yellowed lenses on 73/74

[Nacho-RT74]

why on 73/74 back up lense are tipically yellowed and not earliers ?

[JimsSE]

The sun does it I guess.  Must be from the type of plastic Chrysler used.  They can be cleaned.  I used some 220 wet sandpaper, then some polishing compound, and then some polishing wax.  I think they came out pretty nice.  Just don't sand down the raised edge.  Take about an hour on each side and you'll be amazed.

[Judhudson]

Actually, I don't think all can be cleaned.  If they have stress cracks, then mostly likely it's not possible.  I took mine off and spent about 2 hours trying to clean them.  When I looked at them after they were done, I realized that the whole thickness of the lense was yellow, not just a yellow top coat.  When I showed them at our mopar meeting, the members examined it and told me about the tiny cracks caused that.

[JimsSE]

Unfortunately, I don't have a "before" picture.  Mine were yellow but not as yellow as some I have seen.  Mine do have some tiny cracks in them so I'm not sure about it going all the way through.

I always thought the yellowing went all the way through too but mine wasn't.  Once again, I think it depends on how much they have yellowed.

[Nacho-RT74]

ok, but why just 73/74 and not on earliers... all lenses are with cracking posibilities, and same enviroment stress. You can see for example 71 R/Ts lenses lot cracked but still white.

72 lenses are more like 73/74 design, no bezel over and same outward, and still don't remember have seen one yellowed, but cracked

[Paul G]

PG Classic is making reproduction lenses. They are the only ones I know of making them.

http://moparplus.com/product_info.php?cPath=58&products_id=481

There is no picture on their website but they are pictured in their catalog. They are pricey at $475 a pair.

[Nacho-RT74]

BEAparts are reproed them too with PN on them ( as far I rmemeber on his own thread started sometime ago )... my deal is not really 'cause I need them. The ones on My car are NOS ( well, NOS 8 years go LOL, but still perfect ), and I got a spare pair with perfect white lenses.

PGclassics:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-74-Mopar-Charger-SE-Taillight-Lens_W0QQitemZ120212223654QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120212223654

BEAparts:
http://www.beaparts.com/item_detail.aspx?id=827

Is just that still can't understand why on these and not on earliers

[JimsSE]

It must be the type of plastic...I guess. 

I can't believe the $$$ for the NOS or new stuff.

[alfanta]

I saw a set of lenses, Yes a set, at a swap meet for $25. I got the guys card, ill have to see if i can find it. It was a few years ago. PM me about it if you want the info.

[Highway by the Sea]

I used to try to buy those for my former 74 Charger, and every one that I found was yellowed.  I just bought a set of 72 Charger bezels (metal as opposed to 74 plastic ones) with beautiful lenses and installed those.  They looked great!  See for yourself!

[Nacho-RT74]

I paid the NOS set I got on a Mopar dealer down here about $190 with THE OOOOLD exchange money rate of those years... now would be $35 LOL.

One of them was with housing and wiring ( driver side ).

Now I got a spare pair, used with PERFECT CLEAR back up lenses from two diff sellers on ebay, more less on $140 for both. One of them with some minor crack, but still decent


they are both a good matching pair