Go Back   The Supercar Registry > General Discussion > Lounge


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-24-2017, 05:11 AM
'69Novajoe's Avatar
'69Novajoe '69Novajoe is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 350
Thanks: 155
Thanked 131 Times in 42 Posts
Default Taillight trivia

This might have been posted before, and I haven't really done any research on it, but how many of you have heard (or know) that you can "sometimes" tell the year of a GM car by looking at the taillight for the date?? Again, I don't know when this started or if it's just GM cars, but I thought it was worth looking into. By looking at this picture, most of you will probably be able to tell what car it's from, but can you tell me the year of the car?? I submit that you can't, unless you see the whole car, because it's a taillight that was used two years in a row. Can anyone tell me how many other's there are like this where a taillight was used for a couple years or more??
__________________
I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was.
Reply With Quote
Attachments - The Supercar Registry 71vs72tailights.jpg
O Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.
Click here to view all the pictures posted in this thread...
  #2  
Old 06-24-2017, 07:46 AM
Lee Stewart's Avatar
Lee Stewart Lee Stewart is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: ABQ, New Mexico
Posts: 36,633
Thanks: 3,506
Thanked 136,486 Times in 22,778 Posts
Default





1966 & 1967 Chevy II/Nova
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-24-2017, 08:14 AM
Lee Stewart's Avatar
Lee Stewart Lee Stewart is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: ABQ, New Mexico
Posts: 36,633
Thanks: 3,506
Thanked 136,486 Times in 22,778 Posts
Default











1963 - 1967 Corvette
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-24-2017, 08:29 AM
Lee Stewart's Avatar
Lee Stewart Lee Stewart is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: ABQ, New Mexico
Posts: 36,633
Thanks: 3,506
Thanked 136,486 Times in 22,778 Posts
Default



Mid 1966 to 1969 Corvair
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-26-2017, 03:10 PM
Keith Seymore's Avatar
Keith Seymore Keith Seymore is online now
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 2,493
Thanks: 2,613
Thanked 4,476 Times in 1,242 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by '69Novajoe View Post
[B][COLOR="Blue"]This might have been posted before, and I haven't really done any research on it, but how many of you have heard (or know) that you can "sometimes" tell the year of a GM car by looking at the taillight for the date?? Again, I don't know when this started or if it's just GM cars, but I thought it was worth looking into. By looking at this picture, most of you will probably be able to tell what car it's from, but can you tell me the year of the car?? I submit that you can't, unless you see the whole car, because it's a taillight that was used two years in a row. Can anyone tell me how many other's there are like this where a taillight was used for a couple years or more??
I agree with what you are saying. You won't be able to tell on many vehicles without seeing the rest of the vehicle. I would submit '71/'72 Chevelle are the same; probably '78-81 Malibu, and (this might be beyond the scope of what you are asking) '73 - '87 Chevy/GMC pickups all used the same taillight.

Related question: were are the backup lights on the '63 - '65 Corvettes? '66 shows it in the inboard lamp and '67 moved to above the license plate.

K
__________________
'63 LeMans Convertible
'63 Grand Prix
'65 GTO - original, unrestored, Dad was original owner, 5000 mile Royal Pontiac factory racer
'74 Chevelle - original owner, 9.85 @ 136 mph best

Last edited by Keith Seymore; 06-26-2017 at 04:16 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-26-2017, 05:44 PM
Mr70's Avatar
Mr70 Mr70 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Illinois
Posts: 20,408
Thanks: 70
Thanked 2,489 Times in 1,139 Posts
Default

Also,early assembled 1970 Chevelles had a flatter reverse lens.
Later it was recalled & the Bubble reverse lens was the norm.
Here is a subtle difference,that most don't pick up on with the 1972 Chevelle on left,1971 on right.
Attached Images
 

Last edited by Mr70; 06-26-2017 at 06:39 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-26-2017, 06:22 PM
Lee Stewart's Avatar
Lee Stewart Lee Stewart is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: ABQ, New Mexico
Posts: 36,633
Thanks: 3,506
Thanked 136,486 Times in 22,778 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Seymore View Post
Related question: were are the backup lights on the '63 - '65 Corvettes? '66 shows it in the inboard lamp and '67 moved to above the license plate.K
The Backup Lights for the 63 to 65 Corvette are in the same position as the 66 only they were an option. Fed mandated all cars beginning with the 1966 model year would have them as standard equipment


Last edited by Lee Stewart; 06-26-2017 at 06:26 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-26-2017, 07:28 PM
Keith Seymore's Avatar
Keith Seymore Keith Seymore is online now
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 2,493
Thanks: 2,613
Thanked 4,476 Times in 1,242 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr70 View Post
Also,early assembled 1970 Chevelles had a flatter reverse lens.
Later it was recalled & the Bubble reverse lens was the norm.
Here is a subtle difference,that most don't pick up on with the 1972 Chevelle on left,1971 on right.
Very subtle...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee Stewart View Post
The Backup Lights for the 63 to 65 Corvette are in the same position as the 66 only they were an option. Fed mandated all cars beginning with the 1966 model year would have them as standard equipment
Thank you; good reminder.

My '63 and '65 Pontiacs have back up lamps but as you point out they were optional content.

K
__________________
'63 LeMans Convertible
'63 Grand Prix
'65 GTO - original, unrestored, Dad was original owner, 5000 mile Royal Pontiac factory racer
'74 Chevelle - original owner, 9.85 @ 136 mph best
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-26-2017, 09:07 PM
John Brown's Avatar
John Brown John Brown is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: South Bend, Indiana
Posts: 2,729
Thanks: 258
Thanked 407 Times in 191 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee Stewart View Post
The Backup Lights for the 63 to 65 Corvette are in the same position as the 66 only they were an option. Fed mandated all cars beginning with the 1966 model year would have them as standard equipment.
Don't recall ever seeing one of them without b/u lights. It would make them stand out more, or if someone replaced a white lens with a red one would make it look like a subtle customizing job.
__________________
......................
John Brown

This isn't rocket surgery.....
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-26-2017, 11:24 PM
Lee Stewart's Avatar
Lee Stewart Lee Stewart is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: ABQ, New Mexico
Posts: 36,633
Thanks: 3,506
Thanked 136,486 Times in 22,778 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Brown View Post
Don't recall ever seeing one of them without b/u lights. It would make them stand out more, or if someone replaced a white lens with a red one would make it look like a subtle customizing job.
Just look at the first 3 Corvettes I posted above: 63, 64 & 65 - no b/u lights

Here are the stats for 63 to 65 Corvettes that were built with b/u lights:

1963: 318 out of 21,513 total

1964: 11,085 out of 22,229 total

1965: 15,397 out of 23,562 total

Last edited by Lee Stewart; 06-26-2017 at 11:36 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.