71 charger tail light panel.

[71charger]

hey guys I'm new here but I got my hands on a 1971 dodge charger for 2 grand. Shes a driver and shes pretty reliable. the body is 98% there and the interior is pretty worn but the head liner is perfect. I have been looking for a taillight panel and cant find anything under 500. wondering if y'all know anyone who might have one?? My name is Joe I live in commyfornia in the people rebulik of kalifornia. lol I will be posting pictures soon.

[Nacho-RT74]

Hi and welcome

Tail panel ? you mean tail lights ? R/T(500) or regulars(Bee/SE) ?

If R/T(500) sorry, hard to find anything on less than $500 for those, and if you do, needs some heavy restore or even lenses, where repro lenses itself are being sold in $375 or so

If Regular(Bee/SE) more less the same, with the diff maybe a little bit cheaper and lenses are not available repro, although not extremelly hard to find NOS, so being NOS won't expect to get them cheap.

[71charger]

It is a base model. i have the  lenses but I'm looking for the tail panel.

[Nacho-RT74]

thats 69/70, not 71

71/74s don't have a "tail panel" indeed. The bumper and tailights makes the "tail panel"

are you sure your car is 71 ?

[Nacho-RT74]

69/70s are with the panel you say

[Nacho-RT74]

here is how it looks the 71 without bumper/tail lights assembly ( and deck lid )

[71charger]

im positive its a 71. I was using that picture as a reference. So the 71s dont have an actual tail panel??hmm..... my (tail panel) is made of plastic which i dont think its supposed to be plastic. Its all broken and whats left is all cracked. i need to get it fixed any solutions???

[Nacho-RT74]

maybe you got 73/74 tail lights ?

they are plastic, rest are pot metal

[71_Charger_R/T]

Nacho, He's probably got the normal '71 tail lights with the lenses missing. The regular '71 housings are plastic too.

[Nacho-RT74]

Yes thats what I think about he got the regulars...

Didn't know regulars are plastic though. All assemblied in Venezuela where with louvered tail lights ( pot metal ).

Lenses:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-charger-taillight-assembly-right-left-side-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a0d9a6903QQitemZ180616849667QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[71charger]

maybe you got 73/74 tail lights ?

they are plastic, rest are pot metal

its definitly a 71 I believe its a base model 318

[71charger]

I found a guy on here whos selling the same one for 100 bucks.

[ACUDANUT]

Ain't Nacho great !!

[texas charger 73]

I am in need of a pair of tail lights for 71-73 myself,,, I really don't like 73 style,but whatever I can find and afford. any help be appreciated

[Ghoste]

I never found the 73-74 style to be so bad. 

[texas charger 73]

I don't mind them, I just prefer the 72 that are similar to the 69, but I haven't found any yet. The ones I have are cracked. 

[ACUDANUT]

I don't mind them, I just prefer the 72 that are similar to the 69, but I haven't found any yet. The ones I have are cracked. 

They are far from similar. 

[ACUDANUT]

Are you being serious. 

[texas charger 73]

The 72 base tail lights are the long skinny lights similar to 69. Yes I'm being serious. I know there not as big and same exact design but there close.

[ACUDANUT]

They are not even close my friend.

[ACUDANUT]

If you want a nice 3rd Gen. a 73/74 is your worst option.
71/72 is the way to go. 

[texas charger 73]

Well this car was the first car I ever purchased on my own and it also only has 75,000 miles on it.  I want a 69, but I don't have a million dollars.  So I had to settle for this one. I hope once I get it finished I can sale it and then buy a 69. It's a dream to own a 69

[texas charger 73]

What makes 71-72 better than 73-74?

[JB400]

6 packs, Hemi's, cool door indents and stripe packages

[texas charger 73]

But you can do most of that to the 73/74 if you find correct parts correct

[Ghoste]

Yes.  There are a lot of things between the 71-72 and 73-74 that don't easily interchange but they all can be done.  At the end of the day though, you might be better off finding the car you really want?

[texas charger 73]

I have been on the search for a 68-70 I could afford or trade my 73 for. It runs and drives, just needs cosmetics mostly..

[Ghoste]

I've gathered your heart lies with a 2nd gen.  I know getting one isn't necessarily a cheap proposal but you could be about to set upon a road with the 73 that wont be inexpensive either.

[texas charger 73]

Yes my heart lies with 2nd gen for sure, but I also love the 3rd gen and have heard they are gaining more wealth here lately.  Maybe I can do a super bee,rt clone.   A thought! Finding this site has definitely been a blessing