The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Were these lights stock?

Hi all- I have a question about these lights/blinkers. They are the red ones on the top of fenders on our 53. 53 lights The other side of them has orange lense covers, I would be assuming that they are blinkers? I want to try and find replacement lenses but I dont seem to see them anywhere. Any ideas? Thanks so much.

Not stock, turn signals were optional and made by the aftermarket.

You may find lenses by the light model number or you can swap the whole thing for different ones or find NOS ones at a swap meet or ebay.

Grigg

Sure is a lot of green trucks popping up all of a sudden. I thought Jim Carter or American Classic sold those but I can't find them right now.

Turn signal sets were available from Chevrolet/GMC dealers and they look very similar to what you have. They are referred to in the Accessory Installation catalogs and also the Salesman Data Books. Here are some pictures of examples of kits one from 1952 for a signal and wiring (lamps were avaialble too, usually Signal-stat or Guide I have some pictures of them somewhere I will look for) and a set of 1951 Fog Lights and fender mounted signals from 1951. So they were dealer installed accessories and therefore very much a factory item.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2098465170102454676JqJmgv
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2611169830102454676poCOpg
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2251193060102454676gZmuDn
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2799557560102454676TdvwPu

"So they were dealer installed accessories and therefore very much a factory item."

Not a 100 % correct statement. Dealer installed accessories were either GM Genuine Parts or were purchased from an outside vendor. The term "factory item" leads one to believe that the items were installed at the truck assembly plant and that is not the case. GM parts is a seperate operation of the motor company.

Disagree, if it is in the Salesman data Book that is Genuine GM and for the purposes of originality (judging if you take it to that length) is accepted as a "factory" option. These options appear with a factory part number not a vendor number. Parts are referred to in factory literature, manuals, and brochures.

Section 1

C. General Policy

The objective of AACA judging is to evaluate an antique vehicle which has been restored to the same state as when the dealer received the vehicle from the factory. Any feature, option, or accessory shown in the original factory catalog, sales literature or company directives for the model year of the vehicle, will be accepted for judging. .....

Hmmmmm, now add to the fact that most of our trucks came with no factory window sticker (not required until 1958) or documentation it makes it pretty tricky. But if I have a period correct accessory or optional item that matches the factory literature for the purposes of originality as outlined above I think I am covered.

It all depends on what you mean by a factory part.

There were Regular Production Options (RPOs) that were ordered by the dealer and installed by GM at their factory.

There were GM accessories that were sold by GM but not always produced by GM (is this a factory part?). These were not installed in the factory and not made in a GM factory. These might also be called GM after-market accessories.

There were, of course, also non-GM after-market accessories.

In 1953, there was a GM accessory turn signal kit sold by GM dealers but not installed in the GM factory (they might or might not have been made in a GM factory).

One might make a distinction between a GM factory installed item and a GM accessory item (a distinction made by GM, perhaps not by the VCCA?).

It is all semantics pick your poison, if you are going to judge a truck for originality then VCCA counts not my opinion or yours. This is a long-standing debate in originality circles so hopefully you just enjoy your truck with it's lights whatever you want to call them, and if they work that is a bonus.

OVRTROD, I noticed another set of lights underneath your headlights. Are those stock or some aftermarket item?

On my era of truck, I've never seen them installed. But my '46 truck has plugs that are currently in the same location. I was told once that many trucks were converted to hwy dept. trucks and it could have had a blinker there. Only thing is there is no evidence of previous wiring or signals. Still a mystery.

Those are the stock GMC park/driving lights.
EDIT: I am referring to the question in the post above this one.

Well I guess I sparked up some good info here - all very interesting as well as things to consider. Actually, I decided tonight to take them apart, clean them up and throw new wiring in them. Turned out to be fairly easy and I will see if I can't 'refurbish' the lense covers. I would like to keep everything as it sits on the truck for sure. I shall post a pic or two of the finished product. Thanks all - you all certainly know your stuff.

It looks like the red lens is facing forward in the picture. All red lights need to be facing the rear of the truck. (rear side marker lights can also be red) The orange/amber should be facing forward.

As to finding lenses....if you can find a number on the lens start regularly watching Ebay. My theory is that eventually you can find anything you need on ebay...you just have to be patient. You could also try www.taillightking.com From when I have looked at the site he has a large and varied selection. I'm sure there are other sites as well but this is the one I know of.

Tad

You know what, you are right. I never noticed that before they were taken off the truck. Nice observation.