[Chrysler300] Taillight restoration

[Rich Barber <barber@xxxxxxxxx>]

Member John Cote sent me the tip shown below last fall and I just got 
around to implementing it.  I bought a 5' X 3" roll of "Chrome Brite" 
metallic tape in the automotive section at Ace Hardware and used it to 
cover the corroded/tarnished surfaces of the reflectors inside the tail 
lights on my 1955 C-300.  The tape has a removable paper backing over 
the sticky side and it was easy to cut and work with.  I used it to 
cover the entire surface of the reflector as the tape is much more 
reflective than any part of the old reflectors.  I think this kind of 
tape is sometimes referred to as "racers' tape" as it can be used to 
quickly repair damaged race cars in the pits.  I thoroughly cleaned the 
tarnished surfaces to remove dirt, corrosion and tarnish, then scuffed 
the surfaces with a sanding pad before applying the tape and it seemed 
to be sticking ok.

The reflectors look like they could be removed for replating by drilling 
out the pot metal rivets holding them in place.  Re-attaching the 
replated reflectors might be problematic but small, self-tapping screws 
might work..

I polished the inside and out of a replacement lens with Meguiar's 
Mirror Glaze #17 Clear Plastic Cleaner and #10 Clear Plastic Polish and 
these products worked well to take out haze, scuff marks and fine scratches.

Between the two processes, the old 6-Volt taillights brightened up 
considerably with the reflectors distributing the light over the entire 
inside surfaces of the lens.  I will do the front park/signal lights, 
also.  Brighter signal lights add to visibility in the daylight as well 
as the dark.

An old salt at Ace told me he had used the tape to restore a reflector 
in an antique flashlight.  There are probably other applications in cars 
and homes.

Thanks to John Cote for the tip and to Lenny Hodgdon for the replacement 
lens.  I consider the taillights on the '55 Chryslers to be one of their 
finer styling features and true works of art.

Rich Barber
Brentwood, CA
1955 C-300

In a message dated 10/30/04 3:03:40 PM, barber writes:

<< Like Lt. Colombo, I have one more question:  How can the reflectors 

inside the taillights of a 1955 C300 be restored?  They appear to be 

silver or nickel plated and much of mine has been turned black, possibly 

due to ingesting sulfur-bearing dust while the car lived in the mining 

area of Colorado most of its life. >>

Rich,
Buy some true metal foil tape about 2 inches wide and you can apply it to the 
metal tail light assembly behind the lens. (Clean with Windex or something 
before applying tape).  (Tape should be available at auto parts store or Pep 
boys type places.) Cut and snip to cover all that would be visible and replace 
the red lens.  You'll be amazed how much brighter and reflective it will look .  
Will cost you about $5 - $7 for the tape and no one will ever know.!!  Try 
doing it also on the front parking lenses as they will increase reflection and 
look like new.

John R. Cote
300B on the 2005 "OLD CARS MUSCLE CALENDAR" - for month of December.







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