1963 rear tail lights

[Benjamin C.]

Was there ever a factory option of adding the extra tails light to make a total of Six? I have seen this a few times and always thought it was a customer add on. The car I am looking at was originally sold in California. Maybe a California thing.

[Mark H.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

No, as far as I know, the only car to come from the factory with 6 taillights was the Bob Wingate '67.

Details here: http://www.67fso.com/

There's also two great articles about this car in the Vol. 29 Number 2 (Fall 2002) and Vol. 29 Number 3 (Winter 2003) of the Restorer.

[Don H.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

It was never a factory option, just a popular mod "back in the day". Don H.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

Was there ever a factory option of adding the extra tails light to make a total of Six? I have seen this a few times and always thought it was a customer add on. The car I am looking at was originally sold in California. Maybe a California thing.

Benjamin------


This is a myth that just won't die. Once-upon-a-time I even believed it myself. However, that's because I've lived in California most of my life and I was around when the cars were new. I saw so many of these at the time on brand new Corvettes I just assumed it was a factory option and believed that for many years. It was even immortalized in the Jan & Dean song "Deadman's Curve". Alas, that's not the way it was. Six taillights was NEVER a factory option on a Corvette----NEVER. It was always a dealer or owner installed thing. As a matter of fact, the six taillight configuration was so common of a mod in California that it became known as the "California Option".

[Joe R.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

I have also seen many 63-67 Corvettes with the California Tail-light option! It must be true since I have seen so many! You California people cannot fool me back here in Tennessee!!!! It's just like the California Smog pumps. I saw those too and it must be true!!!!
The real story is that Chevrolet sent those cars to a man named Barris and he modified them for Chevrolet just for sale in California!!!
Real Story, Honest!

JR

PS. If you believe this I have swamp land in Florida for Sale! Oops, all sold to a man named Walt and he was from California too!!!!! Now that's another story!!!

PSS. And if you don't believe that refer to post #4!!!

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

By the way, the "California Option" was not limited to 63-67 models. The craze BEGAN with the 63 models but soon thereafter spread to 1961-62.

[Rob V.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

Hi Joe--I had a '63 with the three (3) tail lights on each side--loved it! Thought about doing it to my current driver, a '61, but the lights are spaced further apart than on the midyears. Did the guys doing it on the '61/'62s just accept the spacing that was further apart, or glass the rear, and start over? Thanks in advance. Rob

[Jaime G.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

When I bought my 62 7 years ago, it had 3 taillights. Right here in sunny southern California.
How I the weather in Tennessee?

[Rob V.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

Hi Jaime--Don't suppose you could post a picture or two of the rear of the car with the tail lights??? Really would like to see it! Thanks, Rob

[Jaime G.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

Hi Jaime--Don't suppose you could post a picture or two of the rear of the car with the tail lights??? Really would like to see it! Thanks, Rob

Hi Rob,
The car was restored 3 years ago and retuned to its original configuration. I will try to find a photo of the rear panel.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

Hi Joe--I had a '63 with the three (3) tail lights on each side--loved it! Thought about doing it to my current driver, a '61, but the lights are spaced further apart than on the midyears. Did the guys doing it on the '61/'62s just accept the spacing that was further apart, or glass the rear, and start over? Thanks in advance. Rob

Rob------


It's been awhile but my recollection is they just added the extra lamps spaced as the existing lamps.

[Rob V.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

That would be great Jaime!! Thank you very much!!! :-) Rob

[Richard P.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

I have heard that this was a common dealer modification done at Harry Mann Chevrolet, in or around Los Angeles.

[Rob V.]

Re: 1963 rear tail lights

Thanks for the response Joe!! I appreciate the information! :-) Rob