On a '39 Ford, the point was on the bottom. On a custom application, you could do it however you wanted, whatever looks right. No wrong answers.
I understand your thinking, but it’s the shape, not the orientation, that suggested the name. They could just as easily, and probably more accurately, be called an elliptical shape or perhaps an oval. An actual teardrop has no natural resistance to gravity, but a taillight is fixed in position and can defy gravity. That said, I agree with @Squablow . Ray
Starting to sound like the peanut butter vs. chocolate add for Peanut Butter Cups. I’ve seem them both ways, usually point down.
Ford gave a big clue in '38/'39 as to the orientation of the tail lights. The bezel screw is at the bottom, not the top, meaning the point faces down, not up.
Well actually there is a very specific way to mount them and it's based on physics. Now it's your car and you can mount them whichever way pleases you most. If you want to get the best effect the point has to go down, this is simple aerodynamics. You'll get higher speeds, lower fuel consumption, better handling, and a host of other benefits if you follow the "Laws of Physics"!
Nope, I disagree. The laws of physics tell us that the "drag coefficient" is less with the taillights mounted upside down (point forward/up)...not that anyone gives a "rats ass" Also, that's why boats are pointy in the front
Well, then.....Perhaps you’d like to ‘splain ......Boat Tail.....always a taper, so where did that term originate? And aircraft wings, control surfaces, fairings (bulges) are always a bit more blunt at the leading edge and taper to guide the disrupted air flow to a smooth (not turbulent) confluence. Ray
Cheez Whiz, guys. You're getting way over my head with this talk of physics and turbulence and drag coefficient and air density...........Just mount 'em right and be done with it....
Where did you come up with this interpretation of how the airflow of a aircraft wing works? The wing is round at the front and tapers back to provide lift to the wing. The taller the front of the wing is , the more lift but also more drag.
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