Rear reflector upgrade

[White Spyder]

The small round reflectors in my '48 Windsor had fadded to white and looked bad.  While looking for a replacement I got the idea to change them from reflectors to a brake light for increased safety.  I found some LED marker lights that fit and tapped into the center light line. For 7.50 each I think it is an excellant upgrade.

 

 

[Young Ed]

Cool post your source and are these 6v or 12?

[TodFitch]

Might still want to have some decent reflectors on the car. They will continue to work if/when you pop a fuse or have other electrical issues.

 

For what it is worth, most of the lighting and safety equipment listed in the California motor vehicle code has break in dates (e.g. item x required on all vehicles manufactured or first sold after Jan. 1, 19xx). However there are a few things that have no dates and are required on all cars and must be retrofitted to ones that did not come with them. As I recall, the list is:

 

1. At least one rear reflector.

2. At least two rear view mirrors one of which as to be on the exterior of the driver side.

3. If equipped with a windshield, must have at least one non-manual wiper.

 

Don't know what requirements are in other states so you might want to read the equipment section of your motor vehicle code, but having reflectors in addition to good brake and tail lights is definitely a safety issue.

[DonaldSmith]

When your car is parked, it's a sitting duck.  Better get some good reflectors.

[White Spyder]

Cool post your source and are these 6v or 12?

These are what I used but found them at O'Riley's in stock for 7.50. Even though they are 12v no problem on my 6v car. http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/round-marker-lamps/rmpc-series-led-mini-round-marker-lamp-rmpc-x/829/

When your car is parked, it's a sitting duck.  Better get some good reflectors.

I do plan to place a red reflector on the corner on the tag. It is also covered in reflective paint.

[Don Coatney]

I toyed with these bicycle reflectors for a while and finally found new aftermarket LED tail and brake light fixtures with built in reflectors on my P-15.

 

 

 

 

[desoto1939]

Here is food for thought.  Trivia for your thoughts

 

On the 40's Desoto the left rear taillight had a bulb on the top of the lens. This bulb was painted a reflective silver color.  The right side taillight did not have the bulb. So if you see the right taillight lens with the bulb then this in not correct.  The left bulb was a warning to approaching cars at night time.

 

Concerning refletors on a car.

 

Why is it illegal to park a car facing forward on the opposite side of the road.  So here is what i am saying  you are going down the raod onthe  right side of the road, here is the USA.  There is a car parked on your side of the road but the front of the car is facing you. you see the headlights and grill.  So during the day you can visually see the car.

 

But at night time, think of this situation again.  On the fron of car there really is not reflectors to identify you that you are approaching a car.  The refelectors are basically built into the tail lightas and any other  area inwhihch the manufacturer has added the reflective red.

But inthe fron most car markers do not have any refelctive items and if they are any they would be white color. red is for the rears.

 

Also the other reason it is illegal is that you would be crossing over against the traffic flow and can casue an accident.

 

How many of our cars and trucks that are members currently own only have the outside door lock assembly on the drivers side door and ever notice that there is none on the driver side door.

HAs anyone ever realized this.  When our cars were being produced by state laws if was illegal to exit a car when it was paralled parked along the curb, The driver would then open his driver side door into the oncoming traffic and then would also be stepping out of the car into the oncoming traffic.  So therefore they did not put a keylock assembkly on the driver side.  You had to slide acorss the front seat and then exit on the passenger side of the car and then lock the car door.

I have heard that this law is stillon the books in some states but have not taken the time to fully findout if it is on the books in PA.

[Don Coatney]

By 1948 the door lock thing had changed as my 48 P-15 has door locks on both sides.

 

 

[desoto1939]

Hey Don:  Looks as if you got some southern frost onthe old PLymouth.   Noticed the wooden block under the rear tyre are those Tenn hill too much for the old emergency brake.  Just kidding.  Thanks for the input. 

 

Rich Hartung

[Merle Coggins]

Hey Don:   Noticed the wooden block under the rear tyre are those Tenn hill too much for the old emergency brake.  Just kidding.  Thanks for the input. 

 

Rich Hartung

 

Maybe that the real reason that he had to relocate to Indiana.... Flatter ground.

[Don Coatney]

Hey Don:  Looks as if you got some southern frost onthe old PLymouth.   Noticed the wooden block under the rear tyre are those Tenn hill too much for the old emergency brake.  Just kidding.  Thanks for the input. 

 

Rich Hartung

 

 

Maybe that the real reason that he had to relocate to Indiana.... Flatter ground.

You are both correct   It sure is flat as a pancake here in Northern Indiana.

 

[JSabah]

in order to change the reflector to a light, did the whole reflector lens have to come out, or were you able to remove the foil from the lens? Thinking doing this but my reflectors seem to be  part of the housing , or someone rechromed them in and they won’t come out without damaging the chrome.