VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Radios, Tools, Accessories 1940 backup lamp

Was the 1940 backup lamp mounted on a bracket or by drilling a hole through the body?

Thanks,

The 1940 Chevrolet back-up light was mounted on the body by drilling 1 hole thru the body. The wire for the back-up light goes thru the center of the mounting bolt. I can send you digital photo of what an original one looks like that is mounted on my 1940 business coupe. There is a template for determining the correct mounting position.
In the Midwest there was a gentleman from the Fort Wayne, Indiana area who reworked motorcycle running lights into a reproduction 1940 Chevy back-up lamp. I had owned one of them and I have seen a number of these over the years for sale at Hershey Swap Meet. Here lately, the supply has mostly dried up. Be aware of paying top dollar for a reproduction light.
I have an original 1940 Guide back-up light to trade for a 1940 center arm rest or?

Thanks, Toolman!

I don't think I have the heart to drill a hole in Sweetie Pie after filling so many that Mrs. Williams's husband drilled over the years. I'd love to have the digital picture that you offered. I will keep a look out for that elusive arm rest that you are looking for! :)

Thanks,

That same light was used on Harley Davidson bikes, Allis Chalmers tractors (as a tiallamp) and hundreds of other vehicles. They pop up at swap meets and a fellow from Des Moines IA. sells them. I used to make the bezel for the lens for him. It shuoldn't be too hard to come up with one...

Thanks, Coley!

I'm on the hunt, so will hopefully find a nice one. :)

To the best of my knowledge, Guide or a similar manufacturer made small running lights for Harley Davidson that look similar to the 1940 Chevy back-up light unit. The main metal painted body, the chrome door/rim are virtually identical to the 1940 Chevy back-up light. The difference is in 2 areas. The first is the lens, which is available in NORS in glass. The NORS glass lens looks very close to original. The NORS plastic back-up light lens do not look original.
However, the main problem with the motorcycle lights is the mounting bolt. In almost all instances that I have seen, the mounting bolt on the motorcycle light is exactly 90 degrees in relationship to the light beam. On the 1940 Chevy back-up lights, the angle is not 90 degrees. The angle is more like 110 degrees. If you were to mount any of these motorcycle lights on a 1940 Chevy in the correct mounting position, the back-up light would shine down onto the rear bumper, instead of backwards.