Clear Taillight ideas

[Geek SHO]

After looking at my mom's new Lexus RX 400h (which I still think is a silly car), I became enamored with its taillights:


My clear corner lights just came in, and I thought that nothing would compliment them better than a similar looking taillight on my SHO.

Does anyone know of a way to have lenses identical to our Gen II taillight lenses made, but with clear plastic instead of red? Then when affixed to the standard housing, you could use a bulb like this:

to have it illuminate red.

I did a quick search, and saw a super old thread related to this, but there was little information. That thread had a link to a presumably even older thread which no longer exists, or I just can't load.

I don't know much about plastics, but could a "mold" be made of an OEM lens be made to then duplicate it?

 

[1993MTXSHO]

You can do anything with money and time, but personally I don't think they would look right on a sho, id prolly make it look ricey, but that just IMO.

 

[excidere]

http://www.alumilite.com/index.php?page=show_info&type=HOWS&id=46
They make a clear plastic resin... I have thought about trying it but I haven't the time. Would probably work better with vacuum assistance.

 

[Geek SHO]

I don't think it would look ricey, not like one of these:

Extreme example, I know. But refer back to the picture of the Lexus.

The difference being my target not having any visible red at all, until the lights illuminate, then the whole lense would illuminate because of the factory reflector distributing the light. Or at least that's the theory.

Exidere, that's exactly the sort of process I was thinking, but you're right, it looks like it takes a lot of time, and also quite a bit of skill and experience to get it right. Especially when doing something as large as a Taurus tail light. Perhaps there are shops that do this sort of manufacturing regularly. . .

 

[whiteman_01]

I know i saw an episode of trucks, where they showd you step by step how to make your own lenses. Mabey you'd be able to find it. The episode was done by the old host if that helps at all.

 

[excidere]

geeksho, I don't think it would actually be that difficult if I could get a pressure *** that was big enough to hold a whole lens and the mold.... and the big ones are like 1500+

as far as shops doing it... I don't think there is that big of a market for it, I would probably start by asking some hot rod guys, where their only option is to get one off parts made up...

Maybe this company would take it on.... http://www.arrowheadinc.com/custom-molding.php

Probably expensive tho...

edit: measured a gen I tail... the largest mold would be about 8inx5inx21in.. too big for the equipment they sell on that site.

 

[LeddZepp8687]

Why does everyone wanna know how to get or make altezzas for these cars.

What is it about those god awful, Obnoxious, Hideous, "Hey I just got these from pepboys, Am I cool now" taillights that make people so attracted to them?

Clear tails are flat out ugly. On everything.

It'll never happen. Thank god.

Still want altezzas?

Sell your SHO and buy a Daewoo or something ****.:***:

 

[0V3RC10CK3D]

I don't think clear tail-lights would look good at all.., nothing like how good the clear corners look.

 

[Geek SHO]

Why does everyone wanna know how to get or make altezzas for these cars.

Since when did I say anything about Altezzas? If you read the post before replying, you might see that I want the effect of the RX400h. Totally clear, no red. Altezzas would imply the look shown on that horrendous Accord, and I agree, they would look really bad on a Taurus.

To illustrate my idea, I fired up Photoshop:



Maybe do the same treatment to the third brake light.

 

[Jonny Cash]

that would look really good I think. still waiting on pictures of red seats.

Sell your SHO and buy a Daewoo or something ****.

what did clear tailights ever do to you? :laugh_ti:

 

[Geek SHO]

that would look really good I think. still waiting on pictures of red seats.

Finally someone who agrees. Once I get the new clutch in the car, I will take some pictures of the interior just to prove it (and the new clear corner lights). The red looked really ugly in the Craigslist ad, almost orange, but in person they're much better. If all else fails, I can photoshop those too, and nobody will know the difference. :angelnot:

 

[ultimatesho]

to be honest i was iffy at first on the idea.......but now that i c a rough idea of waht it would look like i think i wouldnt mind gettin a set "IF" there were ever any made for the sho.......

 

[HoustinoJillian]

i've worked with a clear resin similar to that on the alumalite site before, the problem is if you don't have a vacuum press to get the air out, you get thousands of tiny bubbles in your final cast piece. the stuff i was using (don't remember what it was, it was some off brand generic stuff though) also started yellowing after a few months, i don't know if alumalite would do that however. good luck if anyone tries this, i'm interested in seeing results.

 

[LeddZepp8687]

Worst thread ever.

Wanna make some good looking tailights?

Tint them.

This literally makes me sick. Those photoshops look well done but the product, Well.:vomit:

To each thier own.

And on that note Im done with this thread before I become deemed as one of the people that wanna put ALTEZZAs on my Taurus. Call it what you want, its all the same crap.

 

[sho93]

Worst thread ever.

Wanna make some good looking tailights?

Tint them.

This literally makes me sick. Those photoshops look well done but the product, Well.:vomit:

To each thier own.

And on that note Im done with this thread before I become deemed as one of the people that wanna put ALTEZZAs on my Taurus. Call it what you want, its all the same crap.

It was clear by your first post that you don't like them. No need for another usless post.

I think a clear lens and no red could look ok. I had thought about making a new lens in red, but without the pattern on it for those with LED clusters like myself and DDAKRT. The DIY resin kits are interesting and I hve access to a large vaccuum tank, just no time.

 

[Mr95Gl]

I think a set of clear housings that were retrofitted with LED's would look badass.



Clear instead of red. Can anyone photochop my pic?

 

[LeddZepp8687]

It was clear by your first post that you don't like them. No need for another usless post.

I think a clear lens and no red could look ok. I had thought about making a new lens in red, but without the pattern on it for those with LED clusters like myself and DDAKRT. The DIY resin kits are interesting and I hve access to a large vaccuum tank, just no time.

Useless post huh.

Looks like you spend alot of time posting around here.

Go ahead and make them. Once I see them on the car I will make a more "rationable" post.

 

[excidere]

Good god guys chill out, if someone wants clear tails, cool make some up! If you think it looks stupid, power to ya, don't get them. We don't have to be so argumentative about it. I don't like purple cars, that doesn't mean I go around insulting people for painting their car purple.

Back on topic, I will look into some vacuum tanks, I would LOVE to have clear lenses for the headlights as well, would make my HID projector retro ALOT easier...

 

[92sho16]

Here a chop i did awhile ago and i think the clear tails look good. Why is that anything some idiot with a civic or neon did to there car becomes rice? is not the definition of rice something that is all show and no go? So then if the SHO can go putting clear tails on it shouldnt be ricey.

 

[92sho16]

I think a set of clear housings that were retrofitted with LED's would look badass.



Clear instead of red. Can anyone photochop my pic?

Those are some good looking tail lights if i do say so myself.









EDIT:

Quick photo chop, think since they are tinted i cant get them to come out the same as the chop i did on my pic.