Third brake light

I have seen several threads concerning third brake lights. I intended to put one on my build but have been talked out of it and consequently the one I bought to install I no longer need. If anyone is interested in it I will sell it to you for what i paid for it. Email me at crosbyfoster@earthlink.net.

Hello Howie, I would rer-think that 3rd brake light if I were you. If you were talked out because you didn't like this particular light that is one thing. But to not have one on the car is another. Already the lights don't shine as HIGH as they should. They are low down and they can be subject to sunlight interference. If you are only going to drive the car at dusk and at night, then that's OK. But in the daylight hours, I would consider. There are inexpensive yet effective LED lights that HIDE under the grill and they do a good job. Be careful out there.

Howard,

If you are set on getting rid of it you can send me an email at jimfins@bellsouth.net.

Thanks...orif you are keeping it can you tell me where you found it??

The ford Taurus wagon third light fits with a little effort.
Joe

Here's my version of a third brake light. I'd say its a good idea to put one, I even went one step beyond and added side markers. Being more visible to other drivers is a good thing,

Wow Joe if Paris Hilton saw your car she would say, "That's Hot"

You know what's hot. Working on a Speedster yesterday in 105 degree weather. Thats hot!

JG: I tried emailing you but it could not be delivered. Try emailing me as crosbyfoster@earthlink.net.
Crosby

Mike, I thought Paris Hilton climbing all over that Bentley in a fast food ad was in bad taste, but I would allow her to do the same with MR356....

Hey Ben!

I just removed my 3rd brakelight as it looked so out of place. Where did you get that one? How much work was it to "french" it in place?

Michael

Its not that bad. The hard part is finding a third brake light. I just walked around the junk yard. I used one from a newer jetta. It was wider than I wanted so I ended up cutting the width. Being an led light I just wired some jumpers onto the circuit board. It would have been easier if I found the right width, but I was more concerned with the height.
As far as the body work, just cut a square and push it down to get the height of the light, then fill in the sides with fiberglass

Hey Micheal, I just saw your car. Sweet, Why not put the third brake light in your wing.

Ben,
its solid so it would be alot of work to do it right. The idea you had fits my need so I may pursue that lead.. The car is coming along slowly, just found a great guy to redo the upholstery in the dash and a good paint guy, so I hope to finish it before next years trip. The rotary engine really makes it move...


Michael

hi Michael..

I saw in you gallery a hard fiberglass tonneau cover unpainted. Did you make that and if not where did you get it and how much was it? Thanks in advance.

Rudy,
Thats a very rare factory (CMC) option for the 359's that I had searched for a couple of years for. I was looking for one in any shape and I had found maybe two, one of which was so badly damaged it was unusable and one that a guy wanted my next male child. I was lucky to have Alan email me that he had one and I purchased it from him. It will not fit 356's.

Michael

hey Michael...

Unless the sizes are different, I believe this accessory does fit the 356. Check out the pics below. This was someone's speedster (one of my favorites that I forget who) that I came across while researching widebody owners. Looks like the owner added some custom extension cover to the part to accommodate the roll U-bars. Very clean and nicely done I might add.

Anyways, I was hoping that there was another source that I can find that still manufactures these for the public. I'd like to obtain one which I'll modify and use as a mold to produce duplicates if anyone else would be interested. If not, I may end up doing something similar for myself but in a different and more stylistic design approach.

Rudy,
thats pretty interesting. I tried talking to vintage, a few others and they are led me to believe its a different size, which it is by your photos. Someone may have cut one down and modified it to fit, that would be my guess. Its definately shorter and looks somewhat smaller overall. If you could get one to make a mold, you may have something that the guys with 356's would really like. I think it makes the car look more finished.

Michael

I can get the moulds made if you provide a finished piece. I will not trash the original either.....

jg.

If you get a mold made that will fit a 356 I certaily would be interested in the finished piece. Please advise.

Rudy,

I have seen the red one up close is a one off hand built by "Bruce" an Ohio Vintage Speedster owner

Michael,

This particular hard tonnneau was test fitted both on a CMC and a new Street Beasts body , I'm curious as to where it doesn't fit?

Alan,
Good question. I looked at it late last night while at work and I am not sure but the dimensions are definately shorter than mine and the contour is a little different.

Michael

Once I do get a vehicle in my possession, I plan to design and build a hard tonnea mold which will be similar yet different from the commonly used design. I'm not so sure how it would be attached, whether it's bolt on, velcro, removable, or permanent. I would appreciate any feedback on how these existing ones work. My intention would be not only to have a finished product for my vehicle, but to have a master mold which I can get vacuumed-formed parts out of it as well.

In case anyone's curious, I have a side business that I have developed in designing, creating, and manufacturing customized aftermarket accessories for a limited edition SUV. Which coincidently started with a passion to create a custom part for my own truck and has blossomed into what it is today. I'm interested in pursuing this venture with the speedster as I had recently became "love-struck" with the design of the vehicle and have been researching ideas for the vehicle.

Rudy,

Fasten at both sides inside of the rear tub near the convertible top bow pivot mounts with a tab that allows for a bolt or wing nut to secure the top
At the rear, two evenly spaced male prongs that would then slip into a receiver cup on the rear of the tub and along the entire bottom edge a soft rubber seal.

hey Alan...

Thanks for the reply. However, I'm having a hard time actually visualizing the set-up as I currently don't have a speedster yet to access. If you have any pics of what you're describing, that may help a bit. Thanks again for your help.

Alan.
do you have a diagram for that or some written instructions for that? I just dont want to do trial and error fitting for the tonneau cover.


Michael

Pardon me, but didn't I start this whole thing by offering a third brake light. I guess I'm not the only one who stayed back in the third grade.

Howard,
Not sure what you meant by that. The post evolved...meaning it grew into other discussions. You starting the post meant just that, you started it...doesn't mean you were the one who needed to finish it. In fact, I might recommend you place this in the classifieds section to get a better response. This is the General topic forum.

Howard,
Sometimes the original post leads to other topics, just like a friendly conversation at a cocktail party.
I don't believe this thread has been hijacked, it has just evolved.

If your third brake light is still for sale could you re-post in the classified section?
Thanks