As stated above are clear Italian lenses legal in NC? Don't need to be pulled over for this.
Thanks
They shoulb be legal if you put in color bulbs.
It was my understanding that in NH you needed a rear red reflector that is visible from 300 feet. Most cars use the red taillight as the reflector.
If my assumption is true, what are you going to use for the rear red reflector?
Eric
if you have antique/ historic tags, i think your fine
I have antique tags. I just want to be legal.
In Seventeen years I've never even been pulled over. I figured the newbe officers don't even know what their looking at. Just tell em they are new factory originals and very rare and expensive. That should stop em dead in their tracks. Lol
Bob
Thanks everyone. I'll let you know if it comes up again.
In 1969 I had a 69 mach1 and it got lightly rearended. I decided to make my own tail light lense all the way across the back. It looked ok but it wouldn't pass inspection because it didn't have any refelectors. I had to cut out and put the original ends of the tail lenses in the lense I made, to have the reflectors. The story was if the tail light is out there would be the refelectors when someone comes up from behind.
All that happened to the mach 1 was the rear panel was slightly bent and all the lenses were broke. No insurance claim on that wreck. But I was pissed cause the car was only three weeks old and it was the second mach 1 in six months. The first one couldn't stay right side up.
I'll bet money on a insurance claim if the car is rear ended while it's parked the ins. co. will manage to get out of covering it.
If they are not DOT certified, and are on a U.S. Market car, they aren't legal. It doesn't matter if you have a reflector or not, red or not, etc.
Vehicle lighting involves fairly stringent rules and design criteria that fills several regulatory books, more or less depending on what jurisdiction you are in. For starters, color, angularity, lumens, retro-reflectivity of the lens and housing including surface area, are strictly laid out and must be followed. I saw a link to one of the manufacturers once, where a design sheet was given. If you can read photometric charts, and are comfortable with calculus, search for them.
99.9% of those aftermarket clear and LED tail lights you see on the ricers, the ones with the clear lens, are illegal. Legit ones can be had, but they are generally 2 or 3 hundred dollars apiece, since the R&D as well as approval testing by standards labs to get certification does not come cheap.
All that being said, I like the clear ones and may pick some up in the future!
OK, talked to a state inspection guy today. He said all lights except back-up light needs to be colored (red) in our case. So where do I find bulbs colored red for our cars. I saw some red covers but don't know if those work over our bulbs. I don't think painting them would work because of heat and making the bulb break. Anyone got any ideas. The lenses are OK being clear, just need the bulbs to be colored.
Thanks
I forget who I used on the internet but I found them, ALL including dual filament etc....just search 1157 colored bulbs, they are out there.
Josh
Thanks , I found the 1157's, but what are the other numbers for the bulbs we use. I need brake, turn, and the small outer running light for the rear assembly. JCWhitney is where I found them on the net.
Thanks again
I agree with you fully, but I think my best course of action in order to keep these lenses on would be too get the red bulbs sooner than later. If anyone will stop me, it will be these Nazi Military Police on base, where I do most of my driving.
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