Carello Lights

Does anyone know if you are still able to source the original Carello lights? I know the likes of Superformance and Italiancarparts etc have copies. The reversing light section of my lights have yellowed. I've tried polishing them as I've seen others here do but I don't seem to be able to restore them. I don't want to put copies on my car and I think putting old looking lights on may look a bit funny. I might be being a bit pedantic, but that's just me.

I'm really interested in trying to source some original lights. Any leads or contacts would be greatly appreciated.

 

chek ebay usa i bought a set on there they pop up every now and then or give ferrparts a call they part out 308 often they may have a good set or pair....

 

Were they new or secondhand?

 

They where used my engine cover release sh#t itself so i had to smash brake light to open the cover i bought a complete set them just in case ferrparts or try wreckers in UK

 

Ouch, sorry to hear that mate. I'm sure I've heard similar stories over time. I know at one point I couldn't get mine to open but didn't have to take that action.

 

If original and new is what you are looking for I would think that Maranello Conn(Ferrari UK), Eurospares or maybe Dennis McCann are your only bet. Anyone else would likely be selling off a wrecked car.

BTW, when you do get around to buying them make sure to buy a pair so they will match. Ouch the cost just doubled.

 

I took some pics today to show the slight discolouration in the reversing lens section of the lights (you can see the right light is slighty yellow). I have tried using a light polish as was recommended in a thread here some time ago. I and even tried toothpaste that was recommended but no luck. If anyone has any other secrets on how to bring them up please advise.
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I have used Jewlers Rouge with a buffing wheel to good success. Just clean them with a mild detergent and dry thourougly. Take it slow and be careful not to burn them, and as long as there are no major scratches, they usually buff up very nicely.

There is also a product out there called "Plastic Polish" made by a company called Novus. I have used this to bring back a slightly hazed plastic convertible top rear window with good results. this works wonders for maintenance on plasitc tail light lenses, and can also help to buff them out, but not with a wheel. You just use this with a cloth.
Good luck!

 

Griot's Garage polishing compounds, pads, and their 3" polisher. Start with their plastic polish, and if that doesn't work, move down one step at a time - starting with #4, then #3, etc. See what works and then work your way back up to plastic polish for a nice shine. I did my lenses and even my original convertible window this way and both turned out great.

 

Brett,

Just EXACTLY how did you get yours open?

The conventional wisdom is breaking a tail light/turn signal or cutting a hole thru the bottom of the trunk.

IF YOU managed something non-destructive to get the latch open you are a NEW F-Chat/F-Car H E R O and should bask in your rightful glory.

Seriously.

 

FWIW, I couldn't tell the diff between new repops and the old originals I replaced. Maybe someone with a finer eye, or who knows what to look for can tell the diff. I mostly compared all the markings, I didn't check edge radius, or count refraction cells and such.

That said, you can try GT Parts,as they quoted me $500 per light vs $200/light for Repops from Rutlands last August. Maybe at $500, the GT lights are original.

My originals had age hardened such that some of the mounting stud bosses had broken, and I deemed them unsalvageable, unless I lived in Cuba or someplace where nothing was available, and had to make due.

Doug

 

Exactly what had happened to mine Doug. I bought some full thread bolts with the correct thread, cut them down and used a 2 pack adhesive to glue them in place. I have since found out that you can purchase the black casing, 360C mentioned it to me a few weeks ago. As mine also have a few cracks as can be seen in one of the pics and as I managed to remove the lens accidentally that may be another option. The repairs I've done should last some time. Do you have a link to GT Parts??

The reason I want the originals is that they have all the markings i.e. they have Carello written on them. I know I'm being a little anal, but thats just me.

Edit:- PM sent regarding markings.
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Hi Mark, hey hows that steering wheel spacer going. Mate I never got to that point of having to destroy a light. I was lucky and managed to fluke openeing it the conventional way. Was a fraction of a millimeter in adjustement between opening it and not.

 

All the marking on the repops are EXACTLY as the originals. ALL markings are tehre. They all have Carello on them.

The new ones just don't photograph well to show off the markings because there isn't 20 years of dirt packed in the corners of the raised markings to high light them.

GT parts is in Phoenix or Peoria, AZ, a google search will find them.

Doug

 

Note: I only compared the red light against the old, I will check the new orange/white lens against the old on Monday.

Doug

 

Thanks Doug, greatly appreciated mate. I'll enter Phoenix. I did try GT Parts and got a heap of links to Ford.

 

GT Ferrari parts will get you narrowed down a fair bit.

Doug

 

New orange lights are identically marked as the originals, near as I can tell.

Doug

 

Thanks Doug, I might buy a set just to have a look.

 

I bought my new 'original' lights at Ricambi America. You could try to put the lights in a dishwasher, but not too hot! I also found out you have to be carefull when installing your new lights. The glue can crack and your light will fall off. Ricambi sent me a new light with no extra costs.
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I bought mine from Rutlands off their ebay deal (which was $400 less for a set of four than if you simply called them up and didn't mention ebay)

At the time (last August), they said they were waiting for a new shipment of lights to come in because the last bunch used the wrong glue and all the lenses were falling off.

BTW, I think the Rutlands guy said they were made in Brazil.

Doug

 

Ah, that's interesting Kris, are those new lights in the picture you have posted? If so, I wonder if someone has acquired the original moulding tools? The detail on your Red Stop light is exactly as that on the originals. Also the inner detail on the silver section where the lens fell off is the same as the original.