LocostUSA.com

I got my tail lights this morning from Jack. I just thought I would add a few photos and mention that they are much more heavy duty than I believed them to be.
I assumed the back mounting portion would be a cheap black plastic, but turned out to be a very heavy and durable rubber, the lenses are quite thick and solid and all the connections and wiring is very well secured.
These are very nice lights.
Thanks Jack, your check will go out in tomorrows mail.
Al

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Super Seven 3.4

Looks exactly the same as the ones Caterham US sells.

I beleive they are the exact same, as well as used by Westfield and a few others. I would suspect Jack is cheaper though.
Al

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Super Seven 3.4

Glad you like them, Raceral. Yep, same part, same manufacturer (Britax), all I had to do was buy 40 of them and wait for a boat to arrive from Great Britain. They're $42 per from Kinetic, and you can pay that much for a replacement lens from some of the exotic suppliers*. One think I learned at Kingman is there are people who want to pay a bunch of money for stuff--seriously, there were guys bragging about how much they'd paid for their bits, the same way us Locosters brag about building our parts ourselves and for peanuts ("See those tubes, see how nice they're bent? I started with a wrecked grocery cart, and then I...")

42 bucks is still a lot of money for a Locost tail light, but it's a price where at least you only have to grab for your wallet and not for your ankles. Someday (in my copious free time) I'll get those Britax tail lights posted on the Kinetic web site--probably with a link to Caterham for people who want to see what they look like on a classy car.

*Suppliers with staff to pay and dealer chains and showrooms and all those overhead items that need to come out of sales revenues. I don't think they're sticking it to you, I think it's expensive to run a conventional business...which is why I don't.

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Locost builder and adventurer, and owner/operator of http://www.kineticvehicles.com

I'll second the previous positive comments. I just got mine today and they're perfect. Unfortunately for me I'd already cut out holes for some other lights I was going to use and these ones need to be mounted a little higher. So now I have to fill in the holes I've tried about 3 different styles of lights but these are by far the best suited for the Locost.

Ron

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They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. By the time you finish the car it'll feel like you've done it on your knees.

I got mine from Jack, too

The only downside with them is that the bulbs mount parallel to the rear lens cover. That means that if you ever want to upgrade to LED "bulbs", these won't work unless they're modified. Simply mod'ing the lamp socket so that it points to the rear isn't enough since there's effectively no reflector. I guess some thin polished stainless would work for that.

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains, http://www.kimini.com/book_info/

these look nice. how long are they?

How long do you want them?

"Oh, quite a while. I'm building a sports car."

(rim shot)

I'll be back at Kinetic tomorrow and will measure them.

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Locost builder and adventurer, and owner/operator of http://www.kineticvehicles.com

They are 7.375" wide x 2.875" high x 2 875" deep at the top and 1.875" deep at the bottom to match the curve of the fender. I just got mine and they are great. They are not light weight lights. They weigh 19.5 oz each. Very well made with 4 male bayonet wires coming out of the thick rubber back. You won't be disappointed with them. Russ

I dont have LEDs, but I have seen quite a few comments by people with the chinese models, saying that most of them work fine, but that you can tell they are cheaper. People say things like they dont look like they are constructed with OEM quality, and that the light output is slightly lower, and not as vivid. If it were me, I would go with the German Mexican ones.

I can't tell from the pics, do these have a DOT marking?

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Planning a Duratec powered, Miata suspended 442

Sorry but Jack's do not have DOT approved stamp on them. Russ

They do say "Made in England" and they have the EU approval #. My inspection shop was pretty picky about lights but didn't have any problem with them.

Ron

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They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. By the time you finish the car it'll feel like you've done it on your knees.

Thanks, my understanding so far of CT inspection is they will require DOT approval, too bad because I like them. But I have a lot of time before I'll get near that phase anyway!

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Planning a Duratec powered, Miata suspended 442

This the direct word for word quote I got by indirect email from Brian Kangas manager of the CVSE out of Victoria.
His reply was forwarded to me by Nigel Mathews of ICBC per my inquirey.

"Nigel, properly marked E code lenses are acceptable provided that they meet all required regulations as stated in MVAR Div 4.
So correct color, correct function and correct location to meet all standards.
Additonal devices may be required to meet these standards and bulbs must be compliance with federal MVSA"

I dont look at the E code Britax lights to be an issue, Ron's inspection seems to support that theory.

Al

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Super Seven 3.4