The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Tail Light Assembly

Finally getting back to work on the Panel and I'm in the process of parts searching. It seems I can find lenses all day long but what I really need is the assembly. The originals aren't in the worst shape but I'm a little scared to have them chromed. Do reproductions exist or am I going to have to find some NOS?

Yours look pretty good to me. I assume you are talking the ones on the fenders not the one on the door? If those are what you mean, the housing is not repro'ed. The lenses you are finding are not actually correct. They are known as a 57 lens. They usually say 57 on them. They are a stepped lens for 57-59. The 55.2-56 lens was flat. Not repo'ed either. I have some NOS of those. Even the $25,000-up Barrett-Jackson TF Panels and Suburbans have the wrong lenses on them. NOS housings show up now and then. Another TF tid-bit, many of the 1957 TF trucks, totally restored Barrett-Jackson included, have the fender spears on backwards. That year emblem confuses. There are about 8 pictures in our 57 Gallery like that. WOW, yours is a NAPCO aye? Really nice and rare.

Are you talking about the complete barn door light assembly or the two lights that are on either slide of the rear doors? Barn door lights are not being reproduced, the glass lenses and chrome trim rings are. Try Jim Carter or some of the other vendors. I do not know if the two lights are available. I know they do come up on eBay often. We also has regulars that post parts for sale I'm the swap meet section. ......g

The assembly on the door is in really good shape somehow. So, yeah the ones on the fenders. Sorry I wasn't clear. I always forget there's a third on the door haha. I guess I'm back to searching or I will just keep what I have. Yuppers Napco, least the transfer case says so. The front axle makes me wonder though. It looks newer somehow, like early 70's. Once I get to crawling around under the old girl, I will do some research to make sure everything is correct. Thanks again for the input.

1956 Panel?

Actually, the first/factory single tail lamp/light is on the door. The other two tail/stop lamps are options are accessories/options.

You might have GM accessories/options or you might have other makes. What markings are on the lenses? GM dual lamps are hard to find and are expensive. They are sometimes available at swap meets and on eBay (high prices, if GM Guide?).

Maybe someone knows about period-correct reproductions, but there are aftermarket lamps that do not look original but they serve the purpose. Are you looking for single-faced or double-faced lamps?

The lenses I have are flat. Thats all i know at this point. I have yet to take them off and get a good look at them. Its super cold up here in Michigan. Yes I have spring fever. Can y'all tell?

I figure I'll get Spring Fever around April/May - I am looking forward to feeling the symptoms.

I now have the most severe case of Cabin Fever that I have had in over 10 years. I hate it.

Just to be clear about this and TC's info. In your picture, there are 3 rear lights. One oval on each rear body panel (sometimes referred to as fender) and one on the door with the license. When I was talking about "flat" lens, I was referring to the two body mounted lights being flat for 55-56 and stepped for 57-59. The 55-56 light on your rear door is flat and only on 55-56. The 57-59 door light changed to a bullet nose license light only, no red. The 1956 GMC accessories catalog shows several stop and marker lamps available. Mounted on front fender top, roof top and rear of truck. Several of these were meant for the big trucks and, as they say, "the safety minded person". Also a turn signal kit, with lights, was available. Don't have a Chevy catalog.

The 1956 Chevrolet truck specification manual (at the link that I gave above) shows one standard rear lamp and optional dual rear lamps (RPO 249 - at rear of each body side panel).

Directional signals were in RPO 105/106 (1956 Task Force trucks)

Base on that GM information, it is possible that someone could have bought the truck without the RPO dual lamps and then added lamps (mounted anywhere in the rear) made by GM or by others.

Are you assuming the RPO 249 is NOT the standard rear side panel light? Never seen a panel or suburban without the standard oval rear body panel lights that have some other light there instead, if that is what you said? I have seen additional lights added. I forgot why we are discussing this. His pic shows what he has. He does not seem to be asking about the lights you mention and ask him about or adding lights. He says "originals aren't in the worst shape" etc. Are you just telling him he can add more lights or are we getting off topic? I believe his original question has been answered.
1TON: it does look like you still have the original flat lenses on the fender. Excellent and very rare. Not reproduced.

Regular Production Option means that it was optional equipment. Some states might have required dual tail/stop/signal lamps. I think that WA state had an early requirement. The dealer would have added the RPO to the truck-order from GM, or added a non GM set at the dealership.

The RPO 249 was available in 1956 on models 3105, 3106, and 3116

"Are you assuming the RPO 249 is NOT the standard rear side panel light? "
I am assuming nothing. I am taking this from the GM Specifications Manual and the Chevrolet Truck Data Book.

"I forgot why we are discussing this"
I do not know why you are discussing this.

Before you posted "Just to be clear . . ", I had noted/asked "You might have GM accessories/options or you might have other makes. What markings are on the lenses? GM dual lamps are hard to find and are expensive. They are sometimes available at swap meets and on eBay (most likely high prices, if GM?)."

I am not interested in bantering with you. I was providing factual information (from GM documents) to the original poster.

If you are certain that he has RPO lamps, that would be quite useful factual information in helping him find replacement parts.

OK, understood. Good info. I have not seen any without 249 but obviously there must be some. He does have them and several of us have given him info on availability of parts. No bantering.

The dual rear lights were standard equipment on 1957 panel body trucks.

Turn signals were also standard equipment on all Chevrolet trucks in 1957.

They almost had to, as I said, the 57-59 license light has no rear facing red.

This thread is giving me a headache, but there is my contribution in the form of the back of the 58 or 59 I use for parts.
The red lenses have been "removed" so you can see inside the lights.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f242/Highsider2/photo3_zpsef9b3e86.jpg