Correct front turn signal lights?

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by my427cobra

After seeing a lot of Cobra's at last years 50th celebrations at Pomona and Monterey, I noticed a number of variations on the front turn signal/parking light lenses on the 289's and 427's.

I also noticed the same variations after looking closely at the pics in the 2012 SAAC annual.

Some 289 cars had the Lucas L539 "winged" lenses in amber and some were clear.

Some 427 cars had the L539 lenses and some had the slightly larger L691's in amber and some in clear.

In these pics the L539 is on the left and the L691 is on the right.





Anyone want to comment on the "correct" applications?

Cheers
Greg

The L539 was used on all 289 Cobras. I believe all of them were clear. 427 Cobras used the L539 until approximately CSX3200 when the change was made to the L691. I believe all the L691's used were amber. I don't know if or when the L539 changed from clear to amber on earlier 427's
Laws were changing in the US at the time to amber signals. Some manufactures used amber bulbs behind clears lens until changing to amber lens.
I would guess some number of 289 Cobra owners changed from clear to amber lens.

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by A-Snake

The L539 was used on all 289 Cobras. I believe all of them were clear. 427 Cobras used the L539 until approximately CSX3200 when the change was made to the L691. I believe all the L691's used were amber. I don't know if or when the L539 changed from clear to amber on earlier 427's
Laws were changing in the US at the time to amber signals. Some manufactures used amber bulbs behind clears lens until changing to amber lens.
I would guess some number of 289 Cobra owners changed from clear to amber lens.

Clear was most Cobras. A few scattered cars (including one of the SA team racers) received amber lenses but there seems to be no pattern of why or when. Amber was standard for 427 Cobra street cars. The is also a red lens that some other types of cars used as brake/marker lights.

[rsk289]

For the RHD cars, front would have been clear, and doubled as sidelight and indicator, flashing white. In Sept '65 UK law changed to require amber indicators, so any car built after this had an amber lens. At the same time the switch was made to two separate taillights, one amber for indicator and the other red for brake/taillight. As the car bodies were built over here, I would expect this to hold for other markets too, as I don't think lighting was fitted in the US - but I bow to the experts on that point. Anyhow, for legal requirements, that should be your change point. If the car was registered for road use after Sept '65 it would fail MOT and be illegal with clear indicators. 1965 registrations had a 'C' suffix, '66 went to 'D' etc. So a few 'C's would have the amber.