Boston911fan

Hi there, I am asking for some advice on installing a 993 RS rear wing on a cabriolet. Since I received my RS Speedlines, I've been seriously thinking about adding the front splitters and rear wing. The three cars that come to mind are briefescape's cabriolet, the Speed yellow cabriolet (sorry, I forgot your name), and jackb911's GR coupe. Here's the problem: what do I do with the 3rd brake light? I definitely want to take the basket handle off, but also want to keep a functioning 3rd brake light so idiots don't rear end me and so I can pass inspection. My car will be in winter storage at a friend's shop who restores vintage VWs. He does amazing work, and one of his customer's cars is in this month's Hot VWs. I completely trust him with smoothing the holes from the basket handle and painting the parts. So back to the 3rd brake light dilemma. How can I make a custom 3rd brake light without making it look cheezy or hacked up? At first I thought about hiding some LEDs in the grille itself, but when I talked to the guy who did my custom stereo in my VW Beetle, he said he could put it in or slightly below the trailing edge of the wing. He would have to build a bunch of jigs and then use a router to make the hole properly. I trust him, too, as he was awarded with a top 10 US builder award, and he does amazing things with plastic and fiberglass. He has quite a few customers with deep pockets who spend six figures on stereo installations alone (one of the cars there now is a MB McLaren SLR). So what do you think, and can you come up with a better solution? I don't really want to do the Aerokit wing with the integrated brake light. I like it, but want to keep with an RS theme. Thanks so much for your help!

dcdude

How about no 3rd brake light at all? Double check with IIHS et al. I think their post research showed it doesn't make a difference.

axl911

Easy. Put a thin strip of LEDs at the end of the RS wing lip. Drill the RS wing since it's not OEM, but don't drill the car. I drilled a small hole at the lip of my wheel wheel. Regretted it since.

Mark in Baltimore

I would follow Chuck's advice. Your car will not be a rear edn magent just because you ditched the CHMSL.

If the light is required in your state, your mechanic's solution is what I had thought of before if I had a cab with a wing. Whatever you do, though, don't put on an ET light.

timothymoffat

I vote to 86 the light.

briefescape

i deleted the basket handle and third brake light ..... ( punt intended )....I never looked back .
Other choice is brake lights in the back of headrest

Btw just got a smoking deal on 2 235 and 2 295 Michelin PS2 for $1500 bucks plus he threw in 2 9"by 18" and 2 10.5 by 18" Gembella Speedline wheels in perfect condition .

Cheers Guy

jackb911

How about this?:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ALUMI...81110011r11391

nile13

3rd light is required in MA to pass annual inspections.

TheOtherEric

For a cab, it sounds like you already know all your options. The basket handle doesn't look that bad, really.

Boston911fan

Thanks guys for your input. I saw someone's old post of a basket handle with an RS tail, and it looked too busy. I love the way briefescape's car looks.

Boston911fan

Hmm. That's a good option, but I would have to get rid of my Dartmouth Alumni plate, and I'm faithful to my Ivy League alma mater. Still though, that's a pretty good option.

Oh and I forgot to say that I do not have a front license plate. Well, I do, but it's under the back seat. Shhh don't tell the cops. I just zip tie it on during inspections.

Boston911fan

That's what I thought.

Boston911fan

ET phone home! I was 3 when that movie came out, and I knew then that I'd be teased for the rest of my life because ET and I share the same initials. I had a friend in optometry school who's name was Elliot--he got similar crap growing up. ELLLLLLIOT!

Don't worry, I won't do the ET light just because it reminds me too much of the childhood trauma. Hahahaha.

David in LA

That's an amazing deal...post pics when you get them installed on your car!

RS man

Whilst the coupe would look good with the RS spoiler, I do not think the cabrio looks good with a wing on it. I like the clean lines of the 993 and it looks good without any add-ons. Your choice though.

Harry