Did not know until recently that there were two styles of tail lens: one with a stainless dress, and the other just plain. In researching discovered that the stainless trimmed one was for the CS and all other models were the plain ones. Another reading referred to the trimmed one as being early production lenses. Wondering where in lies the truth and as well would assume that the stainless trimmed ones are hard to come by for all aftermarket suppliers exclusively show the plain one with no mention of the one in question. Any thoughts ?

 

The taillight lens with the stainless trim came only on the Cutlass Supreme in '68 and '69, and I believe '70 as well. All the other models used the untrimmed lens. Or, at least, that's how I remember it!

Randy C.

 

close. stainless is for cutlass supreme and F-85.

 

not exactly correct

 

Well here's something I've not noticed before. I knew the 1968-69 had a strip of stainless attached to the raised portion of the lens. I thought the 1970 supreme had the same. But when I looked at a 1970 F85 I'm just seeing silver paint on the raised portion. Is this how they came or do you guys think it was a past owner who painted it on? Is this one of those F85 only things? John

DSCN6510.jpg

 

That's how they came. 70 F-85 had a painted silver ridge. The supreme it was stainless. Look closely, the part number on the lens should also be different.

 

For '68 there are 2 (maybe 3 ) taillight versions not incl wagons. First two always had stainless.

- 1. Single panel for the entire light assembly - Supremes & F-85


- 2. Two panels for the light assembly - Everything else (442, 'S',etc..)


-3. - Maybe - I have seen some 442s that had the two-panel lights, but instead of the stainless trim, this ridge was painted black. I don't know if this was a factory design as most 442s I've seen have the two panel with stainless.

 

Thanks for your input. It is kind of interesting about the variations. To confirm juniors statement my 70 CS has the stainless as well. My 69 cutlass S originally had the plain Jane's but I elected to install the stainless version and as Junior stated, if you check the Guide #s -- they are different.
Still unanswered for me however is the rarity of obtaining the stainless 69 tail lens for someone doing a " part correct" restoration. If you check Fusick, for example, there are three versions of the 70 lens: stainless, painted and plain - available today on the market. For the 69 there seems only to be the plain version available