1969 GTX Rear Side Marker Color

[bradfly]

Is it normal to have amber marker on right rear for 69 GTX?

 

[Don67Satellite]

Red on rear, orange on front seems to be the most I see in a Google image search and what I personally would consider to be correct. However, I also see one or 2 with orange in the rear.

 

[bradfly]

i noticed that also! i am changing my right rear to red but wondered if a reason some of these cars are showing orange right rear.

 

[pnora]

Is it normal to have amber marker on right rear for 69 GTX?

View attachment 1508080

No.

 

[70Fish]

The colors and requirement were both federally mandated.

For 1968, federal regulators imposed the requirement for side-marker lights—amber colored ones for the front and red ones for the rear. All vehicle manufacturers complied with the rule, but it was Chrysler that created the most liberal—and austere—interpretation of the fledgling side-marker mandate. For 1968, Chrysler adopted a circular marker light that was as small as possible. Stylists didn't want large marker lights that interrupted sleek lines and marvelous curves, so the small "porthole" markers were used across all models of the Dodge and Plymouth line-ups. (Chrysler models were the exception.)

When the 1968 models came out, other manufacturers chose to go with bigger lamps. For this reason, the 1968 Plymouth and Dodge models were some of the most graceful on the road, but they also drew unwanted attention from safety regulators and lawyers. Not wanting to provoke sanctions or lawsuits, Chrysler quietly changed over to larger rectangular marker light for 1969.

This made all '68 Dodge and Plymouth models special in that they share this unique, one-year-only styling feature.

Move Your Side-Marker Lights & Freak-Out The Purists!.

 

[Photon440]

The colors and requirement were both federally mandated.

For 1968, federal regulators imposed the requirement for side-marker lights—amber colored ones for the front and red ones for the rear. All vehicle manufacturers complied with the rule, but it was Chrysler that created the most liberal—and austere—interpretation of the fledgling side-marker mandate. For 1968, Chrysler adopted a circular marker light that was as small as possible. Stylists didn't want large marker lights that interrupted sleek lines and marvelous curves, so the small "porthole" markers were used across all models of the Dodge and Plymouth line-ups. (Chrysler models were the exception.)

When the 1968 models came out, other manufacturers chose to go with bigger lamps. For this reason, the 1968 Plymouth and Dodge models were some of the most graceful on the road, but they also drew unwanted attention from safety regulators and lawyers. Not wanting to provoke sanctions or lawsuits, Chrysler quietly changed over to larger rectangular marker light for 1969.

This made all '68 Dodge and Plymouth models special in that they share this unique, one-year-only styling feature.

Move Your Side-Marker Lights & Freak-Out The Purists!.

Almost. Actually, in 1969 Chrysler changed over to a larger reflector, eliminating the light. The regulations called for either a light or reflector at the time. In 1970 they put lights into the reflectors. So the 1969 housings are a one-year only design as well.

 

[68BabyBlue]

The colors and requirement were both federally mandated.

For 1968, federal regulators imposed the requirement for side-marker lights—amber colored ones for the front and red ones for the rear. All vehicle manufacturers complied with the rule, but it was Chrysler that created the most liberal—and austere—interpretation of the fledgling side-marker mandate. For 1968, Chrysler adopted a circular marker light that was as small as possible. Stylists didn't want large marker lights that interrupted sleek lines and marvelous curves, so the small "porthole" markers were used across all models of the Dodge and Plymouth line-ups. (Chrysler models were the exception.)

When the 1968 models came out, other manufacturers chose to go with bigger lamps. For this reason, the 1968 Plymouth and Dodge models were some of the most graceful on the road, but they also drew unwanted attention from safety regulators and lawyers. Not wanting to provoke sanctions or lawsuits, Chrysler quietly changed over to larger rectangular marker light for 1969.

This made all '68 Dodge and Plymouth models special in that they share this unique, one-year-only styling feature.

Move Your Side-Marker Lights & Freak-Out The Purists!.

There have been other posts on this topic, and Chrysler was pretty unique in using three different configurations from '68-70. The 1969 model year was rectangular, but not illuminated, reflector only, incorporates a bulb in the 1970 model. I've owned one unrestored GTX in each model year, all came with red rear, amber front per the federal regs. My current 1969 GTX, photo taken when it was new. Red rear, amber front.

 

[440 PHIXX]

My understanding is you could have lights or reflectors in ‘68-‘69. And in ‘70, both were required. I like the ‘68 style that was used on Plymouth. The Chrysler and Imperial had little squares. They looked nice as well. GM had some kool ones in ‘68-‘69. Pontiac had the arrow, firebird, and GTO crest. Olds had the rocket on their models.

The ‘69 GTO has the smallest factory side marker… in the front anyway.

 

[bradfly]

The colors and requirement were both federally mandated.

For 1968, federal regulators imposed the requirement for side-marker lights—amber colored ones for the front and red ones for the rear. All vehicle manufacturers complied with the rule, but it was Chrysler that created the most liberal—and austere—interpretation of the fledgling side-marker mandate. For 1968, Chrysler adopted a circular marker light that was as small as possible. Stylists didn't want large marker lights that interrupted sleek lines and marvelous curves, so the small "porthole" markers were used across all models of the Dodge and Plymouth line-ups. (Chrysler models were the exception.)

When the 1968 models came out, other manufacturers chose to go with bigger lamps. For this reason, the 1968 Plymouth and Dodge models were some of the most graceful on the road, but they also drew unwanted attention from safety regulators and lawyers. Not wanting to provoke sanctions or lawsuits, Chrysler quietly changed over to larger rectangular marker light for 1969.

This made all '68 Dodge and Plymouth models special in that they share this unique, one-year-only styling feature.

Move Your Side-Marker Lights & Freak-Out The Purists!.

The colors and requirement were both federally mandated.

For 1968, federal regulators imposed the requirement for side-marker lights—amber colored ones for the front and red ones for the rear. All vehicle manufacturers complied with the rule, but it was Chrysler that created the most liberal—and austere—interpretation of the fledgling side-marker mandate. For 1968, Chrysler adopted a circular marker light that was as small as possible. Stylists didn't want large marker lights that interrupted sleek lines and marvelous curves, so the small "porthole" markers were used across all models of the Dodge and Plymouth line-ups. (Chrysler models were the exception.)

When the 1968 models came out, other manufacturers chose to go with bigger lamps. For this reason, the 1968 Plymouth and Dodge models were some of the most graceful on the road, but they also drew unwanted attention from safety regulators and lawyers. Not wanting to provoke sanctions or lawsuits, Chrysler quietly changed over to larger rectangular marker light for 1969.

This made all '68 Dodge and Plymouth models special in that they share this unique, one-year-only styling feature.

Move Your Side-Marker Lights & Freak-Out The Purists!.

Interesting history, thanks!