Hey all, so about 2 years ago at the age of 21 I started my model a build, and so far everything's been going great! However, despite warnings from all the sages here on the HAMB, I went 'kustom' on a few things, including the tail lights. Now, I think it looks pretty cool, but what I was trying to go for was just a clean, bare bones hot rod with more go than show... and they don't really send out that message. See the pictures and, although it looks pretty neat, it kinda gives off a 60s Kustom vibe which is NOT what I'm going for.... what do you all suggest? I go for the traditional tear drop style tail lights in the rear louvered panel? Or those neat 37 ford lights that screw onto the bottom?.. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
My advice would to remove the existing lights and install a pair of '39 ford tail lights. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Those have that early 70's this is all I could find a pair of at the wrecking yard yesterday look going for them. I saw too much of it back then. Thing is that if they aren't beat up and the chrome isn't pitted bad you can probably get enough out of them on Ebay to buy just about anything you want that works If that panel extends clear across and wraps around the corners or you could make it do that if you want to leave it what about making some light buckets out of short pieces of exhaust tubing that you can slightly inset 56 Chevy car tail light lenses https://www.danchuk.com/ItemForm.as...Category=7f1068a4-8b95-4945-9ce0-a4988a0b2036 In? They would go along with the 5 round holes in the panel, don't cost much and with a couple of hours of work you would have something custom that didn't look like what every other fenderless Model A was running =39 Ford 52 Pontiac.
What does the rest of the car look like? What are your priorities as far as the build? Getting on the road or getting it perfect before you get to drive it? What's the period/vibe you ARE going for?
I like those questions. Well I wanted to build something Flathead powered before but I can't afford to do all that. I just went with an SBC/350 set up. However I still want to go traditional, even lakestyle Here's what it looks like now. I have over 680 louvered in it. And here's the way the **** looks now, sans ugly panel And this is the vibe I'm trying to give Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Ok, well, It seems to me like you're going for a Function over Form aesthetic then, since you're saying lakes. Lights that look like they can be removed easily would fit with that. Which is getting me thinking you could use some simple, cheap, round, old trailer tail lights bolted underslung to the rear of the subframe on your body. You can get old ones by the box full off ePay all day and they still make some of them new for around $20/pr +/-.
Well, it's pretty obvious yu can't use 50 Pontiac or any other lights in your rear panel will all those louvers so I'd go with a pair of model A or 32 ford lights on curved stands that bolt onto the sides of your rear frame horns..
I was thinking something a**** the lines of these... thoughts? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I think those tail lights could work if you were going for a wild show rod style, with a round tube nerf bar surrounding them or something, but from what you say, that's not the style you're going for. I know how hard it is to have a part that looks cool on it's own but just doesn't jibe with the rest of the build. But it's good you recognize it. Hang them up on the shop wall until the perfect use for them comes around. I like the idea of 41-48 Chevy car tail lights vertically in the tail panel between the body welting and louvers. The lights hung underneath on the car you have posted in post #16 I feel like only works because it's a 33/34 and the tail panel is very rounded, on a Model A freestanding tail lights like those are going to look tacked-on like an afterthought. '39 teardrops would fit too although the more square Chevy lights I think would work better with the straight rows of louvers.
A friend with a '52 Super 88 club coupe really needs those lights .... trade you a pair of '42 -'48 Olds tails with NORS Lynx Eye blue dots for 'em ...
I don't even remember what these are...37 Chevvie?? Kinda small, so there is always a risk of getting *** packed by some dip**** in a minivan, but I liked the shape of them. Good luck, -Abone.
Rocky X2. I had a 32 once on which I shortened the original tail light stands which looked pretty good. That might be a good option for you. Gary
Your pictures make me dizzy. Try them lights vertical, off the panel on the quarter. You might have to do a little Frenching. If you want the standard tried and true looks that gives you the standard tried and true tailights. There's just a few flush mount options so choosing shouldn't be difficult.
I think with finessing, those would look *****in'... I'd trim the 'side' back some, and just flat cut off the back-up/reflector part. Pull them in closer to the body, a bit of custom bodywork to integrate them better and there you go... different, but 'traditional'. This is breaking the heart of the guy who wants them for his Olds.... LOL.
Lotsa funny answers here...you wouldn't catch those *** neons on the back of my BIGGEST TRUCK! "Just... imagine!" Throw 'em out with the last admin.....
Stand those Olds light vertical with lense at bottom and fabricate a single nurf bar in line with them running across the back. The Olds lights would look as if a bumper guard type deal.
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