tailight questions??? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

razman340 · 08-27-2009, 11:51 PM

i have a 1985 Z28........i bought a used tailight assembly on-line to replace a broken original. it fits, and is functional, but is clearly a different design than my original. were Z28 tailights different than base coupes or RS models? or is it possible that this tailight is just from an earlier or later year? does anyone know where i could look to see the difference in tailights for different year models? thanks, rick

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toomany · 08-28-2009, 11:56 AM

Certain years of the Z28's got differnt tail lights. Starting in 85, Irocs and Z's got the grid style. Others for that year got the plain ones. I don't know off hand how many differnt styles there were over the years...I want to say it is 3 or more. I know I've got 3 differnt styles in my collection.

cdoyle · 08-28-2009, 03:52 PM

Offhand I think there were 3 different types.

1. Plain with no black bar << my 84 had these.
2. Center bar with a gold/silver look to it << I think the berlinetta's had these
3. Grid Style.

there may be be a 4th where they had a black bar in the center, but I'm not sure..

Chevy8588 · 08-28-2009, 04:18 PM

1. plain, no painted center bar - sport coupe till 85
2. black center bar, or body trim colored bar - Z28/berlinetta - till 85, RS/Z28 till 89
3. grid style - Iroc-z till 89, 90 up all trim levels

razman340 · 08-28-2009, 05:46 PM

well, my 85 Z28 has grid style tailights......i guess this is correct from factory. but the one i purchased to replace the cracked original (which was supposedly from another 85' Z28) is not grid style, it has a solid black center horizonal bar, with a row of lenes above and below it. now i'm confused on which is correct. rick

dwinhofer · 08-28-2009, 05:51 PM

My 85 Iroc has the grid style and it is original.

razman340 · 08-28-2009, 06:25 PM

yeah, i am 99% sure that the grid style tailights that are in my car are the original. this car was purchased from the original owner recently, and is nice shape. still has good original paint and interior. (although i understand that someone "could" have changed them, i doubt it), so i guess i'm back to looking for a LH "grid" style tailight for my Z28.....rick