308 rear lights changed? | FerrariChat

308 rear lights changed?

Discussion in '308/328' started by ricmat, Mar 17, 2017.

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  1. ricmat

    ricmat Formula Junior

    Aug 29, 2016
    345
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    Ricardo
  2. TJsBeer

    TJsBeer Formula Junior
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    Apr 10, 2016
    405
    Valley Forge, PA
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    Jeff Miller
    [​IMG]
    I've heard of this before, not sure why some are switched or if there's a benefit to swapping them.
    Mine are the opposite of yours.
     
  3. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    Chaya Tinterow
    Reversed tail lights are the result of moron repairman or painters...they all came from the factory the same...
     
  4. vaccarella

    vaccarella Formula 3

    Apr 16, 2011
    2,291
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    Paul
    I've never understood how this reassembly mistake can be made, even when you have no reference photo or manuals. Are there any cars on earth where indicators are inboard of other signals? I'd worry about how well the rest of the car was put back.
     
  5. ricmat

    ricmat Formula Junior

    Aug 29, 2016
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    Ricardo
    that was my point as well.. seems fairly obvious indeed. No idea why this is an issue
     
  6. Fitz

    Fitz Karting

    Jan 27, 2004
    87
    Amelia Island
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    Frank
    I have been told that in the day some states auto inspection rules required this change of location for the lights.
     
  7. 4right

    4right F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    In this instance it may very well be a mistake, however, in the past I have heard of a reasonable explanation. Can't remember the details exactly, however, I believe that it's a DOT regulation requiring this switch somewhere in the world.
     
  8. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,338
    Birmingham, AL
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    Tommy
    I have seen them reversed like this when the cars were just a couple years old back in the day.
     
  9. ricmat

    ricmat Formula Junior

    Aug 29, 2016
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    Ricardo
    Humm - so guess the question then is - is it a reason for concern or not..


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. Indyjones

    Indyjones Karting

    Jan 28, 2009
    219
    Pacific NW
    Might give the Ferrari a broader look when the lights are turned on in the dark...also might be that some States had regulations that the lights need to give some indication of vehicle width during dark driving situations for safety reasons. My H1 (and some full size Pickups) had lights on top of the windscreen to make the height more apparent in the dark, so maybe the same applies for rear lights in some places?
     
  11. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    Our cars are 25 to 40 years old! No legal entity gives a rat's ass where the tail lights are situated! Pleeeease....Give me a break! "Sir, I won't be able to inspect your car today because it is in violation of Chapter 3 - Volume 1 - Article 308 of the tail light permission regulation of the State of Confusion!"... Hehehehe :)
     
  12. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

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    #12 tinterow, Mar 18, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  13. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
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    Mike
    A lot of people don't know that some of these reverse tail light were done at the factory.
     
  14. ricmat

    ricmat Formula Junior

    Aug 29, 2016
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    Ricardo


    Hi Mike - do you know why though?




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  15. dflett

    dflett Formula 3

    Jun 24, 2005
    1,603
    NY
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    David

    Agreed. This subject comes up every 2 years and the myth that it was some legislation that reversed them continues.

    I am still waiting for some posters that 'knew such' to provide proof from the last thread on this.

    All US cars came from the factory with turn signals on the outside and all state and DOT legislation was met with the marker lights.
     
  16. ricmat

    ricmat Formula Junior

    Aug 29, 2016
    345
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    Ricardo


    Interesting.. so you believe it's just bad assembly upon restoration?
     
  17. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    I have a couple of friends who bought a 308 brand new with the light reverse plus, as mentioned above some place I don't know exactly where, do requires this set up. And some, do have custom made to order just about any configuration you want from the factory i.e, colored dashboard, painted bumpers, painted rear spoiler, and yes reverse rear light.
     
  18. mike

    mike Formula Junior

    Nov 2, 2003
    721
    Colorado
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    Mike
    The taillights with the turn lights inboard is Very Important! it has to do with the frequency the timing belts/tensioners need service. Inboard turn lights require belt/tensioners every 8 years....LOL
     
  19. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

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    You almost had me, Mike! :)
     
  20. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #20 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Mar 20, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  21. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Someone also swapped the speedometer, but that is another story...
     
  22. energy88

    energy88 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 21, 2012
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    John
    Some thoughts on this important topic: So far, we have seen only examples with perfect inboard/outboard reversed color symmetry. Fortunately, we have yet to see a non-symmetrical example where the color pattern is skewed to the left or the right differently on each side although the length of the wiring harness could allow this rare variation. Yet to be reported is the extremely extreme rare variation where a double single color lens is mounted on each side of a car. What this phenomenon indicates is that about 6% of mechanics must have color blindness in the red spectrum.
     
  23. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    John...now you're on to something...I was gonna put two reds on the left to accentuate left turns and two yellow on the right to....well...you get the idea :)
     
  24. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    Tommy...I knew mine was correct! Robin was strictly an OEM man...
     
  25. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
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    Bubba
    Euro cars (lacking side markers) were "Passed" by Importation during DOT, if they were swapped!

    The "stupid painter" explanation might hold water, but anyone with their car's Owner's Manual can see the Factory orientation.
     

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