I will probably get a few spare ba20d style bulbs.
If so, you might want to check out the great (low) price on these bulbs:
http://bulbster.com/lightbulbs/6245b-p-2931.html?zenid=05b33811361bb24d81f9f7790d3654ecThe Carello number on the front face of my headlight is 00.183.700. There's also some other numbers on the face - "IGM 0726 P" and "IGM 3751 LA". On the rear, there's some other numbers - "lente 00.183.700", riflettore 00.183.010" and "portalampade 50.010.751" (the portalampade number is hard to read). There's one more number on the rear - K11073 (35/35). Could 35/35 be wattage?
I'll have to go back & get the numbers off of my headlights for comparison - forgot to write them down. The"lente" number is for the clear glass lense only, "riflettore" is for the silver reflector part (the back half of the light), and "portalampade" is for the lightbulb socket. The 35/35 probably is the wattage, these Carello's may have been for a 500 or Topolino. The 600's use 45/40w bulbs instead, so that's what you'll want to get.
I have seen Selma brand headlights for sale that look the same as the Carello ones. I wonder if these are completely interchangeable?
Selma(?), Siem & Elma can all be similar to Carello but may have slight variations, like in the socket retainer design (wire arch vs. side tabs), the lamp fitting clips (on early models) or rims (on later models) & the shape of the trim rings, etc..
BTW, the headlights I have now are one piece. You think there is a version to fit my style of bucket that has a separate reflector part?
The old style headlights are usually sealed together at the lense/reflector joint, but can be (carefully) cut apart if needed (the old parts books show them as seperate parts, but the later books show them as one unit). Like if you break or crack a lense & happen to have a good lense (or maybe a spare old lamp with a broken/rusty reflector but a good lense), you can cobble together a good useable lamp from the various pieces. The same can be done if you just need a good reflector piece. That's why I'm interested in the pair of early 600 clear lenses you have - since those are specific to my application (cars), they'd be nice to have available "just in case".
I looked at the spare NOS reflector I have - unfortunately it is pitted/bubbling beneath the silver. Probably not noticeable with a lense fitted, but...pitted/bubbling nonetheless.
If the extra set of 5" Carello's I have are the same as yours, would you be interested in trading them for your early 600 lenses?
Another thing, I assume that one has to be careful to get headlights for LHD cars if used in North America? Ie., don't buy them from Britain or down under?
Yes. But I wouldn't necessarily exclude those countries as a source. Sometimes LHD parts find their way there haphazardly (like if someone imports a Fiat & a few spares, or buys the wrong parts from overseas). I usually just ask the seller to verify or for a photo of the lense (fluting patterns are different).
-Jeff.