This post is about the rare 1968 twin-bulb front parking/turn signal lamps (not the cornering lamp option) and their corresponding build date on the body tag.

This summer, I saw a 68 convertible firebird at a local car show. I spotted the dual twin-bulb design on his front valance parking lamps and knew this was rare production (I own a 68 GTO and know this early design was also shared with the Tempest models). He said he believes those are the original lamp assemblies and he's owned the car for over 18 years.

From sources elsewhere, I know the two bulb parking lamps were only made for a month or two in the production cycle for the 1968 model year, so that might mean vehicles manufactured in August and September of 1967. When I saw this firebird, I checked the data plate and noticed what appeared to be a strange date code of "18A". Was it "10A"?

I couldn't believe my eyes so I looked closer at the tag - it was repainted gloss black and the hood casted a shadow on the plate, so I rubbed my thumb over it as I double-checked it closer. Yep, I couldn't believe it said 18A in the upper LH corner. I looked around the tag to ensure it would be the date code and not confuse it with something else, so I believe it to be the build code since everything else on the tag appeared to be numbers. I'm also used to seeing a couple of letters after the 2xxxxx model numbers to designate the final assembly plant code, but I only saw another string of numbers after the model numbers that I didn't jot down.

Has anyone else experienced this on their data plates, or does anyone have comments about the dual bulb front parking lamps for the 1968?
Thanks

I can talk a little about it. I have a 09D and also have the two lamp park lights. It would have to be A 10A since the number represents the month and the letter the week.

Mine came with the two lamp park light. I heard it was only available aug-nov. December it went to a single bulb. Mine was not in real good shape when I started the restoration and I got real lucky finding NOS ones. How lucky is that?

My red 'vert is 09B and still has her original 2 bulb lamps.

My Flambeau 'vert is 10B and does not have them. I remember discussing this about six or seven years ago, and the concensus was they were only on cars the first few weeks of September '67. So Harold, if your car is 09D, yours must be one of the very last ones built with them.

Very cool indeed, thank you so much for your input. I'm sure there were different inventory consumption rates at different plants too; so saying for sure when PMD issued the new design vs when all the stock was depleted are most likely two different things. From a collectability standpoint, I would say 2-bulb design would make your cars more desirable. Heck, that's what I'd be looking for, in addition to Ram Air, 8-track stereo, reverb, safe-t-track, hood tach, A/C, Rally II's, etc. etc.....

By the way, I bet neither of you had originally-equipped shoulder belts either? This was another mandate by the feds that became effective January 1, 1968.

HaroldB, I wish I had your horseshoe. What did you spend on those NOS babies if I could ask?

Thanks again and have a good weekend.

They were not cheap but for being so rare maybe not to bad. They were 350.00 for the pair.

I just looked at your resto pics. I would've paid that $$ for the beautiful work you're doing. Sweet ride sir.

If you think of it, can you post a couple pics of the parking lamps sometime?

Sure and thanks for the compliment on the bird. I can post my olds ones but it will be while before I can get the new ones. They are at the shop already.

Here are my original ones. The nos ons are brand new in the box, they came with lens, gasket and the park light assembly for the 350. I post them when I get back to them.

I take it they were looking for a cheaper alternative. Basically, why did they abandon this design?

Only thing I heard was that they was able to get the same light coverage with the single bulb and no longer needed the two bulb design. This is just hear say nothing in writing.

Pics of the NOS park light

Was that the set out of St. Louis? Was on craigslist down there for about 9 months.

Those are sweet Harold! I just got some NOS ones that are the one bulb type. I have the old 2 bulb design somewhere in my parts heap. I must have got them from my old coupe as it was a 09D as well.

Fisher Body Unit Number 2,977 built in the 4th week of September at the Lordstown.
This car was the 6,179 made at the Lordstown, Ohio plant.

09D owners:
What were your build numbers?

Where does the Body Unit Number come from?

The Car Build number, Is it the last four of the serial number?

Banshee spotted these on Ebay and alerted me about them. They came from Glide, Oregon
Paid 350 for the pair.

YES

So my car was 6,884. Where does the Body Unit Number come from?

Body Tag (number left of BODY)

Holy Cow. My body unit number is 981. Mine was built in 4th week of Sept too. Why is my body number way lower then yours when the car build number is higher then yours? Mine was LOR as well.

HaroldB, thanks for uploading the NOS pics. That'll make a concours restorer drool.

To the earlier comment, GM released the dual bulb design because the feds mandated side markers for the 1968 model vehicles. From what I understand, the designers intentionally placed the second outboard bulb in order to make sure they complied with the rules. Due to the wrap-around design of the lamp, it quickly became evident that the second bulb was not entirely necessary. Once the revision was approved, they phased out the design for the single bulb units which helped to save money. Over the hundreds of thousands of cars produced that year (similar design with the full-size Pontiacs and Tempest/LeMans/GTO models), a significant cost savings resulted.