Hello all,
I got these mixed in with a box of '65 parts. What are they?
My guess would be they go on the front or rear bumper instead of lamp lenses. They have the same size and general concave shape as lens assemblies. Are they for a 300, ELKY, wagon, sedan? There is a piece of red reflector tape neatly applied to each one. Is that original? Looks like it's been there forever.

Any knowledge of these parts, comments, suggestions is welcomed and appreciated. Thanks in advance. Tom

Hi Tom
They are back up light deletes.

Thanks Scott,

So....a few more questions about them to throw out there.

Why would anyone want to delete the back-up lights - because they were built into the taillights for certain models? If so, which ones?
Is the red tape original to the design?
Can anyone here use them? - I like the backup lights on my car so won't use them.

They are in real nice shape.

Tom

Thanks Scott,

So....a few more questions about them to throw out there.

Why would anyone want to delete the back-up lights - because they were built into the taillights for certain models? If so, which ones?
Is the red tape original to the design?
Can anyone here use them? - I like the backup lights on my car so won't use them.

They are in real nice shape.

Tom

They weren't deleted. Back up lights were optional equipment. In 66 they became standard.

Someone will want them. Thie minimalist sleeper is always a popular look.

i bet you`d get a good buck for those on e-bay...:yes:

They weren't deleted. Back up lights were optional equipment. In 66 they became standard.

Not standard in '66. Cops pulled a friend over and was giving us a hard time and wanted to check our lights. Cop said the back up lights don't work and we opened the trunk and showed him that the reverse light section of the taillights wasn't cut out to take sockets for the bulbs. This was a '66 Malibu hardtop six with a three on the tree trans. This was a Canadian car so maybe backup lights were standard on US cars.

They were used in '65 and '67 (the same back up lights in the bumper were used both years) when the car didn't get back up lights. Back up lights were pretty common so they aren't seen very often.

In '64 and '66 the back up lights were part of the tail light assembly and thus those bumpers don't have holes in them for back up lights (and thus these wouldn't be used in '64 or '66). In '64 and '66 if back up lights weren't included on the car, the tail light lenses were different. Without back up lights on the car, the split lens on the '64s used two red lenses top and bottom on each side instead of a red lens on the top and a clear lens on the bottom and on the '66 the lens was simply all red instead of mostly red with a little clear lens molded into the red lens near the inboard side of the lens.

Not standard in '66. Cops pulled a friend over and was giving us a hard time and wanted to check our lights. Cop said the back up lights don't work and we opened the trunk and showed him that the reverse light section of the taillights wasn't cut out to take sockets for the bulbs. This was a '66 Malibu hardtop six with a three on the tree trans. This was a Canadian car so maybe backup lights were standard on US cars.

Although I haven't seen the '66 Chevelle backup light block-offs, I certainly have seen them on '66 Beaumonts. Those are the round ones in the bumper that look light they came straight from a '64 Pontiac.

I thought backup lights were required starting on the '66 models in the U.S., but from what I've seen they may not have been standard in Canada on the initial '66 models.. The early 1966 Beaumont brochure I have (9/65) says that backup lights are standard, however.



Those red reflectors shown on the '65 block-offs were added by somebody, they are not stock.

The backup lights on '65 & '67 Chevelles are the same, so it stands to reason that the block-offs were also fit either year. They didn't use the block-offs on '67 models though, at least not in North America anyway.

The '66 taillights all have the white portion for the backup lights, but if backup lights were not ordered the rear of the light wasn't cut to take the sockets.

My wagon has these delete plates, and will be getting lights instead. I'll also pop to get them as LED conversions making them brighter.

The backup lamps are in the rear bumper on 65s. My 65 300 deluxe has the delete plates. I do not believe the red tape is original.

The '65 Acadian Canso had the backup lights in the bumper if ordered. I would think that the Chevy II would be the same.