The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Suburban/Panel Taillights

Today at a swap meet I saw metal reproductions of the '39 Chevy type taillights used on '48 to '54 Suburbans and panels.

They were priced at $30 each with the light, lens and bezel. Aparently some company in Southern California is making them or importing them.

Since I have two original sets I'm not currenlty using I resisted buying any, but I was tempted. Anyone looking for some of these lights should check their favorite vendor because I'm sure everyone will be selling them soon.

steve, what swap meet? any pic's?

Harvest Swap Meet in Canby, Oregon. Only pic I took was a cell phone shot of a tool I was considering buying. My brother lives near the swap so we meet up and enjoy it together almost every year.

Any Bolters looking for some rare parts should come to the Modesto -A swap meet in Turlock calif. It is held the last week in January every year. They see atleast 100,000 people come through every year Rain or Shine From Model A parts to Muscle Car parts are swapped each year. Last year I saw two nice AD trucks forsale one was orginal complete and the other was in several parts on a trailer. They also have some trucks and cars in prefinish and finished condition for sale too. dates of swap meet Jan24,25 09 Gates open 7AM till 5PM Sat best day Sun7AM till3PM You can get there early on Sat and some times you get bargins in the parking lot at5AM till 7AM
62Blue
Don

Oldsub: man, you should have treated the guy like he was a nice looking blonde,brunette or redhead. Phone # and address. I sure would like to have a couple of those lights but the vendors I have seen with them have them waaaay to pricey for my blood...and my bank account!

Uhh, who said it was not a nice looking blonde, brunette or redhead? I did get a phone number and web address.

But since this was a local swap meet vendor I thought better to check with your favorite vendor ratther than me imply endorsement of someone I've never bought from.

Actually the guy was blonde and the girl was a brunette, if I remember right...

Uhh, who said it was not a nice looking blonde, brunette or redhead? I did get a phone number and web address.

But since this was a local swap meet vendor I thought better to check with your favorite vendor ratther than me imply endorsement of someone I've never bought from.

Actually the guy was blonde and the girl was a brunette, if I remember right...

OOOOOK!!
I looked at JimCarter a little earlier tonight just so see what they cost. The catalog is a year old and they were listed for $150 for a pair....or maybe it was 175? CRS kicking in on me tonight!

www.drantiquecarparts.com has 'em. They may not show up on his online catalog but e-mail him. Im buying another set of chrome ones from him.
The repro taillights are done very nice. Glass lenses,or blue dot lenses.

This guy I saw offered the chrome ones at $35 each. What does this place you're dealing with ask?

I have a pair of original 1938-9 Oldsmobile tail lights. The mounting holes are different than the Sub/Panel lights.

The DRANTIQUECARPARTS place quoted me 45.00 ea. plus shippage.
Maybe i'll go with your guy.
Please P.M. me with the contact info,OLDSUB. Thanx Alot,
Marty
P.S. I also used the mounting/ hole template that i got from TCLEDERMAN,,
which im sure is a copy of the orig. from the manual,and it worked perfect for the repro's. Everything lined up as it should.

Okay here is the link. I am not endorsing this guy and I've not done any business with him. Remember you are dealing with what is likely a one guy operation out of his basement or back room.

http://www.503hotrodparts.com/

Can someone "enlighten" me on something. What will I have to do to make sure they can be used for brake and TURN signals?? I guess to go 12 volt one just changes the bulb but will I have to rewire for the turn signals??

I just sent a request to the 503Hotrodparts to see what they say and a total including shippping. I'll keep you posted!! If they're ok I'm gonna order me a set for my 52 panel....I just keep stock piling parts. Maybe someday I'll get them all together?

EDIT: Has anyone got a picture of an AD Panel with these lights installed on it?? I'd like to see one if you do. Thanks

You'll have to get a double filament set up. The double wires and the insulator base.

Maybe everyone know this, but, just in case: the original and reproduction dual rear side-lamps for 47-55 panel body trucks came with dual filament bulbs. The '39, etc automobile bulbs most like came/come with a single filament bulb?

As MNSmith states above, you can change a one-filament-bulb housing by replacing the bulb-base. This also is the "cure" for single filament front parking lights (for use as parking and signal).

Thats what I thought guys...thanks for reasuring me!! I'm waiting on their reponse with a total including shipping. If I end up not using them then some other stovebolter will. I suppose my biggest concern is the Chrome. I plan to buy chrome but I can imagine how thin plated it is and may change my mine to primed ones!....or get them chromed locally.

I bet this guy is new and is under pricing his inventory. Buy now before he figures that out...

I bought a set of chromed ones abt. a year ago from a different vendor(for much more$$) and the chrome is holding up surprisingly well. The truck has already sat out for one winter,
no pits,peeling,or discoloration. Time will tell tho.
I DO keep them wiped down with GIBBS,in and out.
www.getgibbs.com Good stuff!

