Driving at night

My wife had occasion to follow me early one morning recently when I was taking the '29 to a local show. The car had its original stop/tail light on the left only. After that, she INSISTED I install better tail/stop lights. I ordered the all-red LED lights for both sides as well as two new mounts (so they'd match) and installed them on the car. In addition, I ordered a BRIGHT third brake light for the back window. It's a 12 volt light and I have a 6 volt system so I ordered a 6 to 12 volt converter ($5.95 on ebay) to drive just the third brake light. Now the back of the A is VERY visible when driving and you can't possibly miss it when I step on the brakes. The LED tail/stop lights the vendors sell are SUPER with respect to light output. I know it isn't stock but I'll make that concession for safety.

I also installed turn signals but that's another story.....

Steve
 
If you install the much brighter 6 volt bulbs (Bratton's part #19160 for example), then your tail lights and brake lights will be brighter than the LEDs. I can see the reflection of my Tudor's tail lights and brake lights in signs a mile or more behind me at night. During the day, I can see the reflection in the chrome of the cars behind me, they are very bright. And, the turn signals don't blink at fiber-optic data speeds (as they will with the non-resistor LEDs).

A lot of people that complain about tail lights being too dim have rust inside the cup or the reflective finish is all tarnished. The reflector is very important with your tail lights also, guys.
 
I'm particularly paranoid about side visibility, especially so since my car is all black and all current drivers on the road expect to see side lighting.

Extreme as it may seem, I converted to Peterson trailer lights with nice bright side lights. Any model A guy immediately recognizes them as wrong, but they're about the right size and don't jump out as odd to most people. And they bring hugely less worry when out at night.



Side lighting at the front is provided by these motorcycle running/turn signal lights.



Bonus turn signal visibility comes from dual filament amber bulbs in the cowl lights.




I like the whole world to know where I am and what my intentions are.

Steve
 
Wow, excellent ideas which I will use next time at night joy riding. My coupe will not sustain 55 mph so I will not drive it at night on the expressway. Thanks to all!
 
Just bought a set of these at Wal-Mart for $15 bucks. They have pretty heavy duty magnets on them and can display either white or red lights. So they could be used on the front of rear of the car. On my CCPUI plan on using them to supplement my tail light of which I only have one. I have installed an additional LED brake light in the back window but these are a cheap and temporary alternative to the few times I drive at night. Just thought I'd share.
 

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I replaced the 3 watt tail lights with 10 watt, and went to 21 watt on the brake lights along with the led third light in back window that also flashes the side I have signal flashing.
 
Why would you guys be driving at night frequently. Is this your daily driver ? To me it is like Russian roulette, sooner or later it will catch up with you.
Wayne
 
When I changed to 12V I looked in the Sylvania book and got 32 and 50 candle power bulbs for the stock tail lights. None have ever burned out in 17 years.
To help you understand how bright these are, my Harley head light has 32 candlepower low beam and 50 for high beam
 
Does anyone besides me use the slow-moving-vehicle triangle attached to my luggage rack when driving on the freeway? It makes a difference.
I saw this for the first time in Grand Rapids on a PA car.
I attach it with tie-straps and remove it when I get home.

I am seriously thinking about LED lights, tho.

Just a thought.

Dick
 
C26Pinelake said:
Why would you guys be driving at night ...?
Click to expand...


If you ever drive your Model A to a club meeting in the fall, winter, or spring, chances are good you will be driving home at night.

If you drive your Model A on a multi-day tour with stops at a hotel and your wife insists on eating out somewhere cheaper than the hotel, you will be driving at night.

If you drive your Model A to a wedding and provide the transportation for the newlywed couple to/from the reception, you will be driving home at night.

If you use your Model A for anything other than parades, chances are good that sooner or later, you will be driving at night.
 
The only blinking lights you can have on the rear of any car in Iowa are turn signals or emergency hazards. All other blinking/flashing lights and colors are illegal. I just communicated with the Iowa DOT about this very topic last week.
 
C26Pinelake said:
Why would you guys be driving at night frequently. Is this your daily driver ? To me it is like Russian roulette, sooner or later it will catch up with you.
Wayne
Click to expand...

I go to the Hemmings Cruise Ins in Vermont which go from 5:30 - 7:00 and I live about an hour away so I inevitably end up driving home in the dark. I don't do a lot of night driving, but when I do I wanted a way for the vehicle to be visible and yet have the lights unobtrusive and temporary so I could remove them during the day. These fit the bill for $15.
 
The LED tail lights and the third brake light really help out. I use some of the magnetic strips on the bumpers too. We run at night quite a bit for various reasons and it is always good to be safe rather than sorry.
 
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