69 tail lights

[Pinto Pete]

Can anyone tell me the tail light regs in Vic regarding standard red, sequential red, and amber indicators I know all of these are available but are they legal ?

[BLKPNY]

You can find the ADR's for 1969 (the first year of introduction) on Google. But your Engineer will be able to tell you (1969 onwards will need an engineers report).

[Sprint72]

Red tail lights pre July 1973 ok as listed in the Australian Vehicle Standard Rules 1999 (rule 104):

http://www.ntc.gov.au/filemedia/Reforms/AustralianVehicleStandardsRules1.pdf

(3) The flashes of light displayed by a direction indicator light must be:
(a) if the light faces forwards — white or yellow; and
(b) if the light faces backwards: (i) yellow; or (ii) for a vehicle built before July 1973 — yellow or red;

Sequentials, well that's a bit of a grey area and might be dependant on Mr. Plodd's interpretation of this:

(1) A direction indicator light fitted to a motor vehicle must:
(d) flash at the same time and rate as any other direction
indicator lights fitted on the same side of the vehicle.

(My '72 passed a VASS engineers inspection earlier this year with the standard reds in it.)

[Pinto Pete]

thanks guys, very informative. BLKPNY might have to do some online shopping for an early chrissie present for the missus

[Ash]

(3) The flashes of light displayed by a direction indicator light must be:
(a) if the light faces forwards — white or yellow; and
(b) if the light faces backwards: (i) yellow; or (ii) for a vehicle built before July 1973 — yellow or red;

Sorry to ask for you to clarify this, but this is my first Mustang and I can't quite find the answer I need.

By going what you said, I can leave the rear tail light lenses red? I will be importing to and registering in NSW. The car is a 1969 Fastback.

Will I need to change anything for the front?

Sorry again, I'm still learning the ins and outs. Here's a rear shot of the car anyway.

Cheers

[Trans-Am]

Hi Ash,

My understanding is, the rear tail light's can be left as red, with some of the owners reverting to an orange lense on the outer left and right side to act as a blinker (which may be purchased), leaving the back up light's as intended.

Again, these rules seem to have changed (or have been interpreted via varying engineers) that the back up light's (in the lower rear valance) must have a clear lense, however (again), a few owners have changed these to an orange lense which works as both a turning signal and back up light (dependent upon how its been wired up?).

If it gets down to the 'nitty/gritty', I believe that you may be able to purchase a LED light bulb which changes from amber to white (clear) depending upon the trigger pulse. That way you could run the clear lense with the LED changing to amber when you have your indicator on and changing to white when you select reverse.

Hope this helps...


Cheers,

Trans-Am:cool:

[Ash]

That's great help Trans-Am!:thumb:

I would like to leave it as is as much as possible. So the idea of LED's that change colour would be a good idea if it gets to that. Best case it can just stay as it is.

Where would I go for buying the amber lenses if need be? Would who ever does them also have the replacement headlights for L/H dip?

Thanks for the help, its much appreciated!

[Trans-Am]

Hey, no problem at all...

Try contacting Hills Mustangs and Classics at Seven Hills, they'll be able to help you out.

MICHAEL 0404 187 515 or BRIAN 0408 350 650


Cheers,

Trans-Am:cool:

[Ash]

Beautiful! I'll have to start a little black book of Mustang contacts.

Cheers, Ash

[BLKPNY]

We have a kit for the rear of the car, it is a proper LED panel, like our taillights. It has a white LED center, and amber LEDs around the outside. When you indicate, it flashes amber thru the clear lens, when you reverse, it is a nice bright white.
It is $259, and includes new gaskets etc.

[Ash]

Do you have any pictures as an example?

Do you mean they are like an after market Alteza style or do they still look factory?

[Sprint72]

Sorry to ask for you to clarify this, but this is my first Mustang and I can't quite find the answer I need.

By going what you said, I can leave the rear tail light lenses red? I will be importing to and registering in NSW. The car is a 1969 Fastback.

Will I need to change anything for the front?

Sorry again, I'm still learning the ins and outs. Here's a rear shot of the car anyway.

Cheers

Basically, what the ADR is stating is that you don't have to touch any of the lights on your '69 Mustang. Leaving them the way they currently are is legal according to that section of the ADR - white blinkers on the front is ok and red blinkers on the back is ok too.

Having said that, I am in Victoria and can't comment on the possibility that there may be NSW legislation that would override this, so hopefully someone from NSW will be able to offer a comment to confirm.

Or print out the ADR info above and take it into your local rego branch to see what they have to say.

[Ash]

I can't seem to find a NSW specific one for light vehicles. I did find one for heavy vehicles and it is worded very much like the one you quoted.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_12_-_guidelines_for_lights_light_signalling_devices_for_heavy_vehicles_nov_2007.pdf

Page 12:

The direction indicator light must -
a) if the light shows to the front of the vehicle, be -
white or yellow if the vehicle was built prior to January 1973 (ADR 6),
and yellow or amber if the vehicle was built on or after January 1973.
b) if the light shows to the rear of the vehicle, be -
i) yellow or amber, or
ii) if the vehicle was manufactured before 1 January 1973 - yellow or red.
c) if the light shows to the side of the vehicle, be yellow or amber.