Amber Rear Lights

[Bruce Botti]

Hello to all. I have a 427SC Unique that I am building for a customer. In the back there will be two red and two amber lights. All the books that I have show the amber lights on top. Is this correct?

I assume that the amber lights will only be wired for the turn signals with the red lights used for the parking and brake lights. Is that correct? How have you guys done it?

Thanks,
Bruce

[ST]

The red lights are on TOP.
Look at the photo of a "real" Cobra on the E.R.A. site.

[Bob Putnam]

The original US spec cars never had amber tail lights. The top lights (brake/turn, parking) were red, the bottom "things" were reflectors only. European-spec cars from AC may have been different.

[wadesdad]

I put my ambers on the bottom and the reds on top to make the brake lights that much closer to eye level. I also used the LED 1157 equivelents to grab people's attention. If you can't find an "official" answer, maybe my approach/logic will work for your customer.

[cobra427hp]

Bob Putnam is correct (of coarse!). Back in the 50's and 60's some states had safety laws prohibiting any color rear light except red other than licence plate light and backup light. Many European cars which came to Texas had to change lenses to pass safety inspection at the time, just as the center headlights had to be 12" a part and early 67 Shelby Cobras were not. To pass state inspection the center headlights were disconnected. After initial shipments Shelby found out 38 states had the same law and of coarse changed the spread on the inner headlights.

[Bruce Botti]

Thanks for all the responses. Two of the Cobra books that I have show them on the top. 406Snake and I have agreed to wire as follows:

-Red on top for brake
-Amber on bottom for park/turn signal

Is anyone aware of any DMV law in NY state that will not allow the amber park/signal.

If I wire both filaments to light in the red brake lens, will it get too hot and melt the lens?

Thanks again,
Bruce

[Bob Putnam]

Bruce,

I don't think that amber is legal for parking lights - they must be red. Can you wire your lights with the signal amber and the brake/park red?

It seems to me the old Heallys and MGs had their amber lenses on top...

[Bruce Botti]

Bob,
I thought that there may be a problem with the Amber parking light. Both lights have twin (1157) receptacles so it would be easy to wire the amber as the turn signal and the red as the park/brake.

My customer prefers the red on top to make it easier for others to see.

Thanks for the response!

Bruce

[Okiesnake]

For some pictures of 1966 original CSX3234 (English delivered car) with Amber tail lights, go to http://www.ffcobra.com/magazine/csc.html
It has the Amber lights on the top.
Bruce, FYI there is room for the glove box from Finish Line on a Unique. You will have to mount the fuse box on a braket mounted all the wasy to the right of the dash though.
Okiesnake

[Bruce Botti]

Okiesnake,
Thanks for the pictures with the amber lights.

I didn't ask about the glove box (unless I'm having a senior moment. It would be difficult as the heater that I use mounts right in the middle( I don't use the Unique heater as I don't like the way it mounts), and the fuse box is already pretty far to the right.

Take care,
Bruce

[pk]

Okiesnake-
Interesting article.I would be careful referencing any car that has been "refreshed" by AC. The car was converted to rt hand drive and has the tail lights of the AC mkIV cars( bigger and bezel-less)
It also is a strange mix of s/c and street. Bumpers, glovebox and undercar pipes but 427so and a rollbar.I f you ask me (no one is ) the car is a Connelly leather int. away from being a nice example of a AC mkIV.

It reminds me of another Classic and sc article a 3 way shootout btwn a sunbeam tiger a 289 and a gt 350. The sunbeam was the big winner 'cause it was affordable (and english!) the "replicas could never come close the the real 289 and they are garbage anyway. "
Meanwhile if you read the article closely you realized the 289 was rebodied as a 427 and resprung with the 427 coils. It wasn't really a good example of anything (except how to let your ego f-up a classic car)

I read the British car mags for entertainment not info. back in the 80s it seemed the bloated Jag XJ (or whatever that GT was called) won ever shoot out they had with 911s. It was always "while the porsche is a great car the Jags smooth ride and beautiful interior wins the day" Yeah right whatever...
PK

[Jack21]

"Original AC Ace & Cobra" photos all show amber lights used for turn signals mounted on top, red tail and brake on bottom. Lights commonly referred to as Healy lights, they are Lucas 691.