Help! What kind of taillights for my Ford?

[slacker_53]

I'm lost. I've been trying to figure out what kind of taillights to find for my Ford.

About as 'original' as I've gotten are stockers with the chrome bullet.

What can I use, that would fit without any metalwork, or with minimum metalwork?

Thanks, in advance for your ideas.

Flatheads forever!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[kustumizer]

PACKARD!!! NATE

[franzfrucket1]

56 packard! ha ha ha but seriously those look pretty nice as is otherwise there is a post I put up not to long ago with all sorts of tail lights on them!

Owen

[Donzie]

I really like Lee Lenses. They're just a nice subtle custom touch.
Lee Lenses (http://www.leelenses.com/products/#Ford)

[manyolcars]

oldsmobile, 1956?

[Crestliner]

manyolcars has it, 56 olds will fit right in your housing. That was the style way back when.

[=mike=]

1954 lincoln

[AnimalAin]

Looks cool as it is. Don't feel like you have to change stuff just for the sake of change.

[macs55]

I would put 59' caddy tail lights in the center of your lights. That would look cool I think.

[phat rat]

a way that'll have guys asking what are they is to take the stock lenses and cut the center out, turn it around so the inside is now out, take a red clearence light lense and enlarge the hole in the original lenses to fit this, glue together, use longer screws and you have a lenses that no one will be able to indentify

[Rocky]

I gotta go with animal ain on this one...the stockers look as good as any olds lens IMHO.

[RPW]

The choice depends on the style you are aiming for. If early/mid 50´s customs are right for you: With minor (no!) metal work, 54 Olds. With "a bit" more work, 53 Clipper or 54 Lincoln...

If mid-56-57 is more right, the easy one is the 55-56 Olds lenses. A harder choice of the same time zone would be the 56 Clipper lenses (somewhat frenched).

The late 50´s easy choice would be flat red plexi with some vertical with plexi pieces. A bit more work of that style would be parts of late 30´s headlights, turned backwards and two tunneled 59 Cad lenses in each.

(My own choice, I have a 54 in the works, is 53 Clipper!)

[kustomd]

It would require metal work but I thing a set of 54 chevy lights with lee lenses would look good it would be different anyway. Or 56 chevy lights with lee lenses.

[slacker_53]

Thanks for all the input, I've got some ideas for things to look for and try.

I like the stockers alot, but taillights are something I can change from time to time, just to have a little different look.

The flat plexi sounds cool and I'm gonna try the clearance light thing. The '59 Caddys are a little too extreme for my taste (I have a set).

I think the Olds are available aftermarket.

Again, thanks for the tips!!

-slacker

[Ron]

Here is a pic of the 55/56 Olds in the stock 53 Ford bezel(that has been welded to the quarter). But you put them without molding it to the fender.

[Ron]

I have a set of 54 Olds lenses but they are smaller dia than the 55/56.

Here is mine.

[Ron]

..

[286merc]

Here is another 53 with the 56 Olds setup

[40StudeDude]

What's the diameter of the Olds lenses...what's the diameter of the stock Ford bezels? The reason I ask is I've used Corvette after-market lenses in one of my cars...they are bullet-shaped, but not near as pronounced and pointy as the Olds lenses...you can get the Corvette after-market lenses at Mid-America Corvette supply, believe they fit 80's-late 80's Vettes.
R-

[286merc]

My 53 is in storage for the winter so cant measure. However the 56 Olds and I believe the 55 98 is a direct swap, lens to lens with the Ford.
The Olds is also repopped.

[Ron]

The 54 Olds lenses I have are 4 1/8 inches in dia. The 55/56 are a little bigger, and the 54's are not as deep. I tried the 54's in mine but did not like them because they had a gap around them. The pix of the blue Ford I post has the stock 53 chrome bezels molded to the car with 55/56 Olds lenses. As you can see they have a little gap but not to bad. The 54's are smaller so they have more gap.
BTW mine does not have the stock bezels molded to the car.

[Ron]

286
Who has the 55/56 repops?

[DrJ]

They're round!
Anythig round could be cut down or glued over what ya have already. Ford made round tail lights for a couple of decades so you don't really have to stray from home but...
I'd like to see some '58 Olds lights, chrome light housings and maybe even the chrome fins on one of them Fords...Maybe just a photoshop..?

[chopolds]

Fusick Olds parts co. has the Olds repo taillights, as well as 55-6 Olds Fiesta hubcaps!

[slacker_53]

Thanks for all the input guys, The Olds lights look great!

I'm considering all options.

Thanks again--slacker

[Danimal]

I've got a 52 with 54 tail lights on it now. I just picked up a set of 56 Olds lenses yesterday. What mods did you do to install them? I tried them out today and they are a hair larger than my chrome trim rings from the 54 Ford.

[Cruiser]

Slacker 53,

Go with the '53 / '56 Olds tail lights they are such a clean look on the Fords. A lot less work then the Packard tail lights and are very period.

Cruiser 49:cool: