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View Full Version : Taillight trivia


'69Novajoe
06-24-2017, 05:11 AM
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?? :dunno:
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb162/novajoe_photos/20170623_173852_zps7sfufqwz.jpg (http://s209.photobucket.com/user/novajoe_photos/media/20170623_173852_zps7sfufqwz.jpg.html)

Lee Stewart
06-24-2017, 07:46 AM
https://s26.postimg.org/drjsz9mcp/image.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/lx1uxfalh/)

https://s26.postimg.org/lybsqucfd/888.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/fxe3trpt1/)

1966 & 1967 Chevy II/Nova

Lee Stewart
06-24-2017, 08:14 AM
https://s26.postimg.org/jv5ywx209/image.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/d4phnheud/)

https://s26.postimg.org/wnu2wudm1/image.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/iu5q7sl0l/)

https://s26.postimg.org/xre78sy95/image.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/d79dabihx/)

https://s26.postimg.org/ultlilfmx/ddd.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/bgqc8u0yt/)

https://s26.postimg.org/qqq7g0wh5/chevrolet_corvette_sting_ray_2.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/q17f3nvxh/)

1963 - 1967 Corvette

Lee Stewart
06-24-2017, 08:29 AM
https://s26.postimg.org/xigmivlgp/zzz.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/fsexxu7vp/)

Mid 1966 to 1969 Corvair

Keith Seymore
06-26-2017, 03:10 PM
[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

Mr70
06-26-2017, 05:44 PM
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.

Lee Stewart
06-26-2017, 06:22 PM
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

https://s26.postimg.org/voi0pqjjd/image.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/3odx5gg2t/)

Keith Seymore
06-26-2017, 07:28 PM
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...

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

John Brown
06-26-2017, 09:07 PM
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.

Lee Stewart
06-26-2017, 11:24 PM
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

John Brown
06-27-2017, 03:01 AM
So, the b/u light was just placed where a red lens would normally be if you didn't order b/u lights. Shows what I know about mid 60's Corvettes, which is not very much.

'69Novajoe
06-27-2017, 03:47 AM
Wow, this is great stuff!! Didn't know there were that many!! Now the question is, what is the date on these "duplicate" lenses?? On my 1969 Nova (original picture), it's '68.