When it comes to taillights, I think it’s safe to say that one can never truly know everything. Like all truly compelling disciplines, the glorious and complex – some say ultimately unknowable – world of taillights always has more surprises to give. And that’s exactly what happened to me, when I learned something new about the taillights on third-generation Chevy and GMC C/K trucks and SUVs from 1973 to 1987.
These are actually taillights I’ve written about before; I wrote about them in the context of their closest rival, the Ford truck and van taillights from 1975 to 1991. In my assessment, I found I preferred the GM lights, but mostly for aesthetic reasons.
I had no idea there was an even better reason, as shown in this video clip:
View this post on Instagram
Holy crap! Look how tough those things are! They were the first Lexan taillights ever to be used! GM really was on the cutting edge of this sort of polycarbonate technology, with Lexan had only been on the market in any form since 1960, and the GE Plastics division started in 1973.
Interestingly, most modern taillights don’t seem to have considered this level of indestructibility to be necessary, and most taillight lenses are still made of smashable plastic. That’s a shame, because they’re not cheap to replace, which makes me respect these tough old Chevy and GMC taillights even more.
Also, the hammer-smash of the Ford taillight reminded me of this, which I never miss an opportunity to share:
Taillights! Is there anything they can’t teach us?
I wonder what the actual difference is. Maybe thickness. I’m pretty sure most taillights are some variety of polycarbonate (Lexan), though it’s possible some of them are PMMA (acrylic, less tough but more scratch-resistant).
Taillights! They put the torch in Torchinsky!
This went in the opposite direction from where I wanted it to. I was hoping the story involved a GM engineer who, unhappy with the current design of the taillights, picked up a wheel chock off the ground and declared ‘make them like this!’
For the record, squarebody taillights are very much smashable, just like any other taillights, and in fact significantly more than some taillights.
Don’t buy into the GM marketing claiming that these are indestructible, because it’s just GM marketing.
Can confirm, accidentally hit one with a shovel handle and the red lens crumbles…. Grandpa was not happy… Luckily, he had at least 3 other rusted out square bodies around to pilfer parts from.
looks like in an emergency you could use them as a wheel chock too.
That’s what I thought this article to be about. 😀
Yet another reason Chevy/GMC is better than Fix Or Repair Daily
For your Emmy consideration.
Torch, you have this subject cornered.
A little light humour is much needed here.
I just paid $30, including overnight shipping for a complete tail light assembly for an 08 F250. I understand it’s not a classic but if anything qualifies as ‘cheap to replace’ it’s that.
Ford taillights contemporary to the squarebody, 1980-1997 and 1973-1979 taillights, are just as cheap and available. Every OReillys in the country has a couple Ford taillights on the shelf ready to rock for about $25.
From the header photo I thought that what Torch learned was that the GM taillights were designed to double as wheel chocks.
I now see I was not alone.
Ditto – I had a very confused moment thinking about if there was some sort of quick release mechanism so they could be popped out for emergency use.
Right?
Same. Or deployable speed bumps.
I took a good look at the screws because I was thinking the exact same thing.
Torch could never be a VP candidate due to this “obsession.”
I was really worried about that 911 in the tail light ruiners clip. I’m glad it was unscathed
The Volvo 1800E?
Yeah, I think you’re correct.
Volvo taillights, have you seen the prices? I wrapped my 740 wagon taillights in a couple layers of clear Gorilla packing tape the second time I replaced them so I would have the pieces to glue back together the next time they got smashed.
Having not watched the clip, I thought the photo associated was showing you could use the taillight as a wheel chock in a pinch
Yeah; I came in with the same expectation, and was sure it was something that was retconned.
I love that the Instagram post about Chevy taillights is written in that language. Go Omar!
Other than hitting them with a hammer, think of it this way, the ford lights are set into the body, gm’s are taking up the whole corner, completely exposed. The number of gm taillights I’ve broken in my days…..
Maybe now Taillight Ruiners will get the attention it so greatly deserves.
Jason, we also need another story for potential Autopian virgins about how you created the Ulak-Tartysh arcade cabinet. It’s been a while and it peripherally(?) involves cars.
Hey Jason— maybe you could put one of those Lexan jobs on the front of your Pao, and you wouldn’t have to worry about deer anymore! They’d just bounce right off!
I can attest to the wimpiness of the Ford taillights. While sawzalling the butt off on old pickup, I broke a lens and had to replace it. My office tailgate bench now has working lighting!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HbZ9rR6hJEpTx8L2A
That’s very cool, nicely executed too!
Reinforcing the wall to handle a 250lb cantilevered load was an unexpected side project.
That’s fantastic!
Thank you. The taillights are animated.
I have Nissan 720 bed chunk and tailgate laying around just for this same purpose. Haven’t ever decided where to hang it though.
That’s cool as hell
Wow!!! That is so cool!!!
The number of GMT400 taillights I’ve broken on my farm trucks suggest that GM abandoned Lexan lenses sometime before 1988.
We had a horse that liked biting them, and eating windshield wipers
I am such a sucker for tail light content.
Love the taillight content and holy crap those things are stout!
Unrelated: Could it please be a habit to insert a link to the youtube videos? They are usually blocked for me when embedded.
Looks like you would have had a helluva blooper real is the Taillight Ruiners had messed with a Squarebody Chevy!
You missed your calling Jason. That’s fucking great ????
The lead image had me thinking they were intended to be used as a wheel chock during tire changes or something. I do appreciate the toughness
That was my first thought.. O look built in wheel chocks.
The taillights are great, the brakes not so much.
haha… I thought the same thing.
Taillights Torchinsky rides again!