Came across this car on the net and the tail light shape looks pretty familiar.

 

Im embarrassed, but I kinda like the way that car looks.

 

No you're right, it is a cool little mid engined car.

 

Who copied who?

 

Well the French car came out in 1980 but the Camaro at that time had the smaller yet smiliar tail light. Who's to say? I always thought the rear of the Delorean has an air to the Camaro grid light pattern.

 

Who knows who was inspired first. The 1982 Camaro was already in developpement around the mid 70's. I think that it had it's nearly finished look around the late 70's (1978 or 1979).

 

My neighbor had one of those early Matra-Simca Bagheera http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matra-Simca_Bagheera, has 3 front seats, fiberglas body, overall similar to the Pontiac Fiero.

Was called the Matra-Simca Bagheera from 1973 to 1980.
Simca company became Talbot in 1980 and the cas was renamed Talbot-Matra Murena http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talbot-Matra_Murena

 

Yeah, noticed that too on the Delorean.

 

If I could find a set of euro tails for our cars that weren't $900 I'd put them on.

 

Are we talking about the one set of euro grid style Camaro tail lights that have been on Ebay for a while now?

And for the timeline for the car, thomas1976 is spot on.

 

I had an early 80's for Escort EXP (2 Seater) and always thought the taillights and hatch were very similar to 3rd Gen Camaros

 

This is what I'm talking about. I guess you could probably make these out of a junk set.





But I know what ones you mean.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-92-Camaro-Export-Tail-Light-Lenses-NOS-GM-PR-RARE-/291049517187?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACamaro&hash=item43c3e73083&vxp=mtr
$1000 is a stupid price for those. I don't care how rare they are.

 

I like the set off the camaro with the rear wiper. The reverse lights are complete. That's the set that go great with my car. Or course, I would have to put in a red bulb for the side marker light to be legal here in the states.

 

And it's evil twin the Mercury LN7