Reversing lights

[xb-60]

I'm not sure yet what to use for reversing lights. They will be required for road registration purposes, I have no doubt.
What are people using? I want them to be as unobtrusive as possible.

Cheers, and stay safe
Glen

[Blackbart]

I picked this unit up from Amazon. It is very unobtrusive when mounted on the rear license plate bracket (USA Plates) and doubles as a third brake light as well. You have to really look to see it on the car and the lights are quite bright. Overall quite happy with this option to meet regulations.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Gary

[xb-60]

Thanks Gary. Certainly not obtrusive.
BTW, nice ERA

Cheers,
Glen

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Thanks Gary. Certainly not obtrusive.
BTW, nice ERA

Cheers,
Glen

You can't just shine a torch over your shoulder?

[John248]

California says you have to have backup lights. Got these off of Amazon.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by patrickt

You can't just shine a torch over your shoulder?

Well, I could do that, councillor.
That would be fine for reversing out of my garage....but it would, however, be as far as I could drive it legally. That would get a bit boring after a while

[tkb289]

Hi Glen,

One 'obtrusive' option would be to use a vintage back up light and hang it off the quick jack like you did for the driving lights on the front. Not sure if you can get by with one, or if you need two.

They also have rear fog lamps as well, but that is even more 'obtrusive' ; )

My guess is you don't get much fog in your area and if it was foggy, you would probably not be driving around. This company is in the UK, but I am sure you can find something similar closer to home.


https://www.s-v-c.co.uk/category/fog---reverse-lights/



- Tim

[xb-60]

Thanks Tim.
I note that part of the comment for the SVC reversing lamp is "Ideal for getting your car through IVA"
Maybe a solution is to use the strip LEDs for passing the test.....

Tell me - what does your ERA FIA use (if anything)?

Cheers,
Glen

[cycleguy55]

I have the full bumper hoop, giving me different options. The backup lights I'm using originally housed MR16 halogen bulbs, but I swapped those out for LED arrays from a couple of low cost flashlights. Flashlights, of course, run on a lot less than 12 volts, so I gutted a cheap USB car charger, mounted that in a small plastic pill bottle and wired it in to provide 5 volts to the backup lights. The flashlights and the USB charger came from a local dollar store.

This is driven by a micro-switch mounted to my Richmond 5 Speed Street transmission which, of course, has no internal backup light switch. The micro-switch is actuated by the 5th/Reverse shift arm.

The lamps are mounted to the bumper hoop using rubber-insulated Adel clamps.

Purists may cringe, but I had to satisfy the regulatory authorities to get it approved for street use. Ditto on the reflectors mounted on the bumperettes / over-riders. Both still better than hacking into the body.

Photo: https://www.amazon.ca/photos/share/n...RoIjy39rCPlG5b

Note: I looked at the license plate mounted centre stop lamp, but regulations here require a minimum height of 860mm, or just under 34".

[Chilibit]

"so I gutted a cheap USB car charger, mounted that in a small plastic pill bottle and wired it in to provide 5 volts to the backup lights. The flashlights and the USB charger came from a local dollar store."

If Shelby could smile from the grave, this might do it.

The days are getting longer.

Ciao

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Chilibit

"so I gutted a cheap USB car charger, mounted that in a small plastic pill bottle and wired it in to provide 5 volts to the backup lights. The flashlights and the USB charger came from a local dollar store."

If Shelby could smile from the grave, this might do it.

The days are getting longer.

Ciao

I guess that makes me a kindred spirit of CS. LOL

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

....Note: I looked at the license plate mounted centre stop lamp, but regulations here require a minimum height of 860mm, or just under 34".

The centre stop light is a different issue, and I have that height requirement info around somewhere, but I'm assuming there's no height issue with reversing lights.

Cheers!
Glen

[tkb289]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Thanks Tim.
I note that part of the comment for the SVC reversing lamp is "Ideal for getting your car through IVA"
Maybe a solution is to use the strip LEDs for passing the test.....

Tell me - what does your ERA FIA use (if anything)?

Cheers,
Glen

There are no on reversing lights on my FIA, there was no mention of them when the car was inspected. The LEDs may be a good option for your upcoming inspection.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by tkb289

There are no on reversing lights on my FIA, there was no mention of them when the car was inspected. The LEDs may be a good option for your upcoming inspection.

Note that user xb-60 is in Australia and their rules may require back up lights for these vehicles (be they Cobras or others...)

That said, I'm surprised they require you to have things that weren't around in 1965. What's next, air bags?

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Note that user xb-60 is in Australia and their rules may require back up lights for these vehicles (be they Cobras or others...)

That said, I'm surprised they require you to have things that weren't around in 1965. What's next, air bags?

Requirements here are based upon the year the vehicle was completed, usually evidenced by the first year of registration / licensing.

My car was completed in 1991, so standards in effect in 1991 apply - including centre mounted stop lamp, backup lights, brake warning light, side marker lamps, reflectors, etc.

I'm just glad they weren't looking for 5 MPH bumpers or applicable emissions standards!

[TheNewGuy]

What was used as a switch to trigger the lights when in reverse?

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by TheNewGuy

What was used as a switch to trigger the lights when in reverse?

A simple switch on the linkage on my Toploader

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Note that user xb-60 is in Australia and their rules may require back up lights for these vehicles (be they Cobras or others...)....

Thanks for highlighting that, Tony. I’m in Adelaide, South Australia. Things are a little different here.

Some background on what I have to work with…

Cobra “replica” builds here (South Australia) come under the classification of “Individually Constructed Vehicles” (ICVs).
We do actually have many concessions for ICVs compared to new vehicles (no air bags etc), but there are some requirements that are harder to reconcile if you’re trying to build something that looks period correct. Engines only have to comply with emission standards phased into Australia between 1997-1999; also compliant are post-1990 engines imported from the States.
This means that my 302 Windsor, factory built by Tickford in Melbourne in 2001, has to retain its "Synergy 5000" EFI, the appearance of which only its mother could love...
I should point out also that any engine sold new in a car since late ‘90s is legal to fit here.

An unobtrusive reversing light should be a breeze

Cheers, and stay safe, friends
Glen

[Doublemyv]

My 2019 Backdraft RT4 is now equipped with an awesome led strip light designed specifically to blend into the top or bottom edge of your license plate. Check out the website: www.vleds.com and find the LP series. $ 75 seems like a lot until you mount it on your car and back up at night. Suddenly it's daytime. Good Luck, Mark

[xb-60]

Thanks Mark. That looks quite interesting. I will look into it

Cheers,
Glen