I just ordered a set of the chrome taillights from the 503 hotrod parts guy. Should be here in a few days.
Ill let you all know how they are as to quality and likeness of orig.
80.00 total. dammmmm,,,good deal. (i hope)

I picked up a set of taillights as you are decribing last year from
Reids rod parts inc.
424w Chapman ave,
Orange, CA 92866
Paid $3o.oo ea.
Phone 714 769 1932
Will try and post a pic when i return from long weekend trip.

You're right, that's an awfully enticing price. I was at the swap meet in Carlisle, PA last weekend and the very same taillights were about 130.00 a pair from Jim Carter and others. There was a vendor who had some fiberglass knock-offs of the '38 taillights, but he wanted 35.00 a piece for them and they didn't have lenses or trim rings. Please do let us know how the lights look when you get them. I might have to buy a pair for that price.

The taillights look fine on the panel although they are a little different than the original.I have only sceen an original in pictures it appears that the tail(small end) of the light comes in close to the body on the original with these the tail is a little further away.

layback,

If you post a photo or give a measurement, I'll check them against an original.

Tim

OOOK, I sent in an email for information and this is what came back.

YES THEY ARE 12 VOLT AND SET UP WITH TURN SIGNALS ALL READY TO GO. YOUR
PRICE WITH SHIPPING IS 85.00. WE TAKE VISA AND MASTER CARD YOU MAY EMAIL OR
CALL WITH YOUR ORDER INFORMATION THANK YOU.

I plan to order a set this morning and they ARE set up for 12 volt and turn signals. I think I have an extra $5 shipping charge more than Marty because I live in a different zone. As Marty says still a good deal....and I'm going with Chrome.



WARNING: This e-mail is a suspected phishing scam.

My e-mail from him didnt say that. (about the fish scale thing)

Its strange Marty. I did not see it on my email either but when I copied and pasted it to the post above it showed up. Stranger things have happened so I'm gonna order a set anyway! I called yesterday but realized when I did that it was 5 o'clock "out there" so I got the answering machine...and left him a number. I don't throw my credit card # around on the world wide web.

I decided to go with the chrome ones.

Just to let you guys know David from the 503 Rod shop called me back yesterday. He had been at a swap meet in Oregon. Chatted with him a few minutes and he reassured me the lights are better than "most" foreign stuff. I ordered a set of the chrome ones for my panel. He said he should have more by Friday and would get them out ASAP. During the chat he mentioned a couple guys had called and ordered a set....probably Marty and somoene else. I just told him a few of us "panel guys" had notice his link somewhere. I don't want the price going go up. If he sees this stovebolt post he'll go up!!!!

Anyway, Marty, you'll get yours first so let me know "ahead of time" if we did good!!

Also a post by Atomar is interesting about this tailight!

EDIT: does anyone have a picture showing the ADPanel with these?

Hi All,,,
I rec'd my taillights yesterday. You wont be disappointed!!
Very heavy gauge housing,REAL nice glass lenses,and what looks to be a quality chrome job. Dam well worth 35.00 ea!!!!
No complaints here.
I bought these for my 54 panel. I already have a set on my 52 suburban from a different vendor(and more $$$)
Thanks Steve(Old Sub) for posting the guys info.

Len Traverse mailed me these photos of dual tail/stop lamps on/for a Panel Truck. If you would like photos from different angles, just ask. I'm sure Len would photograph whatever you want to see.

Tim

Do the taillights not go on the UNDERSIDE of the beltline?
At least thats where ive always seen them and according to the template,,,it says,"line up with lower crease line".
The ones on Lens truck look a little high.

I think they go underneath the belt-line (crease line). That is the only place they can go on a Suburban.

Here's a page from the installation instructions.

The reason the taillights are in the wrong place on my panel is there was a hole there from the old common round type.So i mounted it there and i liked it. Below the belt line they looked to big to me and out of place.Again the question are these lights bigger than the original.

I have one old original '39 chev. taillight. When i hold the new(repro) ones to the orig. theres no difference,,either in length or width. The lenses interchange,as do the lens rings.
These reproductions are the best ive seen come from all the stuff from Taiwan....So far. Very nicely done,and you cant beat the price!!
Lenny,,these are the same size.

Thank You Shop Shark.So it is now safe for me to say that the taillights on the 47-54 panel\sub's were the same as the 39 chev.And i do have the right ones.

I guess I'll have to decide, when and if, I go ahead and put them on my panel but just looking at the pictures I would think the lights would look good at the same height as the originals.

Great price!
I just wanted to throw out there, that when I wired my suburban tail lights.
I soldered 4 Diodes in line, two on each side light at the brake and turn feeds.
To keep the current flowing in one direction, brake and turn signal won’t feed back on each other that way.

(Dogs51Burb) - Thomas

Ditto what Marty said! Shipped right away, look nice.