Reverse / Backup Light?

[Motorhead27]

I was lying awake late last night, as insomnia is not a friend of sleep but is to the thought process. I was thinking about Cobras and various details. Somehow I ended up on the reverse light and how Cobra's don't have one. I've seen Cobra's where the owner installed one but usually it just doesn't look nice. Then I remembered one guy who made a reverse light that would drop down from the bottom of the car via a servo motor when needed. Even if your state doesn't require one for registration, I know there is a certain comfort in knowing that you have a backup light to tell everyone of your intentions. The hide away reverse light had the right idea, but perhaps is too low crossed my mind.

Then I had an idea. What if Cobra's could have a hidden reverse light, in plain view of the rear end? The Lucas license plate light becomes the reverse / backup light. It would take some clever design work, but the light inside the housing would be a movable part and swing down 90 degrees to become the reverse light. Making a small moving assembly that could fit mostly inside the light housing would be the problem but not an impossible one. The reverse switch used to activate the rear light would activate some sort of small servo that would rotate the light in some fashion. Using LED's for the light would result in a tiny but very bright light would be perfect for a reverse light. When you aren't backing up, no one would know that the license plate light also serves another function.



What do you guys think of this idea?

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Sounds like a good idea, I tricked out my light when I addded a third brake light to it. You can check it out here......

First Coast Cobra Club • View topic - My Third Brake Light Modification

The way I did it could probably be turned into a backup light also.

Earl

[Motorhead27]

I like the mod Earl.

[Grubby]

Not for me, but very clever. Build up a prototype.

John

[Three Peaks]

Seems like a lot of work to reinvent the wheel. IMHO. I'd like to see a prototype and a cost before commenting further.

The most common fix for the back up light is a Mini Cooper back up light you can buy at BMW for around $20 or so. Cut a hole in the body just below the trunk lid and inset it in and wire it and you've got it done. You can glass in a nice enclosure for it for a couple bucks worth of materials.

Bob

[Motorhead27]

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

Seems like a lot of work to reinvent the wheel. IMHO. I'd like to see a prototype and a cost before commenting further.

The most common fix for the back up light is a Mini Cooper back up light you can buy at BMW for around $20 or so. Cut a hole in the body just below the trunk lid and inset it in and wire it and you've got it done. You can glass in a nice enclosure for it for a couple bucks worth of materials.

Bob

I don't think it's reinventing the wheel, the wheel would have to already exist in order to be reinvented in this case.

While the Mini Cooper light is the common one used to have a backup light, it screws with the look of the Cobra IMO.

Right now this is just thinking out loud but if you were to create this, I imagine it would cost at least twice much as the Lucas part ($35). Chances are it would be three times as much though. There would have to be a hinge as part of the housing and that means producing a new one, most likely from billet aluminum. The electronic pieces and hardware wouldn't cost much.

A more cost effective method would be going with Earl's idea.

[kobrabytes]

Cobras have a reverse gear?

[Mother]

Originally Posted by kobrabytes

Cobras have a reverse gear?

Naw! Just open the door and stick your leg out and shove!! Watch the hot pipe. The inside leg burns are nasty when the heat shields are removed. The burns leave a perminate reminder not to come in contact with the side exhaust pipe.

[kobrabytes]

Originally Posted by Mother

Naw! Just open the door and stick your leg out and shove!! Watch the hot pipe. The inside leg burns are nasty when the heat shields are removed. The burns leave a perminate reminder not to come in contact with the side exhaust pipe.

Funny, that's how I always have done it.

[Motorhead27]

A bit off topic but since you guys mentioned leg burns and the hot pipes. Has anyone ever JetHot coated their pipes?

[mhacars]

Yes. They still get hot, but cool down faster.