number lights and mirrors

[bkozlow]

While many try to duplicate original configurations, one must remember that the street and the track are two different animals. Where one works fine on the track, it my present a problem on the street. Case in point, the number circle lights on the doors of team cars. You may want to consider putting a disconnect in the door for each light. Way back at the dawn of man when I did my first restoration of a team car, I immediately put on side view mirrors as required by law for my State. The mirrors worked fine until the first night out. This car had a new rebuild engine and clutch assembly and was just the way it had come from Le Mans. Number lights were connected to the low beams and the glare in the mirrors was terrible and made the mirrors a real distraction and a negative. This problem, if it is one for you can be over come by not adding the lights or putting in the disconnect or while not original, putting the lights at the 9 o'clock position instead of the 3 o'clock position on the door number circles. So, I suggest use tape to attach each and try them in the dark to see if you have a problem as I did. Your seat and height all effect this position so you may not have the same problem but do a temporary setup before you make it final to be safe.

Bill K

[CompClassics]

Like this.....

[xb-60]

Very nice picture

Can I ask if anyone knows which lights were used for the door number lighting way back then?

I intend adding number lights (but no numbers) inline with the 'decommisioned racer for the road' look on my car; I have some Massey Ferguson dash lights set aside to use.

Cheers!
Glen

[bkozlow]

Ford license plate lights, large chrome housing like the type used on Ford pickup trucks

Bill K

[twobjshelbys]

My car had the lights but my roundels were entirely on the front fender and the light was just forward and below the mirror at roughly 1-O-Clock position. The location is probably the difference between 289 and 427 cars.

I was told they were some Italian light. They had a frosted glass that reduced glare.

[NROTOXIN]

Meatball lighting
Cobra Performance - Light lucas meatball number light
https://www.csxparts.com/p-1330-ligh...ber-light.aspx

[bkozlow]

OK, I am OLD, so I screw up more than usual!!!! Originally at the 9 o'clock but the 3 o'c'ock is better if your number circle is on the door. The Daytonas had the number circles in the middle of the doors, so this light placement caused a problem with the mirrors.

Bill K

[ALF]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Can I ask if anyone knows which lights were used for the door number lighting way back then?

Hi Glen
I assume you're looking for the:
LUCAS L534

Racing number illumination lights on FIAs

[CompClassics]

They were Lucas lights with a Lucas manufactured spacer piece. The Ford part was not used until the GT40s.

[Slither]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

Like this.....

Great photo Big John!