Original tail lights

[Paul Hatfield]

I have a question regarding tail lights and specifically the rare passenger side one.

 

I have been collecting parts for my restoration, and in the process of purchasing some old lights, I have come across the more common drivers side light with the window to shine down to light up the license plate.  Then, I came across and purchased the housing shown below.  It is has the same window opening at the bottom of the housing, but there is a very vintage/original looking black plastic insert in place instead of the glass. The plastic part fits perfectly, and does not look homemade.

 

The black plastic blocks the light from shining down, as would be desired on the passenger side.  Is this housing an original passenger side tail light???  It came with the lens that is shown below with the polished stainless steel (not chrome) bezel.  By the way, the bezel looked terrible but I was able to get this appearance after much polishing.  

 

This design would allow both sides to use identical housings, but one side would have the glass window and the passenger side would have this insert.

 

Opinions?

 

Paul

 

[HanksB3B]

A very good question...I'll look thru my tailight folder to see what pictures I've gathered along the way. Somehow I'm guessing that the housing is a 60's one from Minnesnowta.

 

 

Which ones would you like enlarged ?

 

hank   

Edited December 9, 2014 by HanksB3B

[ggdad1951]

my bet is the majority of the originals were painted the bed color/black on all exposed surfaces.  SS may be an upgrade or Spring Special part....or it's a repop.  Every one I've run across have been painted.

[Paul Hatfield]

Hmmmm-

I may have just answered my own question.  I have another housing that is all rust, housing and bezel, no paint left.  It has the two studs coming out the back side with both studs broken off.  Looks original as all heck, and it did have a good glass lens though.  Anyway, I removed the black plastic portion from the one shown above and tried it in the old rusty housing.  Too small.  OOPS 

 

It is nice that this one had a stainless steel bezel, as that kind of matches the trim at the front of the  truck, but I think the housing is a repop 

 

Guess that leaves me still searching.  

Edited December 9, 2014 by Paul Hatfield