Tail lights

[GrampaTim]

Does anyone know what tail lights were used on the early Sevens? I have looked at MG, Triumph, and Morris parts,but so far, no luck. My 62 Lotus 7 replica needs some back-end lighting.

[11Budlite]

I believe a '62 would have had the Wingard tail lights.  This is from the Simple Sevens website:  http://www.simplesevens.org/forsale/Painter/PainterParts.htm

[7Westfield]

my early westfield uses bugeye sprite units

[anduril3019]

I'm using bugeye lights on my Locost project.

The bugeye units are Lucas L549 for the tail lights, and L594 for indicators. Bugeyes use the L594 on the front also.

https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product_list/71

 

I think the L551 is correct for the indicators, but I think the L594 (bugeye) looks better. I might use something like the L551 for a high center brake light. "Correct" can be somewhat subjective on a 7, and especially on a replica.

 

Original tail lights had an angled plinth to fit the fender angle, depending on where you mount them on the fenders, you might get a way without it.

 

Not my car, but here's the look I'm going for:

 

Edited September 28, 2021 by anduril3019

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Last I heard David Painter was no longer making the replacement Wingard 1055, but you should try the email in the link @11Budlite posted. They occasionally come up on ebay and go for $250+ for a nice set

 

My S2 (and several other vintage race cars) had Lucas 549's until I changed them.  They do look similar to the Wingard 1055, but they don't exactly fit the curvature of the rear wing/fender. This is relatively minor though. If you do buy Wingards - make sure to use the right bulbs in them. Several people try to use what "fits" which causes them to melt.

 

 

I did fit a Lucas 594 (not to be confused with 549) as a 3rd brake light on my car as the Wingards are not very bright. 

[11Budlite]

2 hours ago, TheDingo8MyBaby said:

I did fit a Lucas 594 (not to be confused with 549) as a 3rd brake light on my car as the Wingards are not very bright. 

 

Great minds must think a like.  I did the same on my 310S.  Love your Seven Geoff!

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Thank you, Bruce. I fancy yours too. Those Lucas 594 look much more period correct the standard Caterham taillights

[coffee break]

With the proliferation of 3D printers it may be possible someone has laser scanned the part and made some.

[JohnCh]

If you like the older style round tail lights, the Land Rover units are another easy to find option.

 

 

-John

[GrampaTim]

Thanks, guys. Now I have a lot to think about and research. I know I don't want the "RV / trailer lights" Caterham is using. Looking at Harley soft tail lights, too.

[Dwight]

Here’s what I did with my taillights.  I removed the ugly rectangular trailer lights and replaced them with Wingard lights which provide running and brake lights and  mounted separate stock beehive lights for the turn signals.

 

 

 

 

[panamericano]

Great garage.

[TMRL7]

As an added measure of safety I added the LED bulbs to my tail lights.  The Thorpe PT675 lights are extremely difficult to find and would be ruined if the standard incandescent bulb overheated them.  Of course the benefits of the LED lighting are also a consideration.  I find the LED bulbs in the vintage assemblies to be a win win option.     Thanks,   Tim   

[Dwight]

I, too, installed LED bulbs in the vintage Wingard tail lights and vintage beehive turn signals. The LEDs are cooler, thereby, minimizing damage to the assembly; take less energy; have a longer life span; and, very importantly, have greater visibility.  Indeed, a win-win proposition.

[Vinman1]

Wingards look best for sure. What were the led bulbs you used and did they fit the standard sockets?

 

Thx,

 

Vin

[Dwight]

Vin,
 

The LED bulbs simply screw into the stock sockets.  The company from whom I got the bulbs suggests using bulbs whose colors are the same as the lenses, and that’s what I did, i.e., red in red, yellow (amber) in yellow..  They contend that they’re brighter with complimentary colors.  I’ll open the lights and pull the LED bulbs to get their stock numbers for you, but it’s too damn cold right now.

[Nick OTeen]

One good source for LED lights for automotive use is here: https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/tail-brake-turn/

 

One thing to keep in mind when replacing conventional incandescent turn signal bulbs with LED units is that most turn signal flasher units depend upon the electrical load provided by incandescent bulbs. Typical LED replacements don't provide a sufficient load which will cause the turn signal flasher to flash at a much faster rate. To overcome this will need to replace the flasher with one intended for use with LEDs. Some even provide an adjustment feature that allows you to dial in the flash rate you desire.

[Vinman1]

Dwight & Nick,

 

Thank you for the reply and info. Working on getting a wiring Loom from Autosparks in the UK. I will make sure they can provide a socket and flasher that will work w with LED. My car hung from the rafters of a barn for forty years, has come a long way, but still a much to be done. Attached is progress so far.

 

Cheers,

 

Vin

[Dwight]

Good advice from Nick regarding the turn signal flasher.  Showing my age, when I decided to switch to LEDs, I thought I had to install some kind of capacitors to achieve the appropriate flashing intervals.  With a little more research, and acknowledgement that virtually all modern vehicles have LED lights, I realized flashers are now available specifically for use with LEDs.  So, I simply took my old flasher to the local parts store and asked for a modern LED flasher with the same configuration.  Voila!  Works perfectly with my new LED bulbs.

 

Also, the site to which Nick refers, superbrightleds.com is the source I successfully used for all my LEDs.  They’ve been very good to work with.

[Dwight]

Vin,

 

’Nearly 60 degrees here today so I went to my garage and removed my tail light lenses and the LED bulbs to get the part numbers from the LEDs.  Unfortunately, they have no numbers on them.  I remember now that when I originally installed the LEDs, I went to the SuperBrightLEDs site and cross-referenced the original incandescent bulbs.  They have good descriptions and dimensions of all their bulbs.  Good luck.

 

BTW, ‘love the work you’ve done so far on your Seven.  When you say it was hanging from the rafters, do you mean in pieces, or are you rebuilding and restoring a completed car?