Tail light refresh question -lenses

[ramonesfreak]

I’ve started on my tail light refresh project and my first question is- when the car was new, we’re the edges of the lenses painted black? See pic below. You can see some black remaining along the edge all around

I’m not sure if this is rubber from the old seals that fused onto the lens edge, whether a prior owner painted them or if that’s how they were from new

If they came new with black edges, I’m guessing some testers model paint will do the job ok?


Thanks - anyone have any tips on getting the lenses nice looking again, feel free to tell me. Was gonna buy new ones but the OEM are quite expensive these days

[Ctopher]

I did just as you are thinking. Here are some pics of mine. One thing you will see is some bubbles in one of the pictures, I’m not sure if they were there before or if it’s related to my painting. Either way it definitely cleaned up the look of the lenses. Oh I also used some plastic polish on them, made them nice and polished. Highly recommend this kit, have used it on all my lenses as well as cleaning up plastic gauge covers on a old 74 Ford F-150. Novus 7100 Plastic Polish Kit

[ramonesfreak]

Yea that looks great. I’ll check out the polish kit. Thanks for the suggestion

[ramonesfreak]

I ordered the Novus 7100 Plastic Polish Kit. Thanks again

[Ctopher]

Glad to help. And I’ve used that kit on all kinds of stuff beyond car stuff. I’ve used it on a old plastic game console from my childhood. Amazing with a little polish will do for old plastic lenses and covers.

CTopher

[30westrob]

I think MY 1973 is when the the lense edges were painted black. Prior years were silver. Rob