I did a Taillight thing - Would like some feedback

[fordguy_1997]

Today was a fun day. I had bought some cheap 99-04 lights and finally decided to act on a concept I’ve been wanting to do with making an alternative to OEM 99-01 Cobra tails.

Not meant to be “replicas” as I don’t think the craftsmanship justifies calling these that, but proof of concept that it was possible was what I was going for.

I botched the other side so I don’t have them as a set (learning curves I suppose), but honestly just wanted to get opinions on the end result. Definitely am thinking of ways to make these things weather resistant so they don’t go to hell over time. That’s the next problem I’d like to solve.

Please let me know ya’lls thoughts on this. I’d be grateful for any feedback on the job you guys could give.

 

[SsnakeSVT03]

Please burn them….

There’s a company out there pumping out the same fugly things and yours look identical. These don’t look anything like OEM 99/01 ambers — more like Halloween craft projects with yellow tape.

You at least wire in an extra socket for the signal?

 

[sam92lx]

My advice would be to tie a chain around them, anchor them to a cinder block, and toss them in Mariana Trench.


*PSA: Amber taillights are WAY over rated.

 

[mysticsvt]

What exactly did you do? There was a post I believe on here where a guy enlayed yellow into his tail lights to do the same. Not sure what you did but if these were all red at the start you did a fantastic job of doing that. Personally, I hate the yellow and have no idea why there is such a cult following for them. Maybe because they are rare or because they are stock on an iconic Mustang. I like the all red tail lights myself. Little more info though on what you did would help.

 

[98 svt]

No

 

[fordguy_1997]

I definitely think the color was super hard to get right with the reflectors. This is pretty much taking a set of clear lenses and applying paint to them so it replicates the Pattern. After messing up the left one as the color I chose for the ambers was too close to red, I chose to do yellow to see if I couldn’t at least create the contrast. Now that I have, I was looking to find a closer color to the amber (chatGPT was actually super helpful in identifying that) and then I was going to try again with another set.

I saw that guy who was selling the famber lights online….. it’s super egregious that they are asking for 650 for them. If you’re gonna make a ripoff of a real thing - at least make it a worthwhile ripoff. I noticed they haven’t done anything with theirs as far as a fifth light addition or anything. Very sloppy attempt to command what they’re asking for imho

But I also don’t necessarily intend to compete in the famber tail light market - I was just trying to get the look for my own cobra down and was wondering if I could get close to the look without paying a high 3 to 4 digit number to get close to it. I believe with a couple tweaks - the answer to that is a yes that passes the 5-10ft away check.

 

[01yellercobra]

They really look just like the lights from that place. I like ambers, but those are no for me dawg.

 

[fordguy_1997]

I definitely think the color was super hard to get right with the reflectors. This is pretty much taking a set of clear lenses and applying paint to them so it replicates the Pattern. After messing up the left one as the color I chose for the ambers was too close to red, I chose to do yellow to see if I couldn’t at least create the contrast. Now that I have, I was looking to find a closer color to the amber (chatGPT was actually super helpful in identifying that) and then I was going to try again with another set.

I saw that guy who was selling the famber lights online….. it’s super egregious that they are asking for 650 for them. If you’re gonna make a ripoff of a real thing - at least make it a worthwhile ripoff. I noticed they haven’t done anything with theirs as far as a fifth light addition or anything. Very sloppy attempt to command what they’re asking for imho

But I also don’t necessarily intend to compete in the famber tail light market - I was just trying to get the look for my own cobra down and was wondering if I could get close to the look without paying a high 3 to 4 digit number to get close to it. I believe with a couple tweaks - the answer to that is a yes that passes the 5-10ft away check.

 

[5.0 Hatch]

 

[03cobra#694]

A for effort, F for a final grade.

 

[PC03GT]

Looks like ass bub

 

[Murderedsvt]

I think you’re better off going to the junkyard and finding a Ford Amber and cutting that out and putting it in, for that makes sense.

 

[fordguy_1997]

I appreciate all the feedback on these. Definitely in the early stages of getting the color down. But it’s just a small garage project I figured I’d give a spin on. I’m gonna try to get a better color match and if I can find it I’ll give it a run and post it up to show the difference.

 

[SuperCharged_Coyote]

Just do all white on the bottom and use amber bulbs.