69 TAIL LAMP BACKUP LENS with 68 DATE

[Jean B.]

Hi Guys

does anyone knows if for a early 69 vette (built date dec 20th 68)
both backup tail lamp lenses should be dated "GUIDE 19 SAE RB 69" or
"GUIDE 19 SAE RB 68" ???

Thanks
JF

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 TAIL LAMP BACKUP LENS with 68 DATE

That date is NOT the date the lens was manufactured. It is the date the lens meet DOT specifications. John Hinckley has posted about that in the past. Your 1968 date is fine for your car.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 TAIL LAMP BACKUP LENS with 68 DATE

Hi Guys

does anyone knows if for a early 69 vette (built date dec 20th 68)
both backup tail lamp lenses should be dated "GUIDE 19 SAE RB 69" or
"GUIDE 19 SAE RB 68" ???

Thanks
JF

JF-------



The outer lenses are the same for both 1968 and 1969. So, regardless of when the 1969 was built, it will have a "68" date on the outer lenses.

The inner lens (back-up lamp) was not used for 1968. So, all 1969's will have a "69" date on the inner lenses.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 TAIL LAMP BACKUP LENS with 68 DATE

That date is NOT the date the lens was manufactured. It is the date the lens meet DOT specifications. John Hinckley has posted about that in the past. Your 1968 date is fine for your car.

Terry------


I think the practice of "dating" tail lamp lenses goes back further than the DOT even existed. Typically, the 2 digit year "date" on the lens applied to the FIRST model year the lens was used for. Thereafter, if the EXACT SAME lens was used for subsequent model years, the "date" remained the same. So, for example, the outer lenses for both 1968 and 1969 Corvettes were the same, so all have a "68" "date".

This also applies to SERVICE lenses. The "date" remains the year the lens was first used.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 TAIL LAMP BACKUP LENS with 68 DATE

Hi Guys

does anyone knows if for a early 69 vette (built date dec 20th 68)
both backup tail lamp lenses should be dated "GUIDE 19 SAE RB 69" or
"GUIDE 19 SAE RB 68" ???

Thanks
JF

JF-------



By the way, if you find any inner (back-up) lenses for a 1969 that have a "68" year code on them, I'd love to see them. I'd say those would be EXTREMELY rare. In fact, so rare that I don't think they ever existed, at all.

[John H.]

Re: 69 TAIL LAMP BACKUP LENS with 68 DATE

I think the practice of "dating" tail lamp lenses goes back further than the DOT even existed. Typically, the 2 digit year "date" on the lens applied to the FIRST model year the lens was used for. Thereafter, if the EXACT SAME lens was used for subsequent model years, the "date" remained the same. So, for example, the outer lenses for both 1968 and 1969 Corvettes were the same, so all have a "68" "date".

This also applies to SERVICE lenses. The "date" remains the year the lens was first used.

Joe -

Prior to DOT regulations/requirements, the photometrics of taillight lenses were certified to the SAE standards in effect at the time; that's what the date represents that's molded into the lens. In most cases, it's also the year the lens was first used.