Looking back at rear lights
MUCH LIKE the history of headlamps which I described in the previous issue, taillight development remained static for many years. This meant a small filament bulb in a parabolic chrome pocket for each function while the lens colour determined the lamp’s output, including orange (turn), red (stop and tail) plus white for the reversing lamp.
But this started to change in the late 1980s when car designers tried to give cars more individuality with what’s called ‘high contrast’ lamps. These were either dark red or blacklooking lamps when unilluminated but would still light up red, orange or white.
The XJ40 had rear lenses that were developed by Lucas and had stripes across the full area of the light cluster. Lining up with those outer stripes, on the inside was a row of semi-circular section ridges that would concentrate the light through the gaps. Part of the logic of this design was that it was easier to see the light’s function during daytime although much of it was also to do with fashion.
Most lamp manufacturers tried a variation on this theme for several years but, as designers tend to do, they became bored with this design and the next trend was the so called ‘jewel like’ lamps in the 1990s. Instead of the simple chromed parabolic found inside traditional lights, these had complex reflectors plus clear lenses, the lamp’s output usually determined by coloured bulbs or covers. Because the chrome interior can be seen, it makes the lamps sparkle like a jewel, hence the name.
MY FIRST VENTURE USING LEDS WAS FOR THE XK180 CONCEPT FROM 1998
Quite a lot of attention was given to what this variety of rear lights looked like when unilluminated since they were becoming an ever more important part of the car’s design. It gave designers a real opportunity to create expensive-looking lamps which fitted perfectly with the jewel-like image. Since it was exposed through the clear lens, the chromed interior wa
