VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Radios, Tools, Accessories 1941 Back UP Light Color

What was the color of the 1941 backup light. Black or Body color? Or whatever. I'm preparing to mount mine and need to know.

Also, any deminsions as to the correct location would be helpful. I know it mounts about midway from the left bumper tip and the bumper guard and about midway between the trunk and the bumper rear face. Any suggestions/information as to exact location will be helpful as well.

MB: I think this was discussed sometime in the past but, as usual, I couldn't get anything on it using the "Search" probe. Go figure. Par for the course. Computers and fig newtons must hate me.

Thanks and best,

Charlie

It seems that so far anyone who has noted this question know the answer.

No hurry. I'll wait a bit longer so that I keep is black instead of painting it body cover I'll have this forum to show the judges that the answer to color was obscure. That way I can plead ignorance and can thus ask for minimum points off.

That should work don't you think. Yeah, right.

All kidding aside I know that Gene, Chipper, Ray, Diz and all the Mikes out there know the answer but are just letting me dangle for the sport of it. Are too!

Best,

Charlie

I will stick my neck out and take a shot at an answer. If the back-up light was not chrome plated it was painted body color. I have found them both ways.

You all should maybe just ignore this but whatever.

Ray,

Re back up light. I hear what you're saying.

All I have ever seen have been black. I think that's the way they came but don't really know, But if they came in black then I would doubt the dealer or buyer would have gone to the trouble of painting 'em the body color. Seems that that right there would be a lot of trouble and not worth the time, prep, paint and labor. Ya follow me? Not much bang for the buck, so to speak. Are you attending?

This issue is worrying the pee out of me. I just know that if I go to the trouble to paint the stinkin' thing Kingston Grey that it won't be ten minutes at a show before some knowledgable individual will say. "Hey, you know that right there backup light you got right there on the tail pan is the wrong color, don't you? Why didn't you ask the VCCA Chat folks about that before you went and done it all wrong. What a shame. Maybe the judges won't notice but I'm thinking that every dumb a-- would know better." Then I'll flip outa my skull. Then all I can do is drag out my 1907 nickel plated, pearl handle, Colt 45 with 51/2 inch barrel and look for a secluded, quite place where no one will hear the shot, not make much of a mess or annoy the other folks.

I better not take the gun. Whatever Rommel took should do the job nicely. I'll see if my Pharmacist will mix me up a couple. Take both to be sure the job gets done. Wouldn't want to take any chances, you know.

Best,

Charlie

BTW: You (along with Diz, Gene, Chipper, Rusty, Russell, etc, et al) are the most knowledgable on the subject of accessories. Don't let me down here. I'm counting on you guys. Am too! So again, black, chrome or body color?

My thoughts are if not chrome plated it would have been painted black at the factory, If so desired the dealer or owner could paint it body color.

I agree with your thoughts about it being installed the way it came out of the box. Maybe a few guys bought one, took it home and painted it?

Go back and watch the video I gave you a link to in your question about the turn signal wire cover. Up at 8:00 you will see a very nice , black, back up light!

I believe you will not lose any points leaving it black!

You can get a look at location also.

Gene and Russell,

I think it would not get any points off either black (out of the box) or painted body color.

The only thing about that is I don't think any of them were painted body color and accordingly a judge may deduct points.

I do like the notion of painting it the body color though because otherwise it looks all alone stuck there by itself without else painted black around it. Know what I mean?

Because I've got to paint the original skirts body color anyway (Unfortunately the aftermarket ones that came with grey cabriolet are know as "flat skirts owing to them not having the slight bulge that the original ones had). While I'm at it , I might as well paint the backup light body color as well. (Fortunately I have a nice set of originals with the correct moldings to include the short pieces that goes below the stone guards.)

Russell, yes I did note that the on the cameo cream cabriolet was black. And, stuck out like a sore thumb. I'm inclined to think that the only way the black one would look nice would be on a black car.

Looks like I will go with body color on the backup light and "Damn-- the torpedoes, full speed ahead." (David Glasgow Farragut (1801-1870) At the battle of Mobile Bay. August 5, 1864.)

If I put a set of Diamond Backs on it then the deduction for the backup light being the wrong color will likely be minor in comparison anyway.

Thanks to you and all others who have considered my dilemma. I realize I'm being somewhat annal about this but that's just me. Is too!

Best,

Charlie

BTW: I wish I could get some of you (Ray, Gene and any other of our knowledgeable 1941 nuts to go over the video of the cameo cream cabriolet with all those neat accessories and point out the incorrect items on it. That would be helpful to me. I have noted the following already:

a. Red paint in groves where it should not be.

b. Manifolds.

c. "Shark Teeth" rims. (They do look nicer than the 41s)

BTW2: Question: I have a set of accessory switches for "FOG", BACK", HEAT and DEF". They are all that sick light tan color (with colors varying a bit) and not the dark brown (42-48?) or black ones. Are they the right ones?

Now back to bed.

Hi charlie,here is the information I have on the back up lite from the merchandising bulletin #38 dated jan 20, 1941 from the tarrytown zone to the dealers in its zone, which states "when the stock of part 985719 is exhusted shipments of the new BACK-Up Lamp part 985778 will be made. This new lamp is entirely chrome-plated, making it unnecessary to paint the body of the lamp to match the car color." So considering this information the first lamps came with most likely a black primer that the dealers were supposed to paint body color, most likely some of them did, and some just installed them with the black color as like ray said I have seen them in all three configurations which from what I understand has led a lot controversey and to deduction of points on all three combinations of these lights. I have been told these stories by many people over the years as a vendor of chev parts at both carlise and hershey so if it were me I would use either one that is painted body color or the chrome plated one, as these days I doubt that most judges would know the difference. hope this helps. As far as the switches go there was a discussion on chat a while ago about the correct colors for the different years.the switches used on the 1940 & 41 were the lighter tan color with the white tab keys. good luck diz

Thanks Diz,

Your post is most helpful owing to the bulletin you cited above. Accordingly, I have firmly settled on painting it body color.

I think I have the right switches. I plan on placing a photograph here on Chatter to see if you and others (whose opinion I most respect) agree that they are the correct ones.

I hope you are doing well.

Best,

Charlie

BTW: I may get me a little sign that cites the bulletin and anchor it to the bumper so as to help folks know that the stinkin' backup light is the right color.