The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Mystery Custom French Taillight Lenses

Hopefully, someone on the Stovebolt forum will recognize my mystery taillight lenses

I started the disassembly of my truck with something simply, so I thought! I removed the rusted out french taillights only to find one of the custom lens broken.

I searched hi- and low on the Net (Craigslist, eBay, All the Classic and Hot Rod Vendors, Classic Cars and Trucks, Old Antique Cars and Trucks, Buses, Recreation Vehicles, Boats, Big Rigs, etc.) for the below pictured custom rear taillights for my ‘55 Chevy truck without any luck.

Description and Dimensions: Dark red glass (no markings) with one indent on each side, the glass bottom is 2-1/4 inches across; it’s 1-3/4 inches high -- some call it a bee-hive shaped dome glass. It fits in a chrome bezel (2-5/8 inches wide) which has two small screw holes.

pic 1

pic 2

pic 3

Any help in ID the above lens would be appreciate, otherwise, I probably have to change the rear tail light.

Appears to be a marker light of some sort. It looks familiar but I can't recall. Look on the web sites of companies like Grote who make marker lights and see if it pops up. Good luck.

nothing I can place, something the customizer stumbled upon, you're probably looking at replacing them with something equally odd or filling the holes and going with stock style lights

Bill

Cool old school frenched tailights Welcome to the stovebolt JPEL.

Might I suggest posting your question over on the Hot Rodders website? http://www.hotrodders.com/

Or I could post up your photos and data over there if you would like me to.

John

I'll take a shot and say it isn't automotive. It would be extremely rare (have seen a couple of a different shape on vintage imports)for a red (or any color) automotive tail/marker lens to be perfectly smooth inside. Some kind of diffusion pattern would be normal.

Possibly an industrial warning or indicator light cover.

That size base might take the Harley beehive glass.

Everyone, Thanks for the replies.

Hot Rod John,
If you would post those photos it would be much appreciated, as the above posts show I am not very good at posting pics to the forum. Thanks again!

I would say those are 1950 Pontiac taillights.

If not, they are close and you can just convert to the Pontiacs, as they are readily available.

Like these:

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1950-Pontiac-Red-Tail-Light-Assembly,3079.html

Here are the buckets, looks like what you have:

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1950-Pontiac-Tail-Light-Frenching-Buckets,5141.html

I have a set and can measure the dimensions if you need them, (the links above have some dimensional specs), I will just have to filch them out of my parts bin.

Edit: Looked at the pics again and they are not the 50 Pontiac, they have a higher dome. The Pontiac lights are cooler in my opinion, but very similiar with the dark red round domed lens. Again, you may just want to convert to the Pontiacs and get the same look, but be able to find replacement parts.

I can't identify them,but the general shape the Fenched pocket reminds me of a 1951 Buick tail light. That may be an option for you if the dimensions work. I don't remember how to add a picture,but a search will show you what I mean I hope this helps

Boyd

R-Bo,
Thanks for the reply. I had already looked at the '50 Pontiac taillight on several websites, they are just not tall enough to fit my connector plate and pig tail. After looking at Speedway's cost for one set is over $80.00 and I need four. I've seen several lenses that come close to my dimensions (2-1/4 W & close to 2" high)that I can probably adapt to my needs. Thanks again for your quick response!
BC52,
Thanks for your reply. I'll take a look at the '50 Buick tail lights, but as I mentioned above I may just go with a lens that is close to what I already have...but thanks for your reply.

Try these sights.

http://www.vintagecampers.com/parts...cial=Exterior&sub=Clearance%20Lights

http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Beehive_Marker_Lights_p/vts-073.htm

Done. Here's a link so you can keep an eye on the responses: http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/mystery-custom-french-taillight-lenses-342170.html#post2784930

Hot Rod John,
Thanks John...
I found a great taillight site, so if anyone needs taillights here is the address: Lights@taillightking.com AJ, the owner,has got lights for many different cars and trucks. Thanks to everyone that looked at this thread, hopefully "The Taillight King" can find a suitable match to the mystery lenses!

JP, taillight king is on our electrical links page, mentioned here regularly you might find other useful vendors on the list

Bill

Hot Rod John,
Thank again....
red58,
Thanks for the reference; I'll check it out...