1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! : MGA Forum : The MG Experience

1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #1
TeamEvil Thomas C (Disabled) Kingston, MA, USA Sign in to contact	Topic Creator (OP) Sep 28, 2016 08:26 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 5,815 Posts

I was planning on running the stock 1958 tail lights, but have been poking around in Google images and am really coming around to the more elaborate twin lamps that came on the 1960 MGA.

The original '58 tail lights are much cleaner, twin Beehive lights would be cleaner still, but there's something about the '60 lights that's beginning take hold in my heart.

I'm thinking of running them with amber directional lenses on top the red running/brake lights below for a slightly European effect.

Am I just dreaming or are there others here that prefer the mid-year taillights too?

I know . . . my car, my decision, but I'm just wondering.

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #2
gsj28 Gary Jackson Tracy, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1954 MG TF 1959 MG MGA 1500 1965 MG MGB 1965 Pontiac GTO & more	Sep 28, 2016 08:31 PM Joined 17 years ago 1,048 Posts

I personally prefer the single tail lights...

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #3
Rob Z Rob Zucca Camarillo, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1948 MG TC 1960 MG MGA	Sep 28, 2016 08:33 PM Top Contributor Joined 8 years ago 4,041 Posts

TE....I've always been a fan of the Mk 1 tail lamps. You're not alone.

"Time flies like an arrow......Fruit flies like a banana"

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #4
Billm Bill Masquelier Santee, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1960 MG MGA 1600 1965 MG Midget MkII 1966 Austin-Healey Sprite "Sprite" 1966 Austin-Healey Sprite "Sprite"	Sep 28, 2016 08:36 PM Top Contributor Joined 17 years ago 4,473 Posts

I have a'60 with the twin lights and really prefer them
guess that I should like big tailfins (on Chevys, etc) too but don't
BillM

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #5
Redhawk1689 Steven Stockham Salina, KS, USA Sign in to contact 1958 MG MGA 1500 "Belle"	Sep 28, 2016 09:49 PM Joined 9 years ago 2,711 Posts

Nope, I still prefer the "clean" look of the 1500 lamps.

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #6
Dbutler Dave B Fort Wayne, IN, USA Sign in to contact 1960 MG MGA 1600 "White Diamond" 1979 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE)	Sep 28, 2016 09:58 PM Joined 10 years ago 46 Posts

Shaved look, totaling different on my 60 A

image.jpg 38.1 KB

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #7
dipstick Kenny Snyder (RIP) La Center, WA, USA Sign in to contact 1941 Ford N-Series 1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe "Rosie" 1970 MG MGB GT "Pat's GT" 1971 MG MGB "Gifted To Me" & more	Sep 29, 2016 12:00 AM Top Contributor Joined 15 years ago 7,564 Posts

Be convinced that the 1960 tail light plinths fit squarely onto the bolted on fenders with the rubbers. I suspect the factory fellows did some intricate angle & curve filing on the plinths to get then settled evenly at the base, standing straight up, and straight fore-and-aft. If you have the 'flat' rear wings don't try to crush the plinths to fit by over tightening them, the wing will wrinkle. Ask me how I know. cool smiley

Be safe out there.
Kenny

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #8
Mitchman2 Mitchell Andrus Mills River, NC, USA Sign in to contact	Sep 29, 2016 07:50 AM Joined 9 years ago 3,100 Posts

In reply to # 3363827 by Dbutler Shaved look, totaling different on my 60 A

Ya shoulda gotten rid of that boil-on-yer-butt gas filler too.

The Flat Earth Society has members from all corners of the globe.

'30 Model A Ford Town Sedan
'48 MGTC Q Special
'53 XK120SE OTS
'58 MGA roadster
'66 Series 1, 4.2 Jag E-Type OTS

Gas filler.jpg 75.2 KB

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #9
billjamesSTJames Bill James Southport, NC, USA Sign in to contact 1959 MG MGA 1500	Sep 29, 2016 08:29 AM Joined 13 years ago 475 Posts

Here is another look that was also used "In the Day"

Bill

Amelia Island 2016 004.JPG 54.1 KB

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #10
Redhawk1689 Steven Stockham Salina, KS, USA Sign in to contact 1958 MG MGA 1500 "Belle"	Sep 29, 2016 11:34 AM Joined 9 years ago 2,711 Posts

Dang!! Those rear ends look sweet!! This is the MGA's best angle! I love that "flared in" filler cap!

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #11
TeamEvil Thomas C (Disabled) Kingston, MA, USA Sign in to contact	Topic Creator (OP) Sep 29, 2016 12:09 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 5,815 Posts

The car with the four small lights has a nice look to it.

I was very reluctant to do that because of the Beehive lenses and the tendency back in "the day" to over kill everything with Caddy bullets.

Those flat lenses look fine however, are they from a Hillman or Healey? I have one flat lens, it would mean trying to round up the rest before I could even consider that look. Might be a difficult search.

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #12
billjamesSTJames Bill James Southport, NC, USA Sign in to contact 1959 MG MGA 1500	Sep 29, 2016 12:13 PM Joined 13 years ago 475 Posts

They are Healey. With the curve of the car it was not easy to fit the locking ring in the rubber boot.
Bill

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #13
dipstick Kenny Snyder (RIP) La Center, WA, USA Sign in to contact 1941 Ford N-Series 1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe "Rosie" 1970 MG MGB GT "Pat's GT" 1971 MG MGB "Gifted To Me" & more	Sep 29, 2016 12:48 PM Top Contributor Joined 15 years ago 7,564 Posts

Seen at the Whistler, B.C. NAMGAR GT-28.

Be safe out there.
Kenny

Bumperless 1500, Whistler NAMGAR GT-28.jpg 65.1 KB

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #14
TeamEvil Thomas C (Disabled) Kingston, MA, USA Sign in to contact	Topic Creator (OP) Sep 29, 2016 01:00 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 5,815 Posts

I was planning on running with AH Sprite rear bumperettes, but noticed that the stock MGA over riders could be cut down on the inside edges to match the curvature of the rear end and thus remove the notch that the bumper sits in.

Either or, depending, which ever choice is cheaper and most available in nice condition. Front is gonna get the Sebring-style fiberglass valance, how can I resist ? ! ? !

But for now, it's all about the tail lights—

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Re: 1960 Tail lights, love 'em or hate? I'm totally comin' around ! #15
Zur Dave H. Amarillo, TX, USA Sign in to contact	Sep 29, 2016 01:03 PM Joined 9 years ago 1,019 Posts

I really that "over-riders" only bumper look...

Dave

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