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Pontiac sequential tail-lights?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 5window, May 16, 2009.

  1. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,993

    5window
    Member

    I'm running a modified set of Pontiac sequential taillights (including Ron Francis' Brite bulbs) on my '31 A.But I don't know where they came from. I know the Trans-Am and maybe the Gan Prix had sequentials,but..., Can someone please school me about the years and models of pontiavs that ran sequentials so I can track down what I have?
     
  2. stuart in mn
    Joined: Nov 22, 2007
    Posts: 2,804

    stuart in mn
    Member

    Are you sure they're Pontiac? As far as I know Pontiac never had any cars with them. The only car I can think of offhand that had them was the Mercury Cougar.
     
  3. death trap man
    Joined: Apr 20, 2009
    Posts: 145

    death trap man
    Member
    from Atco NJ

    THats what I was thinking too. I think the old cougars had a anolog box with a motor that spun around to light up the diffrent bulbs but now a days there are compact cercut bords that do the same thing and are used alot to convert newwer mustangs.
     
  4. death trap man
    Joined: Apr 20, 2009
    Posts: 145

    death trap man
    Member
    from Atco NJ

    Got any pics of what you have? Might help ID
     
  5. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,527

    Squablow
    Member

    My dad's '68 Cougar has them, and a lot of 1960's era Thunderbirds did too, my '65 Bird had them. I've never seen or heard of them on a Pontiac before.
     
  6. lothiandon1940
    Joined: May 24, 2007
    Posts: 32,463

    lothiandon1940
    Member

    I think they put them on T-Birds for 1 yr. only. 1966 if I recall but I don't remember a Pontiac with them.
     
  7. propwash
    Joined: Jul 25, 2005
    Posts: 3,857

    propwash
    Member
    from Las Vegas

    Cougars and T-birds (and of course 67/68 Shelbys) were only ones I know of
     
  8. lothiandon1940
    Joined: May 24, 2007
    Posts: 32,463

    lothiandon1940
    Member

    We're gonna need pictures to sort out this mystery.:confused:
     
  9. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,413

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    Get to NPD or a place like that. Gary

    Forgot to add, there are aftermarket systems now for use in OEM / cl***ic and new cars, too, that do the same thing.
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2009
  10. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,772

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    The Cougar, T-bird lights were flashed by motor-driven shaft turning cams whihc fired the lights, I believe. Not a super reliable system.
     
  11. Dyce51
    Joined: Aug 17, 2007
    Posts: 279

    Dyce51
    Member
    from Ohio

    Pontiac never used sequentioal as far as I know....Ford/Mercury used them in the T-bird, Cougar, and the Shelby
     
  12. joebuick
    Joined: Nov 9, 2007
    Posts: 584

    joebuick
    Member

    ive seen instructions on how to wire them up for any multi tail light applications so its possible that this is some type of modification. if i can dig out those instructions ill post them
     
  13. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,993

    5window
    Member

    Okay, here are two photos with the lights lit. The center section was two reverse lenses but has been cut down to a single lens. On the housing it says:
    "GM 16501973 BL-DMD 2 M"

    So I am pretty sure that they're GM-the guy I got them from said Pntiac. Hope this helps.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. 61bone
    Joined: Feb 12, 2005
    Posts: 890

    61bone
    Member

    Pontiac lights but the sequential came from something else. Pontiac never did that.
     
  15. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,993

    5window
    Member

    How about a decade to start. 70's?
     
  16. vertible59
    Joined: Jan 25, 2009
    Posts: 1,058

    vertible59
    Member

    They always worked on my '67 Cougar for the 11 years I owned it.
     
  17. Motorsports One
    Joined: Jul 23, 2008
    Posts: 99

    Motorsports One
    Member

    Is this it? 1985-1990 Firebird Trans-Am.

    http://cgi.ebay.ca/FIREBIRD-TAIL-LI...hash=item360030179743&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

    http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages...8431,77538434,77538436&formats=0,0,0&format=0
     
