Additional brake lights???

[Paul Parker]

Has anyone added any additional brake lights?  I want something subtle when not lit up, but something really obvious to the idiots behind me when I'm stopping.   

[mfg]

Probably close to the very top of ‘must do’ items related to driving in modern traffic….. Studebaker  Avanti tail lights are simply too small to be clearly noticed by other drivers…. who are probably driving too fast or on their cell phones anyway!…. A bright third brake light dead center at the bottom of the rear window is an excellent idea…I added one to my own ‘63 Avanti twenty years ago.

PS….. I suppose a third brake light installed at the interior TOP of the rear window would work just as well.

Edited 3 hours ago by mfg
Added PS

[Rick Allen]

Have you considered going to LED bulbs in your factory tail/brake light housing?  They are very bright compared to the old-style bulbs, adding a 3rd brake light I think would look out of place and to some people gaudy but to others, not,,,

Edited 3 hours ago by Rick Allen

[mfg]

1 hour ago, Rick Allen said:

Have you considered going to LED bulbs in your factory tail/brake light housing?  They are very bright compared to the old-style bulbs, adding a 3rd brake light I think would look out of place and to some people gaudy but to others, not,,,

Hi Rick… LED’s are no doubt a very good idea, and no, I haven’t installed them yet. (but I probably will)…. But getting back to that third brake light, let me tell you a story that happened to me many years ago…. At the time I owned a red 1964 Avanti….red tail lights against a red body really makes matters worse…. but anyway, after I stepped on my brakes and signaled a right turn, the fellow behind me pulled in just to tell me that he almost drove into the back of my Avanti, and I should fix my brake lights!  (the lights weren’t broken) He was very nice about it, however at that point I installed a very bright third brake light….It’s not obtrusive, and safety and keeping my car and myself in one piece is much more important to me than any authenticity concerns!…. Thank You, Ed.