<VV> Late Model Amber Rear Signals ?

[Seth Emerson]

In 1976, the company I worked for sent me to Belgium for the summer. Being a car guy, I tried to visit "car" places and look at "car" things. (Attended the last F1 GP at Nurburgring!) I picked up a 1967 Monza dash from a Belgian built car with a zero to 200 speedometer! (KPH). I did look at many of the European cars, focusing on those not exported to the USA. I noted the tail lights on the 1966 Opel Rekord. A larger car than the small Opels sent to the US at that time. That car had a four tail light design closely akin to the late model Corvair. Round, but each light was split horizontally in the middle and served two purposes. The outer ones had the tail light and the Brake light, the inner ones had the White back-up light and an Amber Turn signal.  I liked them so much, I talked a French-speaking friend into finding a set at the local wrecking yard (Same place had the Vair dash). I packed them home. I have yet (40 years later) to install them on a Corvair, but hope springs eternal! The two drawbacks to these tail lights. One, each installation requires cutting out a 3.5" hole through the rear panel, the light assembly clamps through the hole. That is kind of irrevocable. It had better work!  Second, the assemblies use these goofy European design bulbs that snap between two springs. I am sure I could find a source for these bulbs if I try. I am actually tempted to convert these to LEDs. Maybe there is a kit in Europe to do this. I don't know if this photo will come through, but this is what they look like. I think they would be great looking on a late model Vair. - Seth




   





-----Original Message-----
From: Hugo Miller via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
To: FrankDuVal <corvairduval at cox.net>; virtualvairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thu, Aug 2, 2018 9:40 pm
Subject: Re: <VV> Late Model Amber Rear Signals ?

I have to disagree - the problem occurs when people apply the turn signal 
and brake at the same time. Then you have two red lights to the rear, one of 
which is flashing. It is easy to miss a turn signal when that happens. A 
separate amber light is much clearer to spot - you will then see two solid 
red and one flashing amber, rather than two reds, one solid & one flashing.


-----Original Message----- 
From: FrankDuVal via VirtualVairs
Sent: Friday, August 3, 2018 4:34 AM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re:  Late Model Amber Rear Signals ?

You've gotten advice on how to do it, now let me answer your question
that was not a question.

Here in the USA we are used to red signals in the rear for turn, brake
and running (tail) since the beginning of car production with lights.
Some makes have amber in the rear for turn signals (even GM tried it in
the 80s), but the majority I see on the road commuting are all red. Our
2015 Buick has red rear turn signals. I do not get any safety argument
for amber. Blinking lamp is turn signal, simple. Heck, just getting
people to use turn signals would be the safety improvement around here!

So the answer to "why" is , because it works fine!

Frank DuVal


On 8/2/2018 5:58 AM, Arlette Pat & Carl Kelsen via VirtualVairs wrote:
> G’day everyone,
> I have been interested in American cars since childhood. For me that’s now 
> nearly 60 years! I have a real passion for US cars and the most part I 
> believe US car design has led the automotive world (particular during the 
> immediate post second world decades of the 1950s and 1960s).
>
> That said, I have never understood why American cars (including the 
> Chevrolet Corvair) insist on using their red tail / stop lights also as 
> ‘red’ turn signals! A far safer arrangement is to have seperate amber turn 
> signals. In fact Australian Design Rules (ADRs) have required rear amber 
> turn signals since 1959!
>
> Regards from Australia (down under)
> Carl Kelsen
> RHD ‘65 Monza convertible
>
>
>
>

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