Tail lights, one or two????

31 Model A

31 Model A

Well-known member
Since I had a cancellation today from one of my lady friends (husband wouldn't let her leave), I took that time and found myself on the photo thread and noticed the two new photos that Mitch/PA posted of his two Tudors. I quickly noticed that both only had a driver's side taillight and I emailed Mitch to ask, what's up with that?
He emailed me back saying it was standard and one for the passenger side was after the fact. Now that got my mind off sex and it dawned on me, Sarah having two taillights but........................the left is identical to the right. Now could this have been a flub that later happened with a earlier owner or.....was there not a passenger side rear light available making both taillights to face the same way?????

I hope the photos explain it better............

Cheers.........

Passenger side first:

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That was my original thought. Don't think that the first owner after a jug or two on shine became a bit confused and put two of the same on????? I'd change for a proper one but doubt if I could get the paint to match. Just thought that maybe I had a good reason why they are both the same when someone points that out and I could say, they are that way because.............

Thanks for the clarification..............
 
There was a right hand tail light bracket for right hand drive cars. There used to be (and may still be) some excellent reproductions of the right hand bracket. You need one if you are installing turn signals. It is better to have two lights in the rear since they are so small compared to todays lights.

Charlie Stephens
 
Charlie Stephens said:
There was a right hand tail light bracket for right hand drive cars. There used to be (and may still be) some excellent reproductions of the right hand bracket. You need one if you are installing turn signals. It is better to have two lights in the rear since they are so small compared to todays lights.

Charlie Stephens
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Thanks Charlie, I do plan to install turn signals soon but have plans not to use the tail lights.
 
Mitch//pa said:
there are right and left brackets available... you have 2 lefts
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Mitch, how can a person tell if they have a left or a right hand bracket or light? I know this may be a stupid question but I am in the category as far as knowing this sort of thing. The only thing I do know is that the left hand light has the licence plate light underneath. Thanks for the education.
 
Fred K-OR said:
Mitch, how can a person tell if they have a left or a right hand bracket or light? I know this may be a stupid question but I am in the category as far as knowing this sort of thing. The only thing I do know is that the left hand light has the licence plate light underneath. Thanks for the education.
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They are each suppose to point a bit outward, I take it. My driver's side points outwards and my passenger's points inward.
 
The light on the drivers side has a clear glass on the bottom to highlight the license plate and the one on the right does not have the clear glass. Unless of course you should choose to put two drivers side tail lights on.
Wayne
 
31 Model A said:
They are each suppose to point a bit outward, I take it. My driver's side points outwards and my passenger's points inward.
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Originally the lamp faced squarely rearward. The bracket was not mounted in the high point or center of the fender crown, but closer to the body requiring the mounting flange be tilted slightly to achieve the proper angle.

Ford never offered a "passenger side" rear lamp. Since Ford never offered right hand drive Model A's in the USA, the few original right rear brackets found here have made their way to the USA from other countries. Similarly, all rear lamps were mounted over the license plate bracket so the lamp also illuminated downward via a clear lens. No rear lamps were produced without that lens, except of course reproductions beginning the early 1970's.
 
Bolt one to a piece of heavy scrap sheet steel. Make it red with a big rosebud or cutting tip on an oxy/acetylene and pull it the other way. Or cut/weld/grind. Not rocket science.
 
Now that I look at the pictures and the comments, I do see the difference from right to left. I will have to see what I installed on my 29 coupe. Thanks guys.
 
Just checked the "museum" and it looks like I have 3 left and one right in the collection.
 

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Tom Wesenberg said:
Send to Australia for the right hand bracket.:D

You could make a tapered shim to stick in the bracket to lamp connection.:)
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No quite so ; a couple of Aussie States required a longer lamp [out beyond the fender & bumper] & ended up with something like a '28 bracket, even on '30 '31's.
The best source for RHD stuff is where most RHD's in the US come from , Argentina, Sth America.
 
That's about what I did only without the heat! And I rolled a S.S. mask for the opening where the Lic. Plate lens was.
Terry


MikeK said:
Bolt one to a piece of heavy scrap sheet steel. Make it red with a big rosebud or cutting tip on an oxy/acetylene and pull it the other way. Or cut/weld/grind. Not rocket science.
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One thing worth considering, for those who have a Rumble-Seat on your Coupe/Roadster - entering and exiting the Rumble-Seat is a little bit less hazardice, as the angle of the 'offending' bracket is a little bit less in the way of a foot getting 'snagged' .

I was aware of the 'Passenger-Side' bracket angle difference (from the Driver's-Side) and it is noticible to the observer. However, as a frequent user of the rumble-seat (for others), I am aqutely aware of the difficulty and obstacles in getting into and out of, the rumble-seat. And the second (added) tail light is an added hinderance to ingress, egress. The slightly titlted bracket reduces this hazard. So I left my second (passenger-side) bracked as it was.

- Doug Vieyra, Eureka, Calif
 
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