Try a google picture search for 1994 Porsche 993 and look at the contemporary pictures and you will see that you don't see any third brake lights!
It's only because of this thread that I looked at center stop light regulations. They weren't required at all in the EU until 1998, but were required in the US, CA, AU and NZ long before the launch of the 993. US didn't get 1994s, but Australia did. 1994 Oz 993 coupes had the "later" rear-window lamp, with basket handles for cab and targa. So, the so-called later rear-window assembly existed before US launch, but for some reason all US cars got the basket handle for a while after launch, then coupes got the rear-window unit.
If I had to place a bet it'd be that the supplier couldn't deliver federalized assemblies (ie plastic lens with the right markings) just at launch.
It's only because of this thread that I looked at center stop light regulations. They weren't required at all in the EU until 1998, but were required in the US, CA, AU and NZ long before the launch of the 993. US didn't get 1994s, but Australia did. 1994 Oz 993 coupes had the "later" rear-window lamp, with basket handles for cab and targa. So, the so-called later rear-window assembly existed before US launch, but for some reason all US cars got the basket handle for a while after launch, then coupes got the rear-window unit.
If I had to place a bet it'd be that the supplier couldn't deliver federalized assemblies (ie plastic lens with the right markings) just at launch.
In my younger days I could recite all of the DOT requirements by year for the US. Like padded dash required on all 1968 and on cars, side belts required on 1967 and on cars and rear brake lights required on 1986 (I believe!).
The $10.000 question!: Did the "basket handle" disappear at the same date as the soft back sport seats where replaced by the hard back sport seats in 1995? (Like February 1995??).
Try a google picture search for 1994 Porsche 993 and look at the contemporary pictures and you will see that you don't see any third brake lights!
My car is a January 1995 build and has the basket handle (and OBD I and Drive Block), so February could have been when the change occurred.
Thanks for all the help and investigations everyone. I didn't end up buying the 1994 after all. I am now the proud owner of a MY1996 and it has the rear brake light up top.
06-11-2019, 02:57 PM
