Tail Light Oddity

[ccihon]

I realized with the help of another poster on here I have a rather unusual tail light - on only one side of my 69 Coupe. This light has a white lower segment, rather than red. I know euro lenses have an amber top for turn signals, and later styles incorporate the backups as the lower segment - but these 60's football lenses are normally all red or amber topped red? This one as you may see is clearly marked as made in Germany, and the white segment appears to have always been that color?

other side main lens is same maker with a normal red lower segment. Both lower segments have part number, although different. Anyone seen these? I plan to swap these OG with some shinier repros and keep these around.

[cseay1]

I believe that is sun fading. The lower prismatic reflector portion appears to be cast seperately from the rest of the lens, and therefore may have gotten a lesser quality or amount of red coloring. My driver's side on my 68 that portion has turned pink, while the rest of the lens is still red. Portions of that section are starting to look clear.

A common sight is 1980's Toyota pickup and 4Runner tail lamp lenses that are now amber instead of red due to sun fading, a problem resulting from poor quality coloring agents used in the plastic.

[giamonster]

This picture shows the reverse combination of these colors. I would like to find a set of two-tone (red/white) lens. I don't know where this picture was taken, or where to find this style of lens. I too have an interest in your topic and would love a set of these. Hope this helps.

[cseay1]

I suspect someone made those themselves. I know at one time Eastwood sold a lens molding kit, but you can do it yourself using original lenses to make a mold with a process like this:

http://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/index.php?l=page_view&p=tech_How_to_cast_custom_tail_light_lens

or better yet this which shows doing a two part mold to get the internal fluting:

http://www.alumilite.com/howtos/TailLightMoldingEquipment.cfm

[Rome]

Certain lenses needed to have clear/white sections for Italy. Maybe the ones on the red Ghia (the "D" on engine lid shows the international country code for Germany) were for the Italian market.

[Ian Godfrey]

There are a few version available here.....
http://www.vintagecarparts.de/liste.php?set_shop=1&set_wg=66&set_markwg=86;66
good people to deal with
I've bought the all white. the reflectors are a separate part on these lenses.

[cseay1]

[ccihon]

I too like the look of the euro light with amber turn sections - are these technically legal here in US?

[mfitzsimor]

Red and amber are both legal in the the US.

Some citations:
"U.S. studies in the early 1990s demonstrated improvements in the speed and accuracy of following drivers' reaction to stop lamps when the turn signals were amber rather than red. A 2008 U.S. study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests vehicles with amber rear signals rather than red ones are up to 28% less likely to be involved in certain kinds of collisions, and a 2009 NHTSA study determined there is a significant overall safety benefit to amber rather than red rear turn signals."

^ a b Hitzemeyer, E.G.; Wilde, H.; Ellenburger, D (1977) (paper). What Color Should Rear Turn Signals Be?. Society of Automotive Engineers.
^ Taylor, G.W.; Ng, W.K. (1981) (paper). Measurement of Effectiveness of Rear-Turn-Signal Systems in Reducing Vehicle Accidents From An Analysis of Actual Accident Data. Ref # 810192. Society of Automotive Engineers.
^ [Effects of Turn-Signal Colour on Reaction Times to Brake Signals "Umtri 60502"] (journal article). Ergonomics (UMTRI, Taylor & Francis) 40 (1): 62–68. 1997-01. doi:10.1080/001401397188378. Retrieved 14 August 2006.
^ Van Iderstine, Richard (4 November 2004). "Washington Post Online". Vehicle Lighting (Washington Post). Retrieved 14 August 2006.
^ D'orleans, G. (1997) (paper). World Harmonization and Procedures for Lighting and Signaling Products. Society of Automotive Engineers.
^ The Influence of Rear Turn Signal Characteristics on Crash Risk PDF (527 KB)
^ Allen, Kirk (2009) (PDF). The Effectiveness of Amber Rear Turn Signals for Reducing Rear Impacts. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

I run amber rear turn signals on my 69 coupe to be better seen.
I'm also working on a third brakelight.

mark
_________________
portland, or
69 cypress green ghia coupe
82 vanagon TD
86 quantum syncro

[cseay1]

When these cars were new, amber rear turn signals and composite headlamps were illegal on US cars. I don't know the timeline on amber signals, but dual sealed beams were mandated for headlamps in 1940. This was due to the reflectors on early headlamps would tarnish, making the lights dim. 1958 quad sealed beams were allowed. It wasn't until 1984 that composite headlamps were allowed.

I think it was mid-1970's that amber rear signals were allowed, the Mustang II comes to mind.

Compare a 1960's or early 1970's US Porsche 911 or Mercedes to a Euro version. The Euro lights make quite a difference in how these cars look.

[ccihon]

While I was tempted to replace the lens, the repros are pricey and the Hella's like mine even more so, so I tried rehabbing the faded area using transparent red paint...worked very well. There are paints available specifically for painting light lenses - the one I used is a Tester's-brand clear red model paint - perfect color and opacity, durability remains to be seen. may need to paint the other side to match. This, if durable, may be a good way to get some extra life from crackled or faded lenses. I did two coats but may have done with just one.

[Era Vulgaris]

Does anyone know of clear tail lenses like these being sold for the 72-74 lens?
http://www.vintagecarparts.de/artikel.php?set_artnr=945227CLCL
_________________
Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD

Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue