I replaced my one remaining (and still functioning :cool:) T-3 high-beam and the other 3 headlights with halogens today.

I was just curious if they were date-coded back then. Where the part number is ink-stamped on the light right below part #4001 is stamped "05 5 15." Might this mean May 15, 1965?

Thanks!

I don't think they were date-coded, but I replaced all of mine with the later version T-3 that has a different pattern on the lense front. I doubt I'll ever get caught as long as I stay out of concours events.

I doubt I'll ever get caught as long as I stay out of concours events.

Me, I just want to see at night. :D

I won't even get into the fiasco I had with broken headlight adjuster nuts ... :mad:

I don't think they were date-coded, but I replaced all of mine with the later version T-3 that has a different pattern on the lense front. I doubt I'll ever get caught as long as I stay out of concours events.


Who carries the later version T-3's and how much ?

Who carries the later version T-3's and how much ?

Don't know what year your car is, but these people have them -

http://www.opgi.com/product.asp?topcatid=4&chapterid=4&topvalue=0&newflag=0&grpcode=11103&yearrange=

I'm sure other vendors have them, too. They ain't cheap ...

Don't know what year your car is, but these people have them -

http://www.opgi.com/product.asp?topcatid=4&chapterid=4&topvalue=0&newflag=0&grpcode=11103&yearrange=

I'm sure other vendors have them, too. They ain't cheap ...

if you are going to pay for repros you might as well buy the correct ones for your car:yes:

For the life of me, I've never understood why no one has made a set of headlights that look like the vintage T3s but have a halogen bulb inside. Best of both worlds and all that.

For the life of me, I've never understood why no one has made a set of headlights that look like the vintage T3s but have a halogen bulb inside. Best of both worlds and all that.

Would be nice. And maybe not $180 for a set of 4. :rolleyes:

I still have my originals in my car and they are a yellow color when lit up at night.:D

Would be nice. And maybe not $180 for a set of 4. :rolleyes:

Geez, I hadn't looked at them for quite a while. I thought they were over priced when they were $100 a set! BUT, I'd at least consider them at $180 a set if they were at least halogens.

www.lectriclimited.com sells a 4-bulb set for $129 for '64~'70 model Chevelles. According to their site, the bulbs are Made in the USA, are 20% brighter (but not halogens), and have the correct T-3 and GUIDE markings on them. I put a set on my car and can tell a quite a difference in the light output.
BillL

I was just curious if they were date-coded back then. Where the part number is ink-stamped on the light right below part #4001 is stamped "05 5 15." Might this mean May 15, 1965?

The originals were definitely date stamped. I don't recall how to decode it though.

I believe Lectric Limited makes the repop lights that all the other vendors sell, which is why they are a little bit cheaper buying direct. I just checked the link above and they now have the correct 67 and older clear triangle lights as well as the 68+ ribbed triangle lights. When they first started making them they only had the ribbed version, so that's good news.

Thanks, guys - interesting. :thumbsup:

My new halogens are MUCH brighter and I doubt there's any danger of me being in any concours shows ... ;)

I still have my originals in my car and they are a yellow color when lit up at night.:D

I bet they really light up the road at night ... :p

Yeah, the originals were date stamped with a paint or ink stamp that will come off when you wash them if you aren't careful. I've been buying the big 7" singles out of trucks in some of our local junk yards.

Just a tip in case you are looking.....

Pics of the headlights on my car, I don't know if they are original or not. I can read "12V" in the orange stamping, but I can't decipher the rest. F 29, F 34, 47 C, I don't know what they are, either.
BillL