308 rear lights changed?

might be around here many times, but couldnt find it

Any idea why some cars show reverse lights in the back?

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-noAAOSwXYtYx2uk/s-l1600.jpg

 

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.

 

Reversed tail lights are the result of moron repairman or painters...they all came from the factory the same...

 

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.

 

that was my point as well.. seems fairly obvious indeed. No idea why this is an issue

 

I have been told that in the day some states auto inspection rules required this change of location for the lights.

 

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.

 

I have seen them reversed like this when the cars were just a couple years old back in the day.

 

Humm - so guess the question then is - is it a reason for concern or not..


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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?

 

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

 

See!
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A lot of people don't know that some of these reverse tail light were done at the factory.

 

Hi Mike - do you know why though?




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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. [emoji42]

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

You almost had me, Mike!

 

I took this picture in July 1983. This is an 80 model. It left the factory this way or someone swapped them very early on.

Look at the same car in 2013. Someone swapped them back and some point over the course of three decades.
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Someone also swapped the speedometer, but that is another story...

 

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.

 

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

 

Tommy...I knew mine was correct! Robin was strictly an OEM man...

 

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.