Guys, I need some help. I am considering using a pair of '48 Pontiac tail lights on my '47 Ford Coupe. These are the round tail lights where the chrome bezel is designed to slightly "wrap around" and fit the tail end of the quarter panel, not to be confused with the later '50 and later round tail lights that have a flat back on the chrome bezel. I do not have any to look at in person so I was wondering if someone could tell me what the outside diameter of the chrome bezel is and what the diameter of the lens is. Thanks in advance. Thor
The ring OD is sort of oval because of the contour, but looking straight from the rear, nearly round. The lens is the same '48-'50.
48' Pontiacs were produced in two different models. The 25-27 series were small body like the 48 Chevrolets of the day and the 26-28 series Pontiacs looked the same but the body was larger, more the size of the Cadillacs and Buick. The reason for this explanation is while the two series Pontiacs had different proportions, the tail light bezels were also slightly different (however the lens is the same) as the reveal at the top of the 26-28 series light fits deeper into a body reveal than the 25-27 series . The bezels are not symmetrical therefore they are side specific (L and R). So if you want dimensions, for that light, you may want to know which one you are getting dimensions for.............the bezels are chromed-pot metal and the part numbers are cast on the inside of the bezels. The reflection on the left quarter panel in the attachment shows the curve of the area where the tail light bezel mounts on a 48. Because of the curve of the quarter panel, the bezel is more of an ellipse.............the indentation is slightly deeper on the 26-28 series tail light.
Yes, I am aware that the bezels are asymmetrical and are right and left handed. I am just trying to get an idea of what size they are to see how and if they would fit. I would like to compare the size of the light to the stock tail lights on my '47 Ford to see how much larger the lenses would be compared to the stock Ford lenses. Thanks for the information. I was not aware that there were two versions of '48 Pontiac tail lights based on the body style/model of the car.
I used 48ish studebaker backup light bezels on my 59 Apache. They are shaped to fit a curved surface. Used cut down 56 Chevy lenses. Don't know if this helps or not.
These pics are of the 25-27 series light...............Gaskets are available for the bezel to body, and also the bucket to the bezel................. The diameter of the 26-28 bezel is the same, bucket it the same, and the lens is the same............major difference is the 26-28 bezel symmetry is slightly more exaggerated because the body reveal is deeper on those quarters.
A buddy of mine had a 26-28 series fastback and he trimmed and fitted 56 Chevy tail lens to the 48 Pontiac bezel/buckets...........looked cool!
The Jalopy Journal
