Vintage Car Updates - Stealth 3rd Brake Light

"rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S" (rb1971)
02/18/2014 at 16:49 • Filed to: None

I don't think I've posted this on Oppo although I did it a few months ago. I'm running my E9 bumperless for the look, but as I do a lot of driving in the city I have always worried about inattentive drivers rear-ending me. As a result I tend to stop about a car length back from cars in front of me at lights and stay in 1st to give myself a chance to get away, but I wondered for a long time whether it would be possible to do a 3rd brake light in a way that would not have much visual downside.

Fortunately a member of the E9 forum thought the same way, and made an LED strip light, which has now been installed on my car. I think it looks pretty good, and it's definitely bright.

DISCUSSION (18)

505Turbeaux > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 16:50

looks great. dont want to rear end that thing at all.

Leadbull > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 16:51

If you ever get tired of driving an e9 in the city, I'll take it off your hands for you.

Plenty of not-city driving where I'm at.

Stupidru > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 16:51

That... is really really cool. I have to add this to the list of project cars I'd like to own someday

stuttgartobsessed > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 16:59

Kinja'd!!!

Um.... Hello there Continental you sexy thing.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 17:01

Please cease stopping a car length away. When you do that, you pile onto the queue length which in turn blocks access to the turn lane at times for those way back , among other problems.

I'm not condoning you go to the other extreme and have your bumper kiss the one in front from the car in front of yours but be mindful of others.....

I fucking hate it when the sole reason I need to wait to get into a turn lane is because some guy decided a car length's spacing is required at a stop light

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/18/2014 at 17:04

1. "Queue" Here in America we speak English dammit! :p

2. I generally don't use it to commute. The number of times I would be the creator of problems like you are describing is small, compared to the number of inattentive idiots driving in San Francisco. Also, given that I spent years and a lot of money getting my car exactly the way I want it, when driving any of my project cars I am probably the single most attentive driver anywhere around me, because I know exactly how much of a pain it would be to put them right.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 17:07

That is English.

Sigh

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/18/2014 at 17:10

Sure, sure. My Australian wife tries to convince me that all sorts of crazy words are English too. "Queue". "Lorry". "Loo". "Lift". "Brekkie".

I think I watched enough American TV growing up to know when something is English and when it's not!

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > stuttgartobsessed
02/18/2014 at 17:16

More Conti from last weekend - also known as "Summer in Feb".

Kinja'd!!!

Dunnik > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 17:19

Very slick, very tasteful, very safe. +10 Oppo Points

Very jealous: such a car.

Kinja'd!!!

As for stopping with some distance in front of you in case the asshat approaching doesn't stop, that's generally good practice anyway, bumper or no.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Dunnik
02/18/2014 at 17:24

Jabberjaw is a pretty awesome E9 for sure. And in my second favorite color combo...

stuttgartobsessed > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 17:26

I love top down winter driving! How do you like the Conti? I've always yearned for one...

Axial > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 17:30

To use the most eloquent phrase ever devised for such instances:

Classy as f*ck.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > stuttgartobsessed
02/18/2014 at 17:32

It was like 70 degrees in SF this weekend so I'm not sure that qualifies as winter...

I wanted a conti for about 25 years, and although a lot of things definitely follow the "don't meet your hero" rule (riding in an F40, I'm definitely looking at you), this doesn't. The car has basically been maintenance-free since I got it properly set up (which required rebuilding the engine and transmission, but really only because I am sort of a perfectionist and was getting irritated about drips on the driveway). I drive it at least once a week for a few miles and it cranks right up. No real old-car weirdness.

The biggest problem is that you have to be ready to have your pic taken at all times. What Doug Demuro said about the Ferrari - no loud music, etc. - is all also true when it comes to old iconic cars.

stuttgartobsessed > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 18:52

I think I'm up for the challenge considering I daily drive a '76 Alfa Spider. I am a perfectionist as well and the only reason I didn't do a complete engine rebuild on the Alfa that would have cost more than the car is actually worth is because I: A) don't have that much money, and B) can't have my car be in the shop for 4 more months... Anyway, I'm now thinking about getting something more sensible (but still unique/classic for a DD). The constant rain and cold through the winter up here in Tacoma/Seattle really doesn't play nice with convertibles...

As for the Conti, I can't get over the suicide doors. They are wonderful.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 18:56

you learned English on TV also? ha.... well, English so happens to be my 3rd language (after French and Haitian Creole since I'm from Haiti) and I learned a huge majority of it initially on TV.

no lie

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S
02/18/2014 at 19:57

Can you post a link. I have an orange 914 that also has itty bitty 70's tailights that are 2 feet from the ground. Although my car is orange (extremely close to yours) it scares the crap out of how many times people will look right over you.

Can you post a link?

Is the light hardwired in? I was trying to think of some way to set up a, suction on battery powered rear light that would activate when the pedal is pressed.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
02/19/2014 at 03:36

It is wired in, but it was fairly easy to accomplish and activates like the other lights. The thread is here:

http://www.e9coupe.com/forum/showthre…