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Technical Tail light questions

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by LarsL, Mar 31, 2025.

  1. LarsL
    Joined: Sep 28, 2012
    Posts: 279

    LarsL
    Member
    from Norway

    Hey friends.

    Im wondering: Whats the going rate for a set of 56 Packard tail lights these days?

    And is there anything similar to be found?

    Thanks.
     
    chevy57dude likes this.
  2. chevy57dude
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 9,082

    chevy57dude
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Maryland HAMBers

    Ebay has a set without lenses on it. $700 buy it now.
     
  3. skooch
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 607

    skooch
    Member

    Price: ouchie ouchie.
     
  4. MCjim
    Joined: Jun 4, 2006
    Posts: 1,277

    MCjim
    Member
    from soCal

  5. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,965

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Yeah they are a ton. I’d start looking at making your own with lexan, heat and a mold.
     
  6. Some dude was re popping lenses

    some in cool colors
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2025
  7. 2devilles
    Joined: Jul 16, 2021
    Posts: 510

    2devilles
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

  8. These could be reproduced, using modern methods. You'd have to crank out a bunch to get a decent ROI.
     
  9. Clydesdale
    Joined: Jun 22, 2021
    Posts: 332

    Clydesdale
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That’s ludicrous money, no matter how cool or how iconic they are.

    I would be looking at something different that stands out but doesn’t as much as a whole car
     
    41 GMC K-18 likes this.
  10. mark40h
    Joined: Oct 12, 2012
    Posts: 22

    mark40h
    Member
    from quincy,il.

    It`s only money if you are going to dance you got to pay the fiddler.
     
    41 GMC K-18 likes this.
  11. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,573

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The days of finding a pair of these in a box, at swap-meets, for cheap, are long gone, sad to say!

    1955-57 Packard Clipper Tailight.jpg
     
  12. Sonny Day Out
    Joined: May 31, 2007
    Posts: 291

    Sonny Day Out
    Member

    There are being reproduced ! Try searching ! Complete sets were shown on Facebook in a number of adds a year or so ago ! A number of sets of housing were shown and lenses were shown to be available in different colors ! I did not make any notes of the producer/seller ! Sonny
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2025
  13. caprockfabshop
    Joined: Dec 5, 2019
    Posts: 656

    caprockfabshop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The lenses are, I don't believe anyone is making the surrounds
     
  14. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,012

    Squablow
    Member

    Some of those prices are way higher than anyone is ever going to pay. $600-$900 depending on condition for a used set seems like what they actually go for, with used lenses in them.

    I have a pair, from BobK's collection actually, that I believe are complete and decent although the chrome has pits, and if I knew they were going on something cool/custom I'd sell those for $700 plus shipping to wherever. I think one has a small section of the quarter panel which could be useful when grafting them into something else. If you're interested, I could dig them out and get pictures. Someone else here might have a set even cheaper, I don't know.
     
    LarsL likes this.
  15. skooch
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 607

    skooch
    Member

    I recently went down a rabbit hole on home eloctroplating on YouTube and watched several videos of hobbyists creating sci fi type pieces with a 3d printer and either finishing it with paint and a graphite rub or coated with conductive paint and nickel plated.

    As these sought after parts become more rare, the technology is definitely going to be there for reproduction without even having to go third party.
     
    Okie Pete likes this.
  16. LarsL
    Joined: Sep 28, 2012
    Posts: 279

    LarsL
    Member
    from Norway

    Well, Thanks a lot guys. Wanted to do tail lights like Jack Arnolds 56 merc but it will ruin the bank…
     
  17. caprockfabshop
    Joined: Dec 5, 2019
    Posts: 656

    caprockfabshop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Just wait until you get a quote on rechroming any ones you find....
     
    LarsL likes this.

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