Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for MORE wrenching? 
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| | | Forums66 Topics128,006 Posts1,055,268 Members48,418 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 | I am trying to back up a faint memory of a GM accessory that was produced to address the safety concern of a single tail light on the clamshell suburbans. It was a large glass reflector that was the size of the tail light and was mounted on the license plate.
Am I remembering this correctly or am I just suffering from an overactive imagination?
1950 SUBURBAN / SCHOOL BUS A.K.A "THE SCHOOL RUST"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Did it work on all trucks? They all had a standard single tail light/lamp. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 | Hmmmmmmm.......maybe? I only have experience with the suburbans. Maybe this should me moved to general truck talk?
1950 SUBURBAN / SCHOOL BUS A.K.A "THE SCHOOL RUST"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | The Panel and Suburban with panel door had one style rear lamp. The Suburban with Clam-Shell /End-Gate had a different (second) style rear lamp. The Pickup had a different (third) style rear lamp.
1947-53 Pickup-style rear lamp is different from the 1954/55st lamp.
Can you find a photo/illustration of what you are looking for? | | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 |
1950 SUBURBAN / SCHOOL BUS A.K.A "THE SCHOOL RUST"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Nice - thanks for the link. Only $1.25 plus tax/shipping?
Place a Part Wanted Ad here in the Swap Meet.
Let us know if you find one.
Maybe someone has done something similar.
There was also a accessory/option dual panel-body side set of rear-body side "bullet shaped" dual-filament lamps. These are sold as reproductions. They are much smaller in diameter compared to the reflector-lamp you are looking for. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 | Found it! Guy had two. Amber and red. I bought the amber.....red still available
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F352495158403
1950 SUBURBAN / SCHOOL BUS A.K.A "THE SCHOOL RUST"
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,517 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,517 | I have a "Persons" reflector on mine. Its about 3 1/2" round with a bunch of 1/4"red glass "marbles" spaced around it. Also have seen some "King Bee" reflectors for the same application. | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 10,997 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 10,997 | My pickup had those reflectors bolted to each of the rear stake pockets. I think I tossed them as they were pretty rusted out, but they may be hanging around in one of my boxes of stuff. It also had two taillights, that were definitely not original. Those are going to be replaced as well.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 29 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 29 | is the correct GM part no 985223 thanks Bob B | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | | | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 29 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 29 | thanks I will be on the look out for one for my burb Bob B | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | my suburban had one reflector screwed to each barn door when i first purchased it. reflectorsI would think you would want red reflectors on the rear Tim 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 496 | Holy cow.....your burb has come a long way
1950 SUBURBAN / SCHOOL BUS A.K.A "THE SCHOOL RUST"
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