Which '69 Dodge Charger Tail Light Lens is Correct

[UncleAl]

I was working on refurbishing my tail lights on my 1969 Dodge Charger when I put the two red lenses next to each other and noticed that one has like blacked out edges and the other doesn't. They both appear to be original Dodge parts and not aftermarket, as they both have the Chrysler star and the same number, but why would they be different? The previous owner died and the car was part of his estate, so I can't ask him any questions about the lenses. I did find out that he bought the car as a roller and was in the middle of restoring it when he passed and it did come with a box of Year One parts. My question is more one of curiousity, than need to know, but I would be interested in other people's thoughts as to why they're different only in that regards. FYI, the guy used silicone caulk as an adhesive to keep the chrome trim attached to the plastic lenses, as several of the holes on each lense where the chrome trim pins fit in, had been broken, so that's what those thumb print size blobs of gray are.

 

[Demonic]

Any signs of the car being hit on one side long ago? Both of mine are blacked out ( 2 owner car ). Wondering if one is a replacement from the factory, or maybe someone just forgot.

 

[Kern Dog]

The lenses in my Jigsaw Charger have no chrome moldings around them but are blacked on the edges.

 

[Richard Cranium]

One is a 69 & the other is a 70?

 

[F4R/T]

70 has a reflector built into it.

 

[fine69]

The part number is printed right on the face of the lens. It will have a code with 69 or 70 in it. And yes, 70 will have a reflector in the lens.

 

[Coelacanth]

70 has a reflector built into it.

Not all of them. Some early 70's were known to lack the reflectors. I agree though, most 70 lenses lacked the chrome if the car came with the taillight finish bezel. Lower-end 70's had the chrome-edged taillights when they lacked the finish bezel.

EDIT: From Dodge Don @ 1970chargerregistry.com: "70 Chargers built in 1969 had lenses without the reflectors. Any built after January 1, 1970 had to conform with new law requiring reflectors."

 

[UncleAl]

Not all of them. Some early 70's were known to lack the reflectors. I agree though, most 70 lenses lacked the chrome if the car came with the taillight finish bezel. Lower-end 70's had the chrome-edged taillights when they lacked the finish bezel.

EDIT: From Dodge Don @ 1970chargerregistry.com: "70 Chargers built in 1969 had lenses without the reflectors. Any built after January 1, 1970 had to conform with new law requiring reflectors."

Both have the same number, 69W29, both have chromed metal surrounds that have "acne" (raised corrosion). Both have no reflector. The blacked out one looks like the chrome took some overspray when, maybe, the previous owner sprayed the back panel where they fit, black, and just taped the one off, rather than removing it. I have since cleaned the overspray off to reveal an all chrome (corroded) surround. The black rim on the one is actually red plastic like the rest of the lense. When I took it off the metal housing (see background of first picture, just primed) one of the screws cracked a piece off the corner, and I could see that it was red internally.

 

[UncleAl]

I let a MOD know by reporting it. Post some pictures of the front of it where we can see the lenses.

Added the pictures you requested. Both lenses show a part number, 69W29, visible in the pictures. Left lense is the bottom one, right on the top. Left is the one with the blacked out rim.Both have chromed metal surrounds that have "acne" (raised corrosion). Both have no reflector. The blacked out one looks like the chrome took some overspray when, maybe, the previous owner sprayed the back panel where they fit, black, and just taped the one off, rather than removing it. I have since cleaned the overspray off to reveal an all chrome (corroded) surround. The black rim on the one is actually red plastic like the rest of the lense. When I took it off the metal housing (see background of first picture, just primed) one of the screws cracked a piece off the corner, and I could see that it was red internally.

 

[UncleAl]

Any signs of the car being hit on one side long ago? Both of mine are blacked out ( 2 owner car ). Wondering if one is a replacement from the factory, or maybe someone just forgot.

Both have the same number, 69W29, both have chromed metal surrounds that have "acne" (raised corrosion). Both have no reflector. The blacked out one looks like the chrome took some overspray when, maybe, the previous owner sprayed the back panel where they fit, black, and just taped the one off, rather than removing it. I have since cleaned the overspray off to reveal an all chrome (corroded) surround. The black rim on the one is actually red plastic like the rest of the lense. When I took it off the metal housing (see background of first picture, just primed) one of the screws cracked a piece off the corner, and I could see that it was red internally.
However, according to some restoration books I have, it was not uncommon for Dodge, and other manufacturers, to change parts designs/specs mid manufacture year or when ordering from multiple suppliers. Remember, this was bought by the previous owner as a roller and I have no way of knowing what parts it had or were missing when he bought it.
And not being a body man, I can't tell if one side or the other was hit, although the metal behind the bumper isn't the smoothest and I know the trunk floor has been replaced. If I had to bet, I'd say the left side may have been hit.
See additional pictures.

 

[UncleAl]

One is a 69 & the other is a 70?

Both have the number 69W29 in the front of the lense.