Re: 1955 & 1956 Packard Side Marker Lights

Posted by BH On 2007/1/4 0:19:13

You might be interested to know that the lights on the side of the 1955-56 Senior Packards (rear door on sedan, rear fender on coupe) are referred to as "courtesy lights" in the parts books - more intended to illuminate entry/egress for front seat passengers.

There was, however, a second bulb in each of those lights that came on with the "parking" lights, but I don't find them to be of that much benefit as a side marker, because they lack any reflex as found on true side marker lights that were implemented as mandatory equipement in 1968 (at least here in the US).

What is more "telling" are the Scotchlight hex decals, offered as a Packard-supplied dealer accessory for wheel covers of earlier Series, that I applied and trimmed down for my Senior cars. When not illuminated at night, the casual observer would never know it wasn't the standard painted center, but a reflective decal.

I have a gut feeling that "side marker" lights similar those on the 55th-56th Series were used prior to 1955, but I have not found an concrete example.

It also seems to me that 1949-50 Pontiac had a turn signal lens that followed the curve of the front fender, though not reaching around nearly so far as that of the 1955-56 Packards.