Here are a couple of quick questions for you. Have you built or started building a Cobra inspired kit car? If so, have you given much thought to tail lights?
That's right - tail lights. You do have a choice, you know. You can go with the 427's dual round tail lights or the 289's older, rectangle-shaped tail lights. But what if you could take it one step further and incorporate modern LED technology into your Cobra's classic good looks?
I've been reading a bit about a new prototype tail light that introduces an interesting new twist on the classic look of rectangular tail lights, and I really like the look.
These new LED tail lights incorporate the three functions that all tail lights must feature: brake lights, turn signals and running lights. Plus, they include the reflective surface that most state DMV's require. Another real bonus is that they're much brighter than traditional tail lights.
Dan Reiter, the tech guy who came up with the brainstorm for this cool light kit, says that he used motorcycle tail lights as his inspiration. All three necessary tail light functions are incorporated into one single unit that actually complements the classic, racy look of the Cobra. The main body of the tail light is red, of course, but here's where it gets really interesting. The unit has both running and brake LEDs, with an inconspicuous little orange split field for the right and left turn signals.
The running lights create an eye-catching halo effect around the tail light, while the brake lights offer a traditional, block-type look.
Now, if you're concerned about an installation headache, no worries. According to Reiter, mounting these units will be simple and relatively straightforward. After all, if you're in the process of building your Cobra replica from the ground up, you'll have to drill holes for the tail lights anyway.
So far, Reiter has only built the prototype for these innovative LED tail lights made specifically to fit Cobra inspired kit cars, but hopefully they'll go into full blown commercial production soon.
In the meantime, if you're interested in finding out more about them, take a look at the Kit Car Magazine online article entitled LED Tail Lights For Cobras - New Vision For An Old Tale.
