69 - 70 Tail lights baffled me.

[Cudapower]

I dug out a pair of 69  charger tail lights to sell and decided to clean them up. I took the lenses off and to my surprise one is marked w69 and is all red plastic. The other is marked w70 and is also all red plastic, however on the inside of the lens at the middle bulb there is an additional 6 inch clear textured plastic insert on the inside of the lens. It is original and heat riveted to the inside curve of the lens. The back up lights are down on the lower pan so it is not for back up. There is also no clear panel on the outside of the lens so I cant even see it when it is installed.  Does anyone know what that was for and when the change was made from 69 to 70? Thanks

[Charger-Bodie]

In 70 the required a safety reflector. Someone will chime in with a more detailed explanation I'm sure.

[pipeliner]

^^^ You are correct. 70 have the reflective lens in them.

[dual fours]

How about this, if your 1970 Charger was built in the first months of production, last five months of 1969, you may find many if not all with 1969 non reflective tail lights lenses. My backup lenses are 1969 dated also. My Charger has a build date of Oct. 15, 1969.
If your 1970 Charger has a build date starting Jan.1, 1970 then it would have to meet the reflective tail light safety requirements for the calendar year of 1970.   

[Kern Dog]

My 70 has a matched pair of lenses with the reflectors. The car has a DEC 1969 date on the door decal. Either my car got an early set of the correct 1970 lenses or they were replaced sometime in the time before I got the car.

[pipeliner]

How about this, if your 1970 Charger was built in the first months of production, last five months of 1969, you may find many if not all with 1969 non reflective tail lights lenses. My backup lenses are 1969 dated also. My Charger has a build date of Oct. 15, 1969.
If your 1970 Charger has a build date starting Jan.1, 1970 then it would have to meet the reflective tail light safety requirements for the calendar year of 1970.   

You also probably have a 69 Decklid. I forgot about the early build cars.

[Cudapower]

My 70 Charger is the extremely rare transition model. It has one of both.

Just kidding -  since the lens has paint stick writing on one side, it has obviously been replaced from one out of a junk yard.

Thanks for the information. I was not aware of those 70 lenses being like that. 

[Dodge Don]

70 Chargers built in 1969 had lenses without the reflectors. Any built after January 1, 1970 had to conform with new law requiring reflectors.