Formula Outlaw

At a car show this past Saturday a gentleman, claiming he'd owned a 65', pointed at my tailights and said that was really the only thing he could find "non" original on my car. All four lens are red. He stated that originally they came with one red lens (outside) and one clear lens (inside) that was wired as back up lights.

I have the offical 65' sales brochure and all rear photographs clearly show 4 red lens.

I'm just curious. Right now I'd have to say the gentleman was incorrect. Anybody know for sure????

Chuck Gongloff

Either is correct. The Z01 "comfort and convenience" group included back up lights and a day/night inside mirror. Chuck

hope2

i think i know the gentleman that looked at your car. did he have fuzzy eyebrows, about 5'3''?

exile

I'm seeing both when I Google...........

hope2

Mr. Gongloff already explained, back-up lights were optional on 1965 Corvettes.

rgs

My brother's 65 has them, mine doesn't.

Grey Ghost

Backup lights were optional in '65 and came with the clear lens. Without the backup option all 4 red.

Backup lights were standard in '66.

Like Chuck said.

ctjackster

also note as Chuck said (all together now "as Chuck said"! - smart guy that Chuck) that the BU lights and day-night mirror were bundled as an option (Comfort and Convenience group) so if you want to make sure you have both or neither, otherwise it tends to stick out as odd to those much better informed than the fool noted in the original post (like my "expert" friend who exclaimed, upon first seeing my 65, "you know these were originally chrome from the factory on these cars" as he pointed to my wiper grills)

Formula Outlaw

Thanks guys. Now I have my reply at the ready....

glensgreen65

Ditto!

hope2

short story, know your car, shut the know it all jerk up. especially that three tail light guy. he gets around.

Formula Outlaw

I've only had the car since Dec. 9 of last year.

"Know" your car is the reason I asked the question.

Procrastination Racing

Get used to it. There are a million Corvettes out there and 10 million "experts".

You'd wonder why all the Corvette books don't know that Hurst shifters were original, chrome wiper grills were an option on some and stock on others, six taillights were a California special option, Chevy used screws in some front ends to hold the side bonding strips due to a problem with the jigs, and so on.

Trophy Blue

What you should of done, is when the guy bent down to look at the tail lights, you kicked him in the a@#!!

Formula Outlaw

LMFAO.......

Have we met??????

The guy didn't bother me at all, I could really care less. I'm driving it and he ain't....

I even dared the wrath of NCRS by painting my exhaust manifolds satin black....

Bottom line is I just want the knowledge and info on my car that so many of you display, and it comes with time and not being afraid to ask questions. I'm a lot of things, bashful AIN'T one of them.....

panchop

those guys don't bother me at all although i had a hard time not laughing out loud at the gas station the other day. guy saw my 65 and started chatting with me. told me he was still sorry he sold his 67 split window convertable.. i just put my head down and nodded. whats the harm.

msm

My '66 (built mid Nov '65) has 4 red tailights. The car was thought to have been bought in PA originally. It also has hazards, although I have no way of knowing if they're original. Does anyone know if removing the backups was something done at the time or has anything to do with the hazards?

Ron Miller

Something done at the time, I believe, as some folks preferred the four red lenses at the rear. Had nothing to do with the hazard warning flashers.

Brucets11

I've wondered about the 4 red tail lights on a '66 and have seen quite a few. Mine too, has 4 red lights. Was it not uncommon for people to change them over?

http://www.mershons.com/view_photo.a...age=Additional
http://www.legendarymotorcar.com/inventory/7026col.htm
http://www.performancepluscorvettes.net/1966R.html
http://www.proteam-corvette.com/cars/256W.htm
http://www.proteam-corvette.com/cars/342W.htm