Crystal Clear Parking Lights for 1961 - 1963

[Bill Prince]

A couple of years ago, I designed and fabricated Crystal Clear Parking Light lenses with hand polished multi-parabolic reflectors, for my 1961 Lincoln Continental sedan and convertible. I also installed them in the backup light housings.

Back in the 1980s, before I worked for NASA, I was a lighting design Engineer. At that time I designed commercial parking lot type of light fixtures for Ford Motor Company's Rotuma Catalog, Shell service stations, and McDonalds - including designing the photometrics. I enjoyed that work and have since used some of that knowledge to design and fabricate many architectural lighting fixtures (FLW inspired) for my house. I have also designs some lighting modifications for my antique cars, including the Crystal Clear parking lights.

I have always thought highly of Cadillac's parking lights of the 1940s through the 1960s, which had clear lenses (some with molded in parabolic refractors), and polished parabolic reflectors. Unfortunately, Lincoln seemed to always use the less attractive and cheaper looking simple Fresnel lenses used by lessor cars like the Falcon.

I designed a kit, which does not require the removal of the parking light or backup light housing to install. It includes two each of: 3/8" thick optical quality clear acrylic lens with center chrome bullet and computer cut chrome vinyl border, multi-parabolic hand polished aluminum reflector, lower computer cut chrome vinyl stick-on reflector, clear amber incandescent bulb, new die cut gasket, and installation instructions. I will list them for sale in the For Sale section later. I have partially completed 20 sets available for sale. Due to the expense of a small production run, I may not have more fabricated - we will see.

Anyway, I think that they look very cool, and they can be easily remove for originality if desired. These are a very mild customizing and most people might not even recognize that they are not factory parking/backup lights. Note: These only work with the center mounted light bulb socket housings, not the side mounted socket housings.

[wimpy]

When will you have a price? What are the red lights & are they legal?

[Bill Prince]

Sorry that I have not posted the Crystal Clear Parking Lights for sale under the "For Sale" section yet, but I have managed to get side tracked on some other design projects. However, the price will be $149.00 plus $34.00 shipping in the US. That is for the kit to do two parking lights (left and right), or two backup lights (left and right). The kit includes: 2 each 3/8" thick optical grade clear acrylic lenses with chrome boarders and center chrome bullets, 2 each die cut lens gaskets, 2 each multi-parabolic hand polished aluminum reflectors, 2 lower CNC cut chrome vinyl lower reflectors with adhesive backing, 2 each amber 1157 bulbs, and instruction sheet.

As far as the red lights on my car. They are for show only and are not wired up, so they don't work as is with the headlight switch. I do have them working in an alternating pattern with a separate switch, but only at car shows to show someone. I only use low beams at night, however I have only driven the car at night a handful of times in the 20 yrs that I have had the car. I have only driven the car about 1,000 miles in over 20 years and it is registered as an Antique Vehicle. If I was to use the car as an everyday vehicle, I would remove the red lights. I designed the electrical alternating circuitry for the alternating - a sort of ingenious simple design and cheap to build. Anyway, thanks for inquiring about the Crystal Clear Parking Lights.
Bill