Light Monitor question for '72 Eldorado Convertible

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day all,

I have a quandary that I hope someone can give me the correct answer.

I am putting together my rear Fibre Optics at the rear of my '72 Eldorado Convertible, and would like to know which is the correct colour for the "jewels" that are inserted into the seat back mounting unit.

I have in my possession a Red, and a Clear (White) mount that the fibres attach to, and would like to know the correct one for 1972.    The Clear one has the letter "A" on it, and the Red the letter "B"

I am inclined to use the Red one as the rear lights project a red light through the lenses, as Red will be safer at night, as against the White light.   The fronts show different colours when they are illuminated.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Bruce.

PS.   I have just found out that Cadillac called the system "Vigilite"

[TJ Hopland]

All the rears I have seen have been red but I can't say for sure I have seen a 72.

[Big Fins]

I wonder if Cadillac ever used red bulbs and clear exterior lenses on the rear lights, therefore utilizing the clear lens monitors. I also have never seen the clear, only the red used.

[hornetball]

Same here for '74.  Mine was red.

[R Pope]

On my 1972 Eldo the lense in the seat back unit is clear. There are red caps that go over the end of the fiber cable that are inserted into the tail light housing. I can send photos if that would help.

[TJ Hopland]

Ahhh,  that explains why a clear lens even exists.    Wonder why they changed?

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Ah ha...... I am now even more edumacated.   Probably changed due to production costs, but I will still try and find out.

Now I will have to try and remove the tails that are in my tail lights to see if they have a clear end, or a red coloured end.

This will dictate what upper colour I have to use.

I have my joiners all ready to go, and onward and upwards.

Thanks to all who replied, and I will advise the outcome.

Bruce.

[hornetball]

Bruce, I suggest just turning on your lights or hazards and observing the color of the open end of the fiber optic cable.  No need to further disassemble.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Rick,

I appreciate your suggestion, which was what I was going to do, but then I remembered that the ends of the cut cables are way down the back, behind the seat back, which I know I have to pull out to get to them.

Puling the tail light lenses out will serve me two purposes, and one will be being able to check the cleanliness of the internal reflectors as one never really checks this area, unless there is a problem.

Bruce.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I have just had a eureka moment.

I remembered that I had an old tail light housing around, amongst my pile of parts, from a '71 Eldo that I stripped, and lo and behold, there was the plastic insert in the rubber grommet.   So, it looks like at least the '71 Eldorado had the Red light end, and once I see what is in the back of my own '72, I will find out what is there.

Bruce.

PS.   Had to do a bit of destruction work on the upper moulding retaining screws, as they were rusted tight, and the diecast was badly pitted, so it didn't matter.   Not sure why Cadillac didn't use self-tapping screws in this spot, as the machine thread was always going to rust, which is not surprising as the donor car was badly rusted.