  18. Chrysler 300-H (Hurst) had sequentials too.
     
  19. Von Farly 1923
    Joined: May 1, 2009
    Posts: 362

    Von Farly 1923
    Member
    from Sacramento

    Definitely 1985-1990 Firebird Trans-Am, Totally Night Rider
     
  20. arkiehotrods
    Joined: Mar 9, 2006
    Posts: 6,802

    arkiehotrods
    Member

    From the web:
    Sequential turn signals were factory fitted to Ford Thunderbirds built between 1965 and 1971, inclusive, to Mercury Cougars between 1967 and 1973, to Shelby Mustangs between 1968 and 1970, and to 1969 Chrysler Imperials. No other production cars were so fitted, as far as I know; this may have been due to worries about the system's complexity, and to automotive fashion.
    Two different systems were employed. The earlier, fitted to the 1965 through 1968 cars, was electro-mechanical, featuring an electric motor driving, through reduction gearing, a set of three slow-turning cams. These cams would actuate switches to turn on the lights in sequence so long as the turn signal switch was set. This system was complicated and prone to failure, and therefore it's rare to find one of these cars with an original and still fuctioning unit these days. The part is long out of stock at Ford and it is practically impossible to find a NOS unit. The odds of finding a working one second-hand are slim, too. Fortunately, someone has built an electronic replacement unit, if you don't care about total authenticity - if you do, you're on your own repairing an original one.
    Later cars used a transistorized 'black box' with no moving parts; this was much more reliable. You can find the sequential unit in the trunk on Cougars and Thunderbirds, affixed behind the back seat, in all model years that had them.
    I believe the 1969 Chrysler Imperial also used a transistorized unit.
    If you want to fit sequential turn signal lights to a car that didn't originally have them, you're in luck - provided you can find three lights per side that you can make sequential, at least! Quite a few cars are so equipped. Electronic sequential flasher units are available from a number of companies, with instructions on how to retrofit them to a variety of cars. The most commonly done are late-model Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Impalas, Pontiac Firebirds and Chevrolet Camaros, but the kits are adaptable.
    Sequential turn signals are legal in all states of the USA (and I believe Canada); I do not have information as to their legality elsewhere. Sequential brake lights (where the same circuit is used for when the brake lights come on) are definitely illlegal in several states, including I believe New Jersey and Florida. It's possible that sequential emergency flashers are not legal in some jurisdictions either.
    In summary, sequential turn signals are a neat feature on a car, particularly one that had them from the manufacturer - if they work. If they don't, and keeping them working is much more complicated than for a regular system, they're very annoying indeed. The sequential lights in my 1967 Ford Thunderbird don't work right now, and I'm probably going to have to buy an electronic replacement unit (almost $200) and do a lot of electrical work before they do. This is pretty typical of even a well-maintained car from this era.
     
  21. death trap man
    Joined: Apr 20, 2009
    Posts: 145

    death trap man
    Member
    from Atco NJ

    The lights look like '85 on up 3rd gen firebird/TA/formula. Fiero had a simular tail lamp for a wile. but none were Sequential.
     
  22. death trap man
    Joined: Apr 20, 2009
    Posts: 145

    death trap man
    Member
    from Atco NJ

    Could these be them? 84-87 fiero
     

    Attached Files:

  23. DE SOTO
    Joined: Jan 20, 2006
    Posts: 3,857

    DE SOTO
    Member

    Don't Matter What they are from .....

    They are FUGLEY !!!

    Throw 'Em in the trash and give that Old Ford some Dignity.
     
  24. Rudebaker
    Joined: Sep 14, 2007
    Posts: 1,598

    Rudebaker
    Member
    from Illinois

    Those look like '89-up Grand Prix lenses flipped upside down and swapped side for side.



    [​IMG]
     
  25. texasred
    Joined: Dec 3, 2008
    Posts: 1,221

    texasred
    Member
    from Houston

    Second owner 66 T BIRD 72,340 original miles i have changed a few bulbs but no other problems with them....ARKIE said , i got some RARE **** IN MY TRUNK..HOW BOUT THAT..
     
  26. Dreddybear
    Joined: Mar 31, 2007
    Posts: 6,161

    Dreddybear
    Member

    ...
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2009
  27. kustomkat
    Joined: Sep 4, 2006
    Posts: 558

    kustomkat
    Member

    Words of wisdom from my buddy DE SOTO.
     
  28. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,993

    5window
    Member

    Everyone's en***led to their own opinions and although I was only looking for parts identification not what you thought of the installation, posting pictures opens me up for comments. However,-2nd day edit-I'd guess I'd say what's the point of ****ping on someone's car? Do you expect them to suddenly see the light as you interpret it? Just trying to be helpful? Friendly, An ***? Boost your post count?

    In person, most of us would follow the Golden Rule and treat folks like we'd want to be treated. Most would probably not walk up to someone and say they think you car looks like ****. But the Internet and distance make it very easy to be impersonal.

    In the end, I got the information I needed, along with some comments I didn't. I apologize for the political rant and fortunately won't likely ever have the opportunity to subject those of you who hate the car to have to view it.

    Thanks to all the folks who helped with the identification.
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2009
  29. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,545

    Mazooma1
    Member

    not 1967 Shelbys
     
  30. JAWS
    Joined: Jul 22, 2005
    Posts: 1,848

    JAWS
    Member

    I repair them. I know for sure cougars and t-birds had them. I don't know about the others, never repaired a set from anything else.

    I am in the middle of a 67 t-bird. I could take some pics and post if need be.
     

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