bdhulderman

Love my 6 tail lights!

Dad's 59

This was very popular in the 60's. I own a 64 coupe with 6 tail lights that was sold new with 6 tail lights; it was a promo car and the dealership did the 6 lights in Sep 1963 after taking delivery as did several dealerships. The factory never did on the assembly line!

GTOguy

I too like the look of 6 tail lights on these cars. Looks totally natural.

Mike Geary

I recall at least one of Larry Shinoda's concept drawings had 6.

Now, to me, the ultimate would be 3 on each side, an embedded BU light in the middle, and sequential flashing. The '64 Impala got it right (except for the sequential part).

FINWOLF

that is what mine are back up in the middle

Poorhousenext

If you look at the picture an look at the distance between the outside light and the bend in rear bumper where it wraps around 1/4 panel, an then look at the added 3rd tail light and the distance from it to the where the bend in bumper wraps around there you may see why the Design Department used 3 lights per side on all the C2 concept cars till 1966.

The reason is symmetry of light spacing to bumper's length, that 2 per side doesn't provide. Designers like symmetry an 3 per side does that.

But for a low production car, and cost of lights and installation time, you might just understand why leaving them off helped the bottom line cost of car.

PS: I know this is the 2nd time I've tried to explain why the Design Dept always went with 6.

If you like two lights fine per side, I don't take it personal, as well as I don't take it personal if you don't like my use of 3 per side.

I'll never criticize you for 4, as I know the general public likes 6 just find and more do than 4 when they see a C2 with 6 of them...

2 of my C2's have 6, 1 has 4, I can live with either, just prefer 6.

RatDog

Curious that they didn't just center 2 lights over each bumper. That would have achieved the visual balance the designers were looking for and saved the money the bean counters wanted to save.

Steve

427Hotrod

That looks killer!

JIM

vettsplit 63

This six tail lights thread got me to thinking about Jan and Dean, and you are all correct..... Jan and Dean had a phenomenal career before Berry's crash in 1966. I never realized all the car/surfing songs that they were either writers or performers of.

Did you know--? Dean Torrance wrote Little Deuce Coupe.


Jennie Lee- Baby Talk- We Go Together-Heart and Soul-Linda-Surf City-Honolulu Lulu-Drag City-Dead Man's Curve-The New Girl IN School-The Little Old Lady From Pasadena- Ride The Wild Surf- Sidewalk Surfin- You Really Know How to Hurt a Guy- I found a Girl- Popsicle were all songs that Jan Berry either wrote, collaborated on or sang.

Some people say that Berry may have been trying to commit suicide, as the US Army had informed him that he was going to be drafted upon finishing medical school. (He had finished two years of med school), and he had broken up that day with his girlfriend. He was travelling an estimated 90 miles per hour when he crashed into the parked truck, not far from the area mentioned in the song "Dead Man's Curve".

Poorhousenext

Steve,

That want achieve visual balance due to bumper's length. If you don't believe it try, blanking the 2 original locations, an spacing 2 where you think they might visually balance out space.

Moving the outboard taillight inboard would not be a good move safety wise either. One taillight, or one of multi Taillights, needs to be located as far outboard as possible to show approximate width of car and clearance needed to clear back and side of car when approaching it. Also two placed close together makes for a brighter visual effect than you can get with one or with 2 lights, if lights are space too far apart.

Dad's 59

Done by the dealer Sep 1963 used as a promo car

Dad's 59

Yaa baby

Dad's 59

GTOguy

When I was a little kid, I had a promotional model of a 1965 Impala, in Evening Orchid color. The 6 tail lights fascinated me....and were a focal point to my eye. When the '66 Impala came out, the lack of the six small round lamps was a HUGE let-down. I'm still damaged from that to this day! 6 lamps looked good then, and do now. It's all about balanced proportion....

RatDog

I'm with you on the '66 Impala. I still haven't recovered from that trauma. My dad had '61 and a '64 Impalas and I had driving privileges on both of them.

Maybe you and I can get a dual enrollment discount on a 12-step program.

Steve

mrg

I remember seeing Jan and Dean at a beach concert series in Santa Cruz. So many years after the accident you could see how Jan's face was slightly contorted. His singing was a little off key, but great he was still out there touring with Dean. After the performance they were taking questions from fans off stage. .. Dean looked good.
Early the following year Jan passed away.

As project manager Jan's father flew on the 'Spruce Goose' with Howard Hughes.
​​​​​​​John

Stingxray

A few Dead mans curve photos . JT KerK to boot. And out buddy Steve