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Just got thru looking up on a 1931 Model A Ford 5 window Cpe for sale. The pictures show only (ONE) left tail lite on the drivers side. Guess my old memory is not fading after all. Thats what I recall my old 31 Cpe had. Steve
So did the coupes have only one and the sedan's have two???
Good question on one or two tail lite housings. According to a supplier on CD they had a Left and Right part numbers. Do not know if that is the supplier's number or original Ford number. Lot of stuff on the mkt is Rpro and who knows how much original is out there. Do remember mine as being original when I drove it in 1948...paid $125 for it. Maybe different dealers or states had an option at that time. Then you had the roadster also which could have the cpe parts. I never dealt that far into it all. My dad an expert is no longer around so I cannot ask him. He was a mechanic of 40 yrs and had restored a 26 T cpe from chassis on up. Remember him rebuiding the engine/tranny/coil/ etc and firing up the engine in the frame with no body on top. He had a big smile on his face when it was running. Lot of satisfaction when you build something and it purrs like a kitten (so to speak). I'm that way after building a high performance race engine or stock for that matter. I'm a VW mechanic of 28 yrs and had a legal NHRA VW dragster for the 1/4 mile. A four banger and a lot stronger then the old 31 cpe. Steve
Model A Fords came Standard with one Tail Light. Some Deluxe Models, in some years had two as standard.... such as the A-400 and 1930 Model A Deluxe Roadster.
By the way, a spare tire was extra on a lot of Model A's. The car came with a spare rim... but the tire, tube and valve stem cost extra.
My 1938 Bantam is a Standard Model... one wiper and one tail light. The Deluxe Models had 2 wipers and two tail lights.
I have a 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe. It was bought new in Buckhannon W.va. It still had the papers in it when I got it. The guy that bought it new must have been pretty well off for the times. It has arm rests on all 4 doors. It has the full horn ring on the steering wheel. The standard steering wheel just had a horn button in the center of the wheel. It has both outside mirrors. It has turn signals. It has full wheel covers instead of what was called the dog dish hubcaps. It has a radio and clock instead of just the delete plates. All of these were options on that car in 1949 unless it had the Deluxe package. It is pretty well decked out for a 1949 model car. It has tail and turn signal lights on each rear fender but the brake light is a single light mounted above the trunk handle. It has a 217 cid L-head engine with a standard 3 speed transmission with the gear shift mounted on the steering column. (three on the tree)
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One possible explanation...
My Family sold new Plymouths and it was common following WWII for Dealers to order cars loaded with options... especially Plymouth Dealers.
The rational was there is more profit in it for the Dealer and cars were in Demand after the War Time ban on civilian production.
So, if you didn't want to wait, you would buy the loaded car on the showroom floor which was the most profitable for the Dealer.
If time wasn't an issue, the Dealer could order a car to your specifications... it could take up to 3 months depending on production schedules.
I have a 1950 Plymouth Super Deluxe... I bought it from the original owner. It came with a Radio that he had to buy to drive the car home. He took the radio and antenna out and sold it the first week he had the car.
This discussion kind of reminds me of the 3rd brake light you see on cars now. I remember when cars were first required to have them and most manufactures ended up installing them in the rear window. My Mom's 1986(!!) Ford Tempo had one and I remember some of us in the family debating its usefulness. I recall having a car with a 3rd brake light stopped in front of us and remarking how bright it was (and irritating) - like it was screaming, "Stop!!" Which was/is the point.... Anyway, because it was up against the window, there was always that spot you could never clean right.
These days, no one debates them and they're usually well integrated into a car's design....
I know my 63 Catalina had an aftermarket mirror installed, but wasn't required to have it as new and didn't. Inside only on it. My 61 Catalina bubbletop never has had an outside mirror, and I am not putting one on it either. My 57 Super Chief has a drivers side mirror.
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I'm guessing the availability of small, powerful, inexpensive electric motors that allow remote adjustment may have something to do with the commonplace right side mirror.
I'm guessing the availability of small, powerful, inexpensive electric motors that allow remote adjustment may have something to do with the commonplace right side mirror.
When right side mirrors started becoming standard equipment, they were not remotely adjustable - you rolled down the right window, leaned across the front seat - made an adjustment - sat up and checked it.
Or, you had your passenger adjust it for you.
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. Anyway, because it was up against the window, there was always that spot you could never clean right. 
