Searching for suitable tail light

[sgraber]

Having made a fundamental change to the back of my original design 'La Bala', I am now searching for nice round tail lights that look SIMILAR to the Ferrari ones in this photo.


I am not interested in trying to copy a Ferrari, but my design now requires 10cm +/- round red lights with ali bases and the Ferrari ones are closest... Like this:


Any help from the group finding an INEXPENSIVE source for this type of tail light or anything even remotely similar would be greatly appreciated.

I am based in the US, but will import the lights from across the pond if required. My plan is to market the car as a kit at some point in the near future, so I need a reliable source.


More photos at www.grabercars.com

[Funderbunk]

Go to eBay, pick up some taillight lenses from an Opel GT - you might have to fabricate the base, but the lenses are pretty slick (and cheap, too) -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2485660354&category=34206&sspagename=WDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2485657696&category=34206&sspagename=WDVW

Of course, those are used - there are probably some oem or repro ones out there somewhere, though...

[grahambell]

Nice car Steve.

There are a number of round light units available from aftermarket suppliers (including LED jobs) so you should be able to find something to suit without too much trouble.

Take a look at www.s-v-c.co.uk

Edited to add that while you can get black plastic bases off the shelf for some units, think you'd probably have to get ali ones made.


>> Edited by grahambell on Thursday 29th July 08:11

[spartan_andy]

You could try europa spares

www.europaspares.com/

[Ex-Biker]

Or try Premier wiring:

www.premierwiring.co.uk/

[docevi1]

Fiat Coupe had lights just like you are after. I remember them been fitted to a Mini and in the article he said they had long tubes which they sat in which had to put onto the Mini.

The car is out or production here, but I'm sure Fiat or a 3rd party company will sell the necessary bits.

[Munter]

If I remember correctly the round lights on the back of the McLaren F1 are from a buss of some description. Certainly a lot of Coaches around here have round lights on the back...

[Dave^]

as mentioned bus ones would be nice - dunno where you'd get them tho....

or what about LR Defender lights? easy to get etc....

[sgraber]

Thanks for the links. I have visited them all and there are some promising items in the batch. The suggestion of Bus lights was good and I have found a source of bus lights. They are 7" however and that is a BIG light!

I also posed this question over at www.locostbuilders.co.uk (my usual hangout) and someone suggested the 4" truck lights like this They are very inexpensive, which is important to me since frugality is a key component of my build.

I like the idea of these 4" lights, especially if they were mounted recessed inside of a spun aluminium tube.

Thoughts?

[Funderbunk]

Here's another possibility, but I can't find a size reference on them -

www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10112&storeId=10101&langId=-1&productId=147379&mediaCode=ZX&appId=257355

These are the lights that Pisa Co. use in their "euro" taillight kit for the Fiero -

http://pisafierohq.com/lights/euro_taillights/

Comes with an amber lens, but red replacement lenses are available for $1.99.

In fact, if you're going to mount them in spun aluminum tubes, you could just buy the lenses and some bulb sockets and it would be cheap, cheap, cheap.

Another idea? This weekend, hit the road, get on the interstate, and stop by a big truck stop, like a Pilot. They'll have more lights than you can shake a stick at, cheap, and in a tons of sizes, shapes, colors, etc.





>> Edited by Funderbunk on Thursday 29th July 19:45

[sgraber]

Funderbunk said:

Here's another possibility, but I can't find a size reference on them - <snip> In fact, if you're going to mount them in spun aluminum tubes, you could just buy the lenses and some bulb sockets and it would be cheap, cheap, cheap. Another idea? This weekend, hit the road, get on the interstate, and stop by a big truck stop, like a Pilot. They'll have more lights than you can shake a stick at, cheap, and in a tons of sizes, shapes, colors, etc.

This link to the Peterson Light Co shows some nice LED and Bus style lights. I think that the Bus ones are too large. 4 of those would probably look cartoonish. [url]www.pmlights.com/products.cfm?cId=1&fId=57&pId=1478#V417KR[/url]

At this point I am settling in on the 4" truck LED's with a trim ring inserted inside a spun ali tube or something similar to that...


I think you nailed it with going out to the truck stop for a quick look-see. I think I have to grasp the size that I am dealing with before commiting.

As nice as some of the UK product is, it's still a crapshoot for me to purchase something that I haven't been able to handle/hold. The LED method sounds more hi-tech too.


>> Edited by sgraber on Thursday 29th July 21:15

[mustard]

S2 Elise lights maybe?