70 Challenger Taillight Bezels and Lenses?

[Challenger6pak]

Here are few other untouched bezels.  The black paint was painted right on the smooth chrome.  It did not last and peeled. 

[filmsurgeon]

I can see how one might think that bezels were offered as ALL chrome.  I did get mine from PG Classic and they are quite nice.  I'm not sure yet if I will strip the black paint off for an "all-chrome"  look or leave it alone.  Seeing as the color of my Challenger is a dark blue, I'm thinking that the bezels will really "pop" if they're all chrome.  I'll try it first with a new one on one side and an old (all chrome) one on the other side.  That should help me decide.  I'll try and get a good photo at that time to show the difference.  Any advice on the taillight lenses would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks, Joe

[filmsurgeon]

Does anyone know if the tail/reverse light lenses for sale by Mopars by Crane ($315) and Year One ($419) are the same?  There's a huge price difference and I want to be sure that the ones I purchase are the best available.  Included are pictures from the two sellers plus a picture from an ebay seller also offering the lenses for $315.  Thanks

[Top Banana]

The rubber strips on the rear bumpers were available as sales code M85, it included the rubber strips on the rear guards and front bumper guards. It was available on all 1970 Challenger models.

Barry

The way I read the AO5 package, they also had the rubber strips on front and rear bumper guards.  Correct?  I have AO5 on the fender tag and a YO repro rear set w/o the rubber strips.  Several suppliers sell the front strips, but I have not seen the rears anywhere.  Any help here?  Thanks! 

[filmsurgeon]

I received my tailllight bezels from PG Classic and they are very, very nice pieces.  I can't wait to get them on the car.  I also went ahead and ordered the bezels from Year One to compare.  They were received in the exact same box as the PG Classic bezels with the same part sticker on the outside (only with the PG Classic logo blacked out with a permanent marker).  Inside the box were the same parts of course only priced at $230.00 more than PG Classic.  They are on their way back to Y.O.  Still waiting on the taillight lenses though. They were back ordered from both Mopars by Crane and Year One.  So, that tells me they're likely the same as well.  If so, then when I receive them, the Y.O. parts will be returned due to higher price.

[Lunchbox]

I Inside the box were the same parts of course only priced at $230.00 more than PG Classic. 

Figures thats why I try to stay away from them. I do like their catalog, cause if you can find the part in there you most likely can find it cheaper somewhere else.

Lunch

[JH27N0B]

Sorry I didn't see this thread earlier, as I have experience with both the bezels and repop tail light lenses.  I had a pair of original bezels restored a while back by Special T's.  They look excellent.  I had searched around for a while to find a pair of nice cores, the less pitted the better if you are going to have originals restored!
I bought one repro tail light lense 4 years ago from Pentastar productions.  I don't know if all repro lenses come from the same source?  Usually that is the case, someone repros a part and all the places like Y.O., Paddock, etc just source the part from that manufacturer.
I paid around $100 for the drivers side lense, and initially I was pleased.  But then one day when I was sitting behind my car at a car show on a sunny day I noticed the repro lense was lighter in color than the original I had on the other side.  If you are installing a pair of repros this issue would not be that big a deal I guess.
The other problem I noticed was that the repro wasn't quite correct dimensionally.  When installed there was a small gap near the bezel next to the reverse light assembly.  Because of these two issues I searched until I found a decent drivers side original, polished it up and installed it, sold off that repro lense and am happily driving around with my car all original now!

[Tropicalcats]

Do you have a web site for Special T's ?

[JH27N0B]

I don't think Special T's has a website.  He (Bill) has an email address: special_t_bill@yahoo.com and his phone number is 847-255-5494
Here is a picture of the repro lens (top) and an original showing how it is lighter in color.

[ragtopdodge]

I received my tailllight bezels from PG Classic and they are very, very nice pieces.  I can't wait to get them on the car.  I also went ahead and ordered the bezels from Year One to compare.  They were received in the exact same box as the PG Classic bezels with the same part sticker on the outside (only with the PG Classic logo blacked out with a permanent marker).  Inside the box were the same parts of course only priced at $230.00 more than PG Classic.  They are on their way back to Y.O.  Still waiting on the taillight lenses though. They were back ordered from both Mopars by Crane and Year One.  So, that tells me they're likely the same as well.  If so, then when I receive them, the Y.O. parts will be returned due to higher price.

Amazing how much markup YO puts on their parts.

[FY1Challenger]

A year or so ago I tried to help the Cuda-Challenger folks by pointing out that, with one exception, Yr One is a retailer only not a producer. Their customer service is excellent but with that comes a very steep price. The results were a dogpile of criticism.   For folks needing the most for their resto dollar, Yr One isn't really an option.

[70RTdroptop]

I'd have to agree with your opinion on this. The catalog from YO is great and packed with lots of information, but they sure aren't shy about charging a very high price on the items that they carry. When it comes to alternate suppliers, a little research can save you a lot of money.

[Challenger7405]

Does anyone know about what it costs to restore the stock pot metal tail lights bezels on a 70 Challenger? Thanks, Eric

[Lunchbox]

Does anyone know about what it costs to restore the stock pot metal tail lights bezels on a 70 Challenger? Thanks, Eric

Depends of condition. How many pits are in them? My two large outside bezels were $250 and $350. The middle bezel was $175.

Lunch

[Challenger7405]

Wow that's a lot! I just ordered a set of those aluminum ones from  Dave Seward. They are $450 and that includes shipping. He said the lines are a little sharper then the stock ones and they do have the black painted on them. The aluminum bezels should be a bit lighter which should be great because they're going on a racecar. Eric