Shannon123

Hey Guys.....looked through search and really could not find what I needed.

Does anyone here NOT have a 3rd light ? I really want to delete mine (1986 CAB) but not sure the car will pass state inspection (Texas) without it.

Can anyone share their experience....Texas or elsewhere.

Thanks

1986 Targa

The '86 U.S. cars had the "third" light. The Euro models did not.

As for your inspection, I'm not sure what Texas looks for.

Good luck,

Gerry

Pavegeno928

Before you remove it...my car came without it (1988) due to the previous owner removing it. I never liked the look of the third light so I was ok with it not being there. After driving for a couple of years and having so many people nearly rear end me, I decided to put it back on as it was in a box of parts that came with the car when I bought it.

Once it was back on, it was clear that peopled noticed it and I haven't had anywhere near the number of people almost rear ending me. Almost immediately, I grew to like the light being there. Plus it makes for a fantastic place to velcro a Sirius satellite antenna. Just my $0.02.

masterdave

The rear ending thing is some thing to consider.

Legally speaking I believe it goes some thing like this. In terms of safety and things of the such your car has to be up to the original blue print specs. For example I have a 31' model A all original, no seat belts and not turn signals. I get away with this because thats what the original blue prints called for. Now we we come to the classic debate of what should happen and what does happen. If I had to guess you will be fine if you remove it. Unless you leave a note on the inside of the car that says "affix 3rd break light here" no one will know its gone. Most of the mechanics that I have seen run inspections have some one hit the breaks and see if a red light on each side goes off. I have never seen any one look up the break light configuration and make sure its all there.

The other thing that you need to remember is that if you get rear ended and go to file an insurance claim, the inspector comes, and he knows 911's, he sees there is no 3rd light but knows it should be there. He may not be happy with that and that may affect his report. Just some thing to think about.

Regards
Dave

User 4221

Federal DOT required a third brake light beginning in MY1986. If your car is an '86, then it will likely not pass Texas inspection.

If it is a coupe, and you want a different 3rd light, you should look at the 993 light setup. Very clean and effective.

theiceman

you wanna get rid of E.T. ? shame on you

oldskewel

My '85 cabriolet did not have one when I bought it in 1996. As far as I can tell, it never had one. I'm in CA and have never had any issues, although here they only inspect emissions. Does anyone know for sure what years the cab's had them as a standard item?

Also, if you want added safety but not the ET look, (no idea on whether this fulfills legal requirements) this looks interesting:
https://rennlist.com/forums/8497666-post17.html

Shannon123

Me likey....if its good enough for a REAL speedster, then its good enough for me. My Dad has something like that, maybe it was that, on his Tahoe and it never crossed my mind for it to work on the P-car. Thanks for the heads up.

dshepp806

Those ET lamps look hideous.....has anybody converted to the 3rd light mounted inside (upper-like my '89)?

Doyle

911 Crazy

......but my Cab likes to phone home!!!!!........boy that was bad! Sorry.

gaparkin

you should be

Shannon123

FWIW....

Had my '86 Widebody spoiler delete (no 3rd light) Cab inspected today here in Houston Texas area..........it passed sans/3rd light.

whalebird

I have seen the Topserve unit on a few 356s and it was very tidy. It uses the rear window seal for mounting and is insire the car if you have a coupe. They may have options for a Cab.

jackb911

Mine has a 912 rear glass with no defroster wires or 3rd brake light.

Fortunately, the LEO's around here are far more concerned with speeding revenue than with equipment violations.

If it did become an issue here, I'd get one of these: