Topic: 1969 assembly line headlights

[specialed]

We recently tested and cleaned my GE  original wide fluting headlights and just like horns about half of them work since u take that gamble when u buy them from junkyards and swap meets. Headlights may look good when u buy them but after not being used 40 or more years when u test them the shock of having electrical contact to them causes the bulb to start smoking as soon as u hook up the wiring. We leave bulbs hooked up (unless they smoke right away) for awhile and switch bulb back and forth from hi to low beams  since some either work on only hi or low beams but not both. I know that Dearborn 69 mustangs started using TS fomoco bulbs then in early may went to GE no fomoco bulbs. We are going to start selling off all my extra headlights I been collecting last 40 years and want to document the SJ and MT 69 cars better. I know SJ used GE fomoco headlights but did they use them the whole year and what about NJ? I know GE bulbs were used on fairlanes torinos and cougars but not sure when and what plant they were used.  Thanks

[67gta289]

I picked up about 20 of these from a local junkyard about 5 years ago and found the same as you.  Maybe 8 or 9 worked, and the others were like the Cheech and Chong movie up in smoke.

[rockhouse66]

Ed
My 3/18/69 San Jose car had GEs.

[Bossbill]

If can find the correct wide flute GE bulbs from other cars in wrecking yards or online I have a sandmask applique that allows you put the MADE FOR FORD FoMoCo logo into your headlights.
Media blasting is required.
PM me.

[J_Speegle]

If can find the correct wide flute GE bulbs from other cars in wrecking yards ............

As kids dad always suggested that we check out company vehicles that didn't run at night typically for sources in yards that would more likely have working units such as postal vehicles. Unfortunately not allot of opportunities plus kids roaming around yards like to break headlights plus other things.

[specialed]

Good idea jeff as I always looked to the back of old yards to find original headlights in big vehicles school buses dump trucks wreckers delivery trucks etc. Some junkyard vehicles are hard to get the old headlights out and then sometimes the prongs stay on the plug when pulled after50 years of contact and corrision, Jim have u only seen GE fomoco script lights in SJ 69 mustangs as that's what I found but not sure they were used the whole 69 year and I see many  cougars with them also. Bossbill I know people have added sandcast fomoco in bulbs but some cars never had fomoco bulbs depending on plant and vendor supply like late 69 Dearborn mustangs and bosses. Trying to get more MT plant 69 mustang headlight info as seldom see NJ cars here in Midwest as they are mostly out east where they were built and I am thinking NJ cars used TS?  thanks

[Bossbill]

I've read that 69 is a year in which some bulbs were FoMoCo and others were plain.
I had to revisit the topic from Anghels:
http://anghelrestorations.com/uploads/3/5/1/2/35122002/headlights_v1.0.pdf
after Nate posted the 69 bulbs for sale without the etchings.

The MCA rules state:
"69 & 70 with FoMoCo and/or T/S script, late 69 may have GE without FoMoCo."
Not sure what what the "and/or" means in this context.

Interesting topic!

[specialed]

I have been documenting 1969 (mainly Dearborn) mustangs for last 40 years or so looking at low mile or unmolested cars mainly boss 429s because they are always low mileage because they were parked due to engine problems etc. I collected and bought every original headlight and wiper blade that I found over the years because if u have a survivor these original parts should be still on car or if u are restoring a concours car these original correct parts are expected to be on car not replacement parts. I can spot original headlights on a car from 20 feet away just by looking at the  glass fluting design as so much difference between old wide fluting vs newer narrow fluting and I have seen cars with both types and that really looks odd. We (nate and I) tested and cleaned all my GE bulbs and u have to have many to chose from to match up a set of 4 that are all 4 in show quality condition AND still work. I have documented 69 Dearborn cars changing over to GE from TS in may so has anybody found GE headlights in an april 69 Dearborn mustang?