Back when I was restoring my Laurentian (short taillights) it seemed like there was an ample supply of NOS tail lights on eBay, but they were all long (Bonneville, Parisienne) and I needed short (Catalina, Laurentian). Now I need long, and I haven't seen one for months.
We've found there are 2 types of 69 Bonneville / Parisienne tail light lenses. One type has a protruding edge on them, the other doesn't - so be careful when buying. Attached are photos of both types.
A fellow in Winnipeg posted he needed one with the protruding edge, I had no idea what he was talking about until I was at the junk-yard and saw both types. I was fortunate to find him a real good one in the trunk of a 69 Parisienne ragtop.
-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Thursday 7th of December 2017 09:57:08 PM
They would have only been used on Parisienne, 2+2, Grande Parisienne & Bonneville. I think as long as they match you're ok. I wonder if they came from different suppliers, or a mid-year change.
They would have only been used on Parisienne, 2+2, Grande Parisienne & Bonneville. I think as long as they match you're ok. I wonder if they came from different suppliers, or a mid-year change.
The nuances and idiosyncrasies are generally a result of different suppliers, I run into a similar taillight issue with my 73 LeMans. As has been said make sure the pair matches, although sometimes that is a lot harder to accomplish especially now as supply of these old parts is drying up.
the addition of the lip was a running change, early cars don't have it and later ones do. I suspect it was to reduce the amount of water running down between the lens and bezel to in turn reduce the risk of water infiltration into the trunk. Every NOS tail light I have ever seen has the lip.
Also I can't see it here, but in the later ones isn't the plastic ribs 90 degrees different around the backup light? Whereas with the flat ones, the ribs are ALL vertical the whole way across?
