I'm about to go get my car inspected. I have recently relocated the car to NYC and I'm concerned about the fact that I have the bubble taillight conversion which, on my 76 means no backup lights. They still exist and hang down behind the rear bumper - and yes, they still even work. This was "good enough" when the car was registered in Virginia. Not sure about here in NYC.

I thought I saw someone on here who had come up with their own "custom" setup to have lights below the bumper guard.

Anyone have any ideas about this? Those who have done the conversion - what happened when you went for inspection?

I also have no reverse lights.... have not had them for years. Last time I got inspected (N.Carolina) I got in an arguement with the inspector. I proved to him that nowhere does it say you have to have them, it just says if you have them they have to work..... (But then there's the aspect of removing factory-installed lighting......)

I'm in the process of repainting my '76, and so had the thought of custom-molding in some new reverse lights. One thought was on either side of the license plate (like an '84).... I also have been paying attention to which cars have separate reverse lights.... new Beetles, GMC Envoys, and PT Cruisers, to name a few.... some have the rear reflectors built in, also -- something you lose when you drop the factory reverse lights. I have a fiberglass rear bumper, so molding some of these in below the beltline would have been fairly easy except for the metal-work right behind the bumper....

In the end, I've decided to go with 80-82 style tail lights, including the backup lights...

Let us know what you decide. As far as your inspection, you can often find the inspector's guides or inspection rules on-line...

Pancho

I am in NJ. I installed a bubble taillight conversion a few years ago. I bought a cheap pair of driving lights and mounted them under my bumper. DMV said as long as I had them, it was fine.

dabvette said: I am in NJ. I installed a bubble taillight conversion a few years ago. I bought a cheap pair of driving lights and mounted them under my bumper. DMV said as long as I had them, it was fine.

I was thinking about using those as well. Do you have a picture?

I don't have any pictures right now. I will try and get some and post them by the weekend. I think I bought them at either Walmart or Kmart. They are about 4" long and 1.25" high. Since I am not using the factory lights, I hooked them up to the facory wires.

I know laws differ from state to state, here in Orlando we don't have any inspection, or my Mako shark would not pass, headlights in grill, etc,
but here even when we did have inspection they didn't care too much when a car was over 20 years old, but up in jacksonville my dad did have inspection, he has an Avanti, the other plastic car and had made the factory back up lights into two more red tail/brake lights so he lost his back up lights, what he did was get a set of the clear lamps, about 2"x4" and mounted them on each side of the rear licences plate, it passed back when he still had inspection,
Cheers, C.

I've been hearing different things about what I need for inspection considering the car is almost 28 years old. I know they don't check emissions in NY on cars over 25, but as for the other stuff - still not sure.

Even if I can just get something setup that's temporary to pass, I can always remove them afterwords. Just trying to avoid the hassle of going, failing for something dumb like back-up lights and having to go back again.

Anyone reading this from NY who has a better idea about what's needed? Would be great to hear from you!

I have been forgetting to mention your car is smokin'
very nice,
If you can't find out what you "must" have I don't think any state looks at reverse lamps as the do headlights,
I assume the wires to the back up lamps are still back there somewhere I think I would just get a white light and attach it to something under the bottom edge of the bumper,
Then after u pass take it off...
just thinking...

The nys dmv states online that cars newer than 1969 are inspected for working backup lightshttp://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/broch/c-50.htm check this link out for yourself, then decide which way you want to do it. but NYS troopers will cite you if they stop you in a safety check

Thanks for the link - very helpful! Now at least I know what all needs to be working before I attempt getting it inspected.