When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (cbernhardt)
My 66 coupe had EIGHT tail lights to go along with 4 wheel flairs when I bought it approx approx 4 years ago. The product of a sordid past no doubt. Growing up in SoCal in the sixties, I saw many Vettes with six but never eight. I left in six (a back-up between two tail lights on either side) cause I like the look but installed them in the correct "pockets". Nobody left their high performance cars "original" to my recollection.
Nick
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (cbernhardt)
In the Jan and Dean song Deadman's Curve I always thought the famous line said: "All the Jag could see were my 6 tail lights" . I have a CD that sounds like the line says "All the Jag could see were my Frenched tail lights". ????
2nd stanza:
The street was deserted late Friday night
We were buggin' each other while we sat out the light
We both popped the clutch when the light turned green
You shoulda heard the whine from my screamin' machine
I flew past LaBrea, Schwab's, and Crescent Heights
And all the Jag could see were my six taillights
He passed me at Doheny then I started to swerve
But I pulled her out and there we were
At Dead Man's Curve
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (427Hotrod)
The 6 tail lights on my 67 FSO car were done in St. Louis. A number of articles have been done on the car in the last year, and you can see all the details in one of them. See http://www.67fso.com/covers.html Thanks to Mark (396 Rat) for his posts.
The 6 tailights were a dealer installed "option" for many big dealships, as well as Goodyear Blue Streaks on Torque Thrust D's, headers, etc. Anything that could add profit to the bottom line for Bob Wingate, and make the cars look and perform better was done. During this era, huge auto crosses and weekend races of all sorts were the norm. Very few kept their cars stock, with example cars such as Wingate's experiments with new 64's and 65's leading the way. I have so many really neat photos from the era of this racing activity, and even some home movies taken at the time.
The number of cars done at the factory with 6 tailights involved many other mods to the cars also, and they were one off styling exercises. Harley Earl had a few famous special styling cars done.
A far as restoration, I know if I had paper work on a car coming from Clippinger or Harry Mann or whoever that showed 6 tail lights, Torque Thrust D's, Blue Steaks, headers, etc. on the car as dealer installed options, that is the way it would get restored. I think people sometimes lose sight of why these cars were bought in the first place.....speed. Blown motor, no problem, warranty will replace it with a new one. I cringe sometimes when I think of the number of cars put back to "stock" and the true history that has been lost, in the name of some flight or gold award. Mark's 396 Rat car is a stunning example of an unrestored car with tremendous history. Thank heavens he got it.
Glad you made it Bob!
:party:
This is where I met Gessner, and he introduced me to you.
(Have met many great folks from this forum)
Many knowlegable folks stop by and help out.
You will fit right in.
Now sign my guest book! :cheers:
I think those six tailights look great. I have even heard that some of these 60's cusotmizers would cut the side vents out and flip them upside down and reinstall them. Then the vents would look like intakes versus exhaust heat exits.
I dont know if this helps here is a pic of my vette with 3 lights. I know it does not look like a C2 but it is it looks more like a C3 back end. But at least you can see the 3 lights.
Clippinger Chevrolet with top Vette salesman Bob Wingate added the 3rd tail light's at the dealership. Wingates 67 FSO car now owned by Bob Radke was the only Vette that supposedly came from the factory with 6 tail lights.
Here are some photos of the 67 FSO car. Also shows the lot full of dealer installed 6 light cars. http://www.67fso.com/
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (Lickitty)
I just had the 5th and 6th taillight holes filled on my 64 coupe, cailf car, this thread has me wondering if I did the right thing?? Oh well, I do like the factory look....the lights were mounted with ,what looks like .030" thk sheet metal channel with the channel legs angled to rest perfectly aganist the inside of the panel , it has a large hole for the connector/receptical to go thru with two mounting holes that corresponded to the two mounting posts on the back of the taillight housings, the wiring looked professionaly installed...
I own a Nassau Blue 1967 Roadster with the California style flare
wheel wells, Big Block hood, front bumpers removed and
3 tail lights. I have just installed sequential lighting
provided by http://www.foxthundercats.com They also have sequential
lighting for 2 tail light vettes.
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (VFW NO.11548)
This thread just keeps GETTING BETTER !! I often thot our car was perhaps a Freak with 6 Tailights , flares and non original paint colour but .....
I'm starting to feel human again
All in all , not everyone has to have an ORIGINAL MATCHING NUMBERS CAR or .......
Not everyone has to have a MODIFIED CAR
The main thing is that , We RESPECT each others views , we encourage each other and Talk and Drive the COOLEST CAR the General ever made!!
Gentlemen , let's together " TOAST " the Corvette !!!
God Bless You , America , Canada and every other person and Country that is free to enjoy this great hobby and passion of Corvette Craziness . WE love it !
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (Lickitty)
Licitty,
My car is a former California Car, it may soon be again, and It has flares on all four corners. It does not have the 6 taillight config. However, that doesn't mean it never did.
The odd thing is the engine in my car is most likely original.
I like my vette just the way it is, except for the old paint job and the fact that it is up on jack stands while I rebuild the front suspension and steering. :D
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (Lickitty)
The Jan & Dean Movie lost some NCRS points when it showed them driving a C2 through a cornfield and showing their speedometer at 100+. Unfortunately the speedo was a C1. Not an easy swap I'll bet!
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (dejavu67)
I wasn't aware that there was a "California Special Style" for the midyears.
I must have been raised with the mushrooms.
I knew I was special when my dad bought HIS first corvette in 1966 and on MY 16th birthday..He may have wished he had ordered it from Clipingers with the 6 tail lights option, as it was totaled when a 1 ton flatbed truck pushed the tail lights up to the dash board while my parents were having dinner at a local eatery
Clipingers Chevrolet changed hands a few years after ol' man Clipinger passed away, with him we lost a large part of corvette history in So. Cal..
:steering: :steering:
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (Lickitty)
I was first introduced to my 63 Roadster back in 66 when I was attending college.
I purchased the car in 1968 and it has been carting my tail around ever since.
In 1966 the car had 6 tail lights and still does today. It was originally delivered to the Chevy Dealer in Rocky River ,Oh. and has always been here.
I did a little bit of research in the past 30years or so , re: 6 tail lights. In the Northern Ohio area I've seen quite a few 6 tail light C2's. Interesting thread to this is.....I have always favored the 63's and have been able to examined 6-7 of them. Of the cars that I could examine and talk with the owners...all but one were Roadsters...all of the cars were 250hp w/ T10 4 speed and they were either Red, White or Blue. Hmmm?
I was in high school in the early sixty's and loved hotrods even in the mid-50's. I lived for the day when I might have a Corvette with six tail lights. I was blessed to be able to purchase a well used and abused 1962 in 2002 and had the "correct" tail lights added.
Guess that doesn't change anyone's interest in Jan & Dean's hit song about the six tail lights and the interest in "California Tail lights" from yesteryear! I'm just an old dog enjoying what I couldn't afford when I was young. BTW got a C8 and am a graduate of the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School for C8 owners. Livin' the dream!
I hope you did not take offense to my post.
It is nice to get to the point that you can fulfill your dreams.
It took a very long time for me to get my SWC .
11-17-2003, 02:43 PM
Re: 3 Tail Light History on C1 and C2's (cbernhardt)
