<VV> Late Model Rear Amber Turn Signals.

[Arlette Pat & Carl Kelsen]

G’day Everyone,
Firstly I genuinely appreciate everyone’s comments and have taken note of everything said. That said I never wanted this issue to become a debate over which system is best. That’s not the issue for me.

I appreciate that many Corvair owners are happy to simply continue with stop/tail lights that also provide a flashing red turn signal. I respect this view but in the end it’s simply not and has never been, a good system. The fact that its been used for decades is not a sound reason to retain it.

In Australia, (where most of you know I live) back late 1959 (nearly 58 years ago!) an Australian Design Rule (ADR) was introduced that legally required all new cars from 1960 to be fitted with amber rear turn signals.

This law was introduced following extensive European research that conclusively proved beyond any question, the exceptional clarity and resulting safety provided by having a separate dedicated function amber signal over one provided by a combination red stop/tail/turn signal light

This was particularly true on a dark wet night when a vehicle might have high electrical loads (wipers, headlights, radio, heater etc) and be turning left or right in a major intersection. An amber signal will be much clearly than a red one in these circumstances.

Accordingly all post 1960 American cars imported into Australia as a part of their RHD conversion needed to also be fitted with amber rear turn signals. General Motors in many cases made export amber tail lights for this very reason. But only for full size Chevrolet Impalas and Belairs which at the time, were sold as new cars in Australia. They were never made for Corvairs as Chevrolet Corvairs were never sold in Australia.

What I am trying to do, is to provide the unquestionable safety of a dedicated rear amber turn signal without altering the rear end appearance of our ‘65 Monza convertible and at the same time comply with our Australian Design Rules.

The obvious way to do this, is to use an amber globe inside the existing ‘clear’ back up lens. If I can acheive a dual function and retain the back up light then all the better!

I know that in the United States most cars still retain the older style red turn signals but I think the USA will progressively follow Europe and Australia with amber turn signals becoming the norm. It makes absolute sense.

So, my options as I see it are:
1/ Convert the existing ‘back-up’  tail light housings so that they can accomodate two globes. One clear for back up. One amber for turn signal.

2/ Use this new LED technology to provide a single globe that can flash either ‘clear’ or ‘amber’ and occupy the existing back-up light housing.

If there is anyone reading this that can tell me where I could obtain the LED gobes / fittings that I would need to use my option 2, then please let me know. If I am unable to find the suitable LED fittings then my only option will be as best as possible, modify the tailight housings as mentioned in option 1.

The issue as to whether RHD or LHD was best was raised in one reply. So I feel I should respond to this.

Simply, one is NOT better from the other. Simply some countries are RHD and some are LHD. Our Corvair is converted to RHD and I am very proud of this conversion which looks in every way like it was factory built RHD.

As a RHD car it will be 100% safer and better suited to Australian roads where we drive RHD vehicles on the left hand side of the road.

With the turn signal issue, can anyone direct me as to where I might obtain these late model LED tail lights? I seem to recall seeing them at a CORSA convention, about three or so years back.

Kind regards to everyone from a cold Australia (its our winter now).

Carl Kelsen
RHD ‘65 Monza convertible