Rear light reflectors

[jbuckl]

Are rear light reflectors worth getting remade?
Straw poll.
Replies please.

[mole42]

Yes.

[barkerwilliams]

Were you thinking of a 3d print that would be relatively inexpensive or a full-fat remake? I have found that using LED's there is less reliance on a reflector to make the light visible.
I have a number of sets of rear lights and would be interested in a couple of sets.
Alan

[sujitroy]

I would be interested if the price is reasonable. With directional LED's these are not so critical as with regular bulbs.
Sujit

[APS]

Are rear light reflectors worth getting remade?
Straw poll.
Replies please.

Do you mean the silver reflectors for the brake and indicator lights, as in my pic below ?
Or the red reflector piece ?

if the former then definitely. I have found that they are not listed by any supplier, but they are replaceable as they are only held in by two plastic pegs. I would think they would be relatively simple to produce and are probably found in many other triumphs of the era.

I have today sprayed mine with chrome paint. I can say that they are better but nothing like oem silver finish. I agree using LEDs does overcome the issues of getting enough light out the back of the car. But I have painted mine so that they have a consistent look behind the lenses.
A41EF20E-677E-4B03-8FE9-8A190F0EC193.jpeg 4B794B7E-BB18-4665-81D8-5D999617D14D.jpeg

[Philip Wardle]

Yes, I'm in favour - good idea, thanks for the suggestion.

Before LEDs became available I also sprayed mine with chrome paint with the same result as APS - better, but not perfect. I have thought about taking the reflectors to one of the companies that offers a "chrome on plastic" restoration service but I'm guessing it would be expensive. For the time being (at least) I'm not going down the LED route for exterior lights, so it's still important to me that I have a functional reflectors.

[DJT]

Chrome sprayed reflectors and Classic Car LEDs:

Tail lights:

20AEDA84-D1AF-4986-9D7C-1B34640B0AC7.jpeg

Tail and reverse:

9F0B3FF4-5707-416E-9CE3-19FE5B895001.jpeg

Tail and stop:

5706CF6E-580D-4D91-B5A5-689ED8ACC17D.jpeg

[Phil S]

Good led's are the way to go, better light output so you can be seen ,having travelled in a good number of stag runs behind cars with standard filament bulbs the light levels vary alarmingly, in daylight the stop lights are barely visible , at night some tail lights appear to be a stop and tail light on until the brake is pressed. In my opinion replacement reflectors will not cure these problems alone.
the cost of replacements will probably equal the cost of good led's.
I know the "original brigade " will not agree.
Personal I want the lights seen and to do the job they are intended for so its led's.

[wilf]

I agree with you Phil. Originality has its place, but not at the expense of safety. Hence LEDs on my running lights, too. I am far happier that my car will be seen in marginal light conditions with them.

[jbuckl]

Am I seeing a potential for 48 parts ?

[sujitroy]

in my case the PO used incorrect wattage bulbs and the plastic has melted. it would be an ideal candidate for 3d printing, but someone will have to spend a lot of man hours drafting it up to make the file needed to print.
Sujit

[jbuckl]

Do you mean the silver reflectors for the brake and indicator lights, as in my pic below ?
Or the red reflector piece ?

if the former then definitely. I have found that they are not listed by any supplier, but they are replaceable as they are only held in by two plastic pegs. I would think they would be relatively simple to produce and are probably found in many other triumphs of the era.

I have today sprayed mine with chrome paint. I can say that they are better but nothing like oem silver finish. I agree using LEDs does overcome the issues of getting enough light out the back of the car. But I have painted mine so that they have a consistent look behind the lenses.
A41EF20E-677E-4B03-8FE9-8A190F0EC193.jpeg 4B794B7E-BB18-4665-81D8-5D999617D14D.jpeg

Yes the bulb reflector.

[jbuckl]

in my case the PO used incorrect wattage bulbs and the plastic has melted. it would be an ideal candidate for 3d printing, but someone will have to spend a lot of man hours drafting it up to make the file needed to print.
Sujit

Sorry to disagree 3D printing is not suitable process imho…. Only to check the fit.

[jbuckl]

Were you thinking of a 3d print that would be relatively inexpensive or a full-fat remake? I have found that using LED's there is less reliance on a reflector to make the light visible.
I have a number of sets of rear lights and would be interested in a couple of sets.
Alan

Don’t think a 3D print would work as a reflector… think it has to be moulded & silvered per the Lucas parts.

[APS]

I do not know what manufacturing processes would be needed but to me they would appear to be far easier to reproduce compared to the lenses.

There is no supplier for these so no direct competition.

Though I do think LEDs would negate demand. However other than the originality brigade the cost of LEDs plus cost of indicator and hazard flasher relays may also put some people off.