The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts red clearance lights????

does anyone have a pic of some red clearance lights on a stovebolt truck? I am contemplating installing some on Mater and I'm not sure how it would look.

thanks, Indy

are you talking on the top of the cab?

If you're talking about installing them on top of your cab, amber would have been the color of them. Red clearance lights were mostly used at the rear of trailers, & buses. Check the Stovebolt Gallery. Plenty of big trucks with clearance lights on them there.

I agree, Amber would be and is correct for front cab clearance lights.
Might check the rules/laws that apply, I'm not sure but might be that red cab clearance lights are not allowed?

I would suspect that red might be illegal unless it's an emergency vehicle.

Check out my photobucket. These lights are on eBay now. They where on my 47. I think they are really nice.

Red forward facing clearance lights regardless of where they are located (top of cab, fenders or around the bed) are illegal in the State of Oklahoma, the exception being emergency vehicles.

The number and pattern of the lights on the cab top give a visual code to the size and height if the truck.
Before the ICC made the standard for all interstate trucks, individual states had their own regulations.
Some of these used colored lights. Amber, red and green were used.
Some of the states kept their instate regs for a while after the fed standard came out.
That is one of the reasons that the factory didn't install the lights until some time in the fifties. Dealer installed before that.

I went back through my literature collection and lights are conspicously absent in the factory literature, both brochures and ads. However this is a shot from a dealer lot here in Utah, notice the lights out on the cabs on the outside corners.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/13918867461/in/album-72157631872034068/
This is a 1949 2-ton I parted out a few years back (Utah truck) and the lights are in the same location.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8130559770/in/album-72157631870734114/
Here is another Utah farm truck with a similar arrangement so I would conclude our local laws back then mandated the corner placements.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/23184806264/in/album-72157631870734114/

This is just a GM artist's drawing for a 1954 big truck. The lenses are dark. I do not think they are "standard equipment"? I do not see those lights listed as optional/accessory equipment.

The 48 2 ton from New Mexico had 3 amber identification lights.
1 each on the front corners and 1 in the center.
I have also seen the grouping of 1 on each corner and 3 in the middle on trailer cabs of the period.

One on each side and 3 in the middle has been standard ICC since back in the 50's and maybe earlier. I think most states required one on each side, but there were some exceptions.

With the beginning of the AD/ND GM Cabs, I've noticed three different configurations for light placement. Two lights, with them placed on the far corners, Three lights with one in the middle, & the two corner lights moved closer towards the middle, & 5 lights, with two in the far corners, and three bunched in the middle. Most of the 30s, & early 40s trucks I've come in contact with had the three lamp cluster bars installed on them, above the windshield, with the round lights, with coned lens.

well, thanks for letting me know that red is a no-go, I definitely don't want to get into trouble there. So how many lights would have been on top of a 55 2nd 4400 truck in Oklahoma, whether they were factory installed or a dealer's option?

I think 3 in the middle and 2 on the outside. Total of 5, all Amber. Try searching some of the Gallery photos for your year model. Bet there are several there. Sounds like you are making progress.

I looked up some Oklahoma Historical photos online, and saw examples of all of the light combinations I mentioned above, plus a couple of pictures of trucks with 4 clearance lights evenly spaced across the top. So take your pick Materman.

The current regulations were ICC regulations back when your vehicle was built. The proper name for the light on each side is clearance lights. The 3 in the middle are identification lights and may be no more than 6" apart with the center one in the center of the truck.


Had your vehicle been used in interstate commerce at the time of manufacture, it would have been required to meet the same regulations as today. Why not just go with what was legal then and is legal in all states now

hmmmmmm, well on second thought there seems to be a few too many variables going on for me to be comfortable buying and installing some lights on my truck after all, but thank you all for your advice, info and input, it is very much appreciated!


Indy