I am looking for advice, I have a 1940 Tudor standard with only one tail light. What should I do about brake lights and the "other fender"? Or do I do anything, I am concerned with some AHole rear ending me....
I would not hesitate to add a second taillamp on the p***enger side. Unless you are very committed to originality. that seems to be the wise course for safety's sake. Besides, as you already know, two lamps were installed on Deluxe models and most people (other than Concours Judges) will never even notice.
The tail lights will fit either side, Just buy another lamp and mount it. Easy enough to mount a stop light switch, either hydraulic in a port of the master cylinder (or on a tee) or a lever type switch actuated by the brake pedal. You can even get LED lights for it.... they can see those !!!
When I got my original '40 Standard tudor it had an added right side light. I bet there are more Standards out there with the lights added than not.
Have had a few standards over the years that came with one taillight--always add another for safety and looks.
You could also find a very thin LED strip light for a third brake light. With some modification it would almost be invisible.
I am inclined to say keep the single one, but unfortunately with today's ***** drivers, you'll need the second one.
The State of Washington only required p***enger cars to have both side tail/stop lights in 1940. Common sense had many non-Washington Standard Fords having p***enger side lamps installed.The dual lamps give you the adde safety of allowing you to install a turn signal switch and flasher to the system as well.
Even two tail lights aren't enough for the idiots that drive along not paying attention to anything. I would consider also adding a third light in the back window that could only be seen when the brake was applied.
I think a tail light on each side is prettier from a styling standpoint, not just for safety, but it adds some symmetry to the back of the car, looks odd with just one.
Just me, but I would search out another fender with a hole for the tail light and keep the original one. Some weirdo might want it down the road Your car looks black, should be pretty easy to match that. I agree with the others, too many boneheads on the road nowadays to not play it safe.
Add the second one, for safety. I have told myself, if I ever get a similar type car, I am going to get one of the old, LARGE "stop" lights off of an old truck or bus and use for the third brake light. I may or may not add the work "A**HOLE" under it.
Thanks for telling me what I already thought was the right thing to do for all the reasons you, folks have stated, now I need to find a matching pair, so they match the rest of the car and do not look out of place. I like the big STOP idea I have a few of them, now for the "custom" lettering.....
I was thinking about something similar the other night. I recall someone mentioning that he mounted some bright LED lights under the car so they are visible but light up the road (especially on wet, rainy nights).
The Forty Fords chevron style tail lights in IMHO are some of the best looking of any of the early Fords but there is also one inherent problem and that is the lack of visibility due in part to the way they were designed. To drive around in today's world with one tail light is asking for disaster,a second one would be advisable. I realize it's not traditional but I have seen the tail lights on a friends sedan replaced with a replacement LED insert behind the lens and it was considerably brighter when you touch the brakes. HRP
For better looks and most important-safety, add the second tail light. You also want to consider adding a third brakelight for the back gl***. I think someone makes a model for split windows. Steve.
Actrually we had this discussion a couple of years back and it had a lot of input. The most accepted end was two tail loghts for saftey's sake as the average American does not know a thing about hand signals. The question becomes thus, are you shooting for a period build and what period are you shooting for, even the '40s customs had gone to twin tail lights to miomioc high end cars for instance. by the '50s even on hot rods two tail lights would be the norm on a finished high end rod and only the throw together highschoolish rods would have left it alone. All that said, I don't have turn signals on my bike, and I get by just fine with hand signals. well that and defensive driving learned over a period of about 40 years.
For the best lighting out back, remove the door, lens and bulb from your taillamp. Wash out the interior of the lamp body and dry. Mask off the socket, rough up the body interior, and paint the interior of the lamp gloss white. While you're waiting for the paint to dry, wash and scrub the lens inside and out. Replace the bulbs, 12Volt, with 2357 bulbs which have a much brighter stop/turn filament than the 1157 bulbs. Re***emble the gasket, lens and door to the taillamp. Turn on your lights...lots brighter. Now push the brake pedal. WOW!
pasadenahotrod- is right its amazing what a while or silver will do to the amount of light out put. Like stated before the led replacement bulbs are bright and when put in an original housing and behind the right lens, no one will notice its not period.
I can remember as a kid ,riding in my ol mans 35 roadster. we got pulled over on the M*** turnpike for only havin one tail-light . they went round n round about it for ten minutes,, somthin like this ,,,Original equipment !,,,ITS the LAW ,,You can,t make me drill a hole in my original fender!,,ITS the LAW ,,,I use hand signals,Call your supervisor !. That was 40+ years ago . The ol man still does not have a second tailight on his car , HENRY didn,t see the need for one ,neither do I ,,he says .Of course times have changed since then
Seeing a car on the road having only one tail light from the factory is unique in today's world but isn't the most visible when using the brakes,especially with all the distracted drivers following you down the road. This is the LED retro part I was referring to.HRP http://www.shiny-hiney.com/rodcustom4050.html
Julianos makes a third brake light for split windows. They are very useful as your turn signals can be wired in as well. I have LED bulbs also and with the rake on my car I still have people tell me it's hard to see my lights . Do what you can to keep YOU and your CAR safe. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App
I was sharing your concerns until I went for the LED taillights, having added a socket to the other side. Then I got a third brake lite license plate frame---when you live and drive in Texas, you can't do too much.
Drove the 36 convert in the 70's-mid 80's with one lamp and hand signals...now i have 2-39 Ford lamps and signals and still have more issues now than then...iIhave painted my buckets silver and used brite bulbs, going to swtich to led this spring.
A 2357 puts out about 25% more light (40 lumens vs 32 lumens) than an 1157 -uses the same voltage and a tiny bit more amperage. However, they're rated for only 400 hours while an 1157 is rated for 1200 hours. Ron Francis markets a "Brite Bulb" you might look into-remember that brighter bulbs (incandescents not LEDS) generate more heat so be careful if you are using plastic lenses
I'm with the "add the rt. side taillight" folks; Added safety is worth enduring the ire of Dearborn purists. Yes, my 40 picku has TWO tail lights. 4TTRUK
ok so you all have convinced me to go ahead and molest the right fender, who makes a good reproduction tail light? I have seen some of Vintique are they any good or should I try to find a used one that is in similar condition to the left one, and what about gl*** I see a few of the old time names out there for sale Lynx eye Duolite, who makes good gl*** or what should I look for. I am thinking Blue dot......
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