In the latest issue of Mopar Action, there is a guy that has a new Challenger transformed into a winged Daytona. He has installed 68 side marker lights, and the text of the article says that they are not legal for FMVSS purposes. Can anybody tell me why? They were apparently legal for 1968 anyway. What is the determining criteria? Brightness? Square inches? I have a 1967 Coronet with NO side marker lights, and I always thought that was about as safe as a one circuit brake booster, so I bought '68 side marker lights to install, thinking that 1., they look cool, and 2., they were better than nothing. I bought some super bright LED bulbs to run in them. Would they be street legal, even though my car came without any from the factory?

From what I understand there were no marker lights required on cars Up to 1967.
The DOT mandated side markers for the 1968 model year and Mopar put lights in them.
For the 1969 model year Mopar found a loop hole in the regulation and just installed reflectors to save some coin.
The DOT was not impressed and rewrote the mandate that they had to be lighted.

This is what I have heard maybe someone else has a differing story.
Vehicles up through 1967 are not required to have anything for side markers to this day.

68's were grandfathered but then a size regulation came up. Then when the 69's only had reflectors they deciced to make it mandatory that the markers be lite.

Thanks for your reply. I understand that none were required up to 67, but just think it's a nice safety feature to have, say if you are at a 4 way stop, and someone might not see you because you don't have any. I was just curious why they would be legal on a 1968 model, but not a 2010 model. I've also read why this is so difficult to get a new Challenger to "look" like a 'cuda, with the federal laws on the rear tail panel. I was just wondering slao, if I would maybe be violating existing fed laws by installing something that wasn't "approved" even if on a model that never had them. It's kinda wacky. Thanks for anybody that can answer this one. (Most people wouldn't even know the difference, I realize)

You can install them on an older car.I have the 68s in my 65.They have been there for probally 25 years.Now new cars have to meet fed standards to pass fed inspection.I doubt very much any cop would ticket you.My Harleys like my 74 had reflectors from factory.It hasnt had them on since 76.Never any problems.Why worry about something that a mag wrote when it dosent apply to you.Rocky

In 1968 all domestic cars had side marker reflectors and/or lights I believe. Mopars had side lights only then for 69 went to reflectors only, probably for money sake. If you notice, 1968 Ford products had marker lights on sides in front and just reflectors in rear sides, then went to all markers as lights for 1969. G M had all marker lights at least for 68 and 69. By 1970, they pretty much (all domestics) had reflectors and lights cross the spectrum. To this day, I believe that stands, must have both.

I had a 70 dart years back..shaved side marker lights...they never even flinched ...LOL

wont fly in ny.

you can not hold "old" cars to new car stanards. try and reto fitting air abg and side curtain in your 69.

Ok, I get all the grandfathering laws and BS, But still, the question remains, why aren't the legal for a brand new vehicle to put on, ( as the mag relates ) Example, I know my 73 Bronco only had seat belts approved (No shoulder belts or anything required) and it is grandfathered, but I was just curious why the new Challenger couldn't have the '68 style side markers. RE should know. I'm just curious if it's a brightness thing or a square inch thing. And Rocky, it might come up in 2029 if you want to use a 2010 style marker. LOL, I just wonder what the feds think of it all. No biggie. Just Why would 68 standards be so unacceptable now, esp with high intensity LED lights.

u can not change the markers on a new car

Did you miss the size part?? They are too small to make it.

I've got them on my 62, its my favorite sidemarker.

But I think the OP is asking can you ADD them to whatever is existing that is required by law and installed by OEM, would that be illegal, my guess is no, but that of course is based on common sense.

The 68`s aren`t legal on anything after `68 simply because they don`t have a reflector.

As the years progressed since 68, the regulations got more detailed and more stringent. So now, 40 years later, the guidelines for the various lights on cars is pretty particular with regards to the amount of area, reflectiveness, brightness and location. You will see various evolution of guidelines. If you recall back in the late 70s and early 80s, european cars had aerodynamic headlights, but US car regulations required the sealed beam units. It was some years later that the government accepted the plastic lens covered headlight assemblies. The Mustang 5.0 is a good example of the progression of the headlight regulation. Now, the standards are such that some of the older units no long pass todays requirements. Same thing with the marker lights. Also tailights. It is required that the tail area have a certain amount of surface area that is reflective. You will see on some cars that may have small tailights, or non-reflective tailights, that there are additional reflectors located in the bumpers. A car like the 70 Challenger would probably still meet todays standards. A 69 Road Runner may not. So you see a design on the new Challenger very similar to the 70 because th eold desing probably came close to meeting all the modern day requirments. 70 Cuda tail lights probably do not, therefore, the rear end of a new Cuda (if one could exist) may require additional lights or reflectors to meet current standards. I hope this helps answer your question.

Side marker fits in nicely on that 62. Bonus points for the wheel selection.

I had a 67 mustang in a fairly dark color and didn't always feel 100% certain that other cars could see me at night. The headlights and tailights on those cars are recessed pretty good and not having any sidemarkers didn't help out either. You could stand parallel to the car in the dark with the lights on and not see an ounce of light coming from either end of the car.

Thank you RoadRunner for your informative answer. I don't really give a hoot about the legalaties, as I will most likley install the 68's that I have. I just wondered why they were legal for 68, and not for currant cars. It has been an eye opening thread, anyway. Thanks all.

Neil and JCC, THAT is the main reason that I want sidemarkers. People that drive their cars at night without them are nuts. My thinking is that even dinky ones are better than nothing. Thanks all for posting.

Have any of you noticed our Government lately and you wonder why it isn't legal. LOL Your car probably won't be legal much longer!

" I love big Motors" Joe