Euro Tails!

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit) 07/19/2018 at 11:05 • Filed to: tail lights, euro tails, jdm tails, trans am, torchlopnik

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I’ve always been fascinated by ‘Euro Tails’. Tail lights that European, Japanese, Australian , and otherworldly markets that DEMAND an amber rear turn signal that do not come standard on American cars, which are usually all-red.

When I had a couple Neons back in the day it was popular to install Euro tails, with an amber section, and I liked the way they looked.

My first Crown Vic had an amber turn signal back there, but they deleted that on later models and went to an ugly all red version. The amber one looked much more stately.

With my Subarus, strangely, amber WAS a US option, but the JDM versions had white lenses with amber bulbs. Hmm.

I’ve known the 2nd gen Trans Am was exported in VERY small numbers, and when a picture of one pops up on my Facebook or Twitter or Instagram from one of the pages I follow, I get all kinds of sad that I’ll probably never find a set of those ultra-rare tail lights.

In fact, there’s so little info out there, or pictures, and  there seem to be a few different styles even. Sadly, most older forum posts have old expired Photobucket images linked, so I can’t even see or link them here.

What I have found out is that they’re being made custom now, and the factory RPO code was T90. I cannot verify what the differences are, or why that last picture has just TWO amber strips and not 3 like the others.

But I do fancy me a set.

GTI Sprinks > Takuro Spirit 07/19/2018 at 11:11

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It’s wild seeing euro tails on old american muscle.
On the flip side, coming from euro cars, it’s weird and annoying to know that for whatever reason (typically and broadly explained as “cost”) euro manufacturers switch to a lesser american spec tail light, completely changing the look of the vehicle.
I also fancy a set of euro tails for my current car.

benjrblant > Takuro Spirit 07/19/2018 at 11:11

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Proper tail lamps have three lens colors.

Takuro Spirit > benjrblant 07/19/2018 at 11:13

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THIS.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Takuro Spirit 07/19/2018 at 11:14

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not tails.... but i’d like to know wich genius came up with this plan

blinkers under or on the grill side of the lights...

the amount of times ive nearly gone under a car coz the blinkers arent visible with the regular lights on and blinding me is getting stupid

put the damn blinkers on the outer corner where i can see them damnit

My bird IS the word > Takuro Spirit 07/19/2018 at 11:24

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What I don’t understand is why american manufacturers have to have, what I understand to be, special tail lights just for NA. It seems to be more cost effective and most importantly much safer to use separate amber lamps than to just use red for everything.

SmugAardvark > Takuro Spirit 07/19/2018 at 11:27

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When I was in high school, I had a Chevy Cavalier. More than anything, I wanted to swap out the stock tails for a set of (JDM, yo!) Toyota Cavalier lights.

Honestly, they look quite a  lot better, but they were always in that “can’t quite justify the cost when I’m making $7.50/hour” price range.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Takuro Spirit 07/19/2018 at 11:32

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There are some vehicles I like the red and amber look on. My Land Rover is not one of them - I have all red lenses on back and all clear on front.

Talking of rare lights the other way, the American spec first gen Cortina lights are a thing:

...although based on some of the mold numbers of the Cortina rears I have (English spec), the lenses have US DOT numbers on them even if they’re amber. Curious.

Takuro Spirit > SmugAardvark 07/19/2018 at 11:38

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Where I went to college there was a DaimlerChrysler technician class there that got production rejects to train on.

They had an export RHD Chrysler Neon.

I had a LHD Dodge Neon.

I asked if I could trade tail lights.

Because I too was broke.

They said no.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Takuro Spirit 07/19/2018 at 11:48

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Amber blinkers are great, but I agree with the ‘Murican regulation of surface area. Some Euro cars have tiny strips hiding under the glare of the brake lights or headlights as another commenter showed.

Worst is  a red blinker sharing a bulb with the brakes. If it’s not LED, it’s awful.

Right colour, right size, right separation from other lighting that can overpower it.

Milky > Takuro Spirit 07/19/2018 at 12:03

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What I find interesting are the clear lens’ . Seems like someone figured it was cheaper to make the lens white and change some LEDs.

Cé hé sin > GTI Sprinks 07/19/2018 at 12:19

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That’s als o due to American regs about the size of the indicat ors, be they red or orange. Many rest of the world lights have indic ators smaller than required by the Americans and it’s found cheaper to make them all red.

Conversely ROW Mustangs don’t have sequential indicators because Ford wouldn’t spend the money .

GTI Sprinks > Cé hé sin 07/19/2018 at 13:11

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Yes, i’m aware. :)
“Typically and broadly as ‘cost’” Be it the cost to redesign, modification, compliance testing, etc. 

MoCamino > benjrblant 07/19/2018 at 13:17

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Amber turn signal is best turn signal.

Leonardo DiCabriolet > Takuro Spirit 07/20/2018 at 00:39

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The amount of time and money I spent tracking down a set of export a mber tails for my car was excessive, but totally worth it.

Never knew they were offered on Trans Ams, very cool #AmberAllTheThings

Takuro Spirit > Leonardo DiCabriolet 07/20/2018 at 09:26

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Mmmmmm my favorite SN95 tail lights.