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I just wondering if anyone in Brisbane area has Garage vary tail lights on their NB? I've never seen a set in person before and just want to sus them out because in photos they look so cool!

If that's cool with you please pm me so we can organise a time when I can have a look at them!

I've wondered about these myself, but I'm concerned about the legality of them. I beleive the reversing light is a sepearete lamp, it's not integrated into the brake/indicator assembly.

This is the NA version to illustrate what I mean. (There don't seem to be many pictures of the NB version)


I doubt very much that it would be a legal mod here in Australia

Legality would depend on if it meets ADRs, how strict they are I cna't say, not having read the ones relevant to tail lights.

My incling is that as long as the tail light lenses meet the relevant ADR or equivalent (ie: have the little stampings mouled in) AND that the tail lights once fitted meet the relevant visibility requirements (angles etc)


In reality though, it's unlikely you'll be pulled up.

The standard rear combo lamps on the NB are one of the industries best examples of both a functional and aesthetically superior lamps on a car but I am biased. The lamp is actually in a art museum in USA as an example of a superior design and a the technology ( 3 colour moulding in the same cycle and die)

The lamps pictured are an old fashioned lamp commonly made as aftermarket items and never fitted to OE on modern vehicles except perhaps some low volume vehicle. The screws indicate that the lens is a separate item which probably has a cut gasket between lens and housing and that gives access to the bulb. In all likelihood the lamps would have met a test requirement and if sold here that would be an ADR but even if made in USA they would have some certification and yes the lenses will have the details. The chances of ever being picked up for non compliance I would be say is just about zero. There are many imported older cars e.g. USA which even have red turn signals and yet these are accepted by authorities. Consider that there are kit cars around using aftermarket lamps and caravans and trailers also use aftermarket lamps.

Mr Morlock wrote: Consider that there are kit cars around using aftermarket lamps and caravans and trailers also use aftermarket lamps.

That is my theory as well, although many trailer lamps that I have seen are stamped as meeting standards.

My only concern legality wise with the ones listed above are that they are recessed, which would reduce visibility from certain angles.
I havent read the ADR for tail lamps, but I would assume that part of the standard would relate to visibility at certain angles (I dont know the angles they would use)


The lamp lenses should meet at least Japanese standards, since from memory Garage Vary use lenses from other vehicles for ease of manufacture. The main lamps are from a Mazda Porter cab-chassis from memory, adn the reverse lamp from some kind of Daihatsu.
Whether Japanese standards are in any way similar or equivalent to ADR standards I have no idea.

It seems the NB version doesn't come with a reverse lamp, instead it uses a strip of LEDs. Not sure if that would look any good, let alone be legal.

I really do like the style of the GV tail lights, but I don't think it's workable.

I think the biggest issue with the legality of the GV tails will be the lack of rear reflectors. There are a few examples on Minkara of owners in Japan having to place a strip of reflective tape across the lenses to pass their local inspection.

Relevant ADRs

REAR RETRO‑REFLECTOR, NON‑TRIANGULAR (Regulation No. 3)
6.14.1. Presence
Mandatory on motor vehicles.
Provided that they are grouped together with the other rear light‑signalling devices, optional on trailers.

The single reverse light on the NA version should be fine.

REVERSING LAMP (Regulation No. 23)
6.4.1. Presence
Mandatory on motor vehicles and on trailers of categories O2, O3 and O4. Optional on trailers of category O1.
6.4.2. Number
6.4.2.1. One device mandatory and a second device optional on motor vehicles of category M1 and on all other vehicles with a length not exceeding 6,000 mm.
6.4.4. Position
6.4.4.1. In width: no special requirement.
6.4.4.2. In height: not less than 250 mm and not more than 1,200 mm above the ground.
6.4.4.3. In length: at the rear of the vehicle.

This goes into further detail on viewing angles and other mandatories.
https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2009C00579/Html/Text#_Toc235592112

well done Jimmy for look up. There might be a reflex reflector in the lamp but if there is not there needs to be one.Simple check is just shine a torch at the lamp. The std rear combo have all this included- hence the term "combination lamp"

Hey guys thanks for all the replies, some really useful info here. But I was just curious if anyone in the Brisbane area actually had any installed on their car. I just want to sus out who has successfully installed these on an NB as I have only ever seen the NA ones before in person.

Also for the reverse lamp I would figure you would just stick on a led lamp like the 4x4's in the mines use under the rear bumper. That's what I'd do anyways. Maybe I need to draw the idea I have in my head and scan it and upload it haha.

But has anyone ever seen these in person before? I know pictures don't do aftermarket products justice because it's only has you get close to them and touch them do you get a feel for their quality and finish

Thanks!!

it's going to look the same as the photos but by all means see if you can see the lamps in action. Reverse lamps are clear not red- it's a fair chance that the clear lamp on the vehicle is the reverse lamp.

Mr Morlock wrote:it's going to look the same as the photos but by all means see if you can see the lamps in action. Reverse lamps are clear not red- it's a fair chance that the clear lamp on the vehicle is the reverse lamp.

The one pictured above is the version for the NA MX5, and yes the small clear one is the reverse lamp.

The NB version shares the same main light lenses, however does not have the small rectangle reverse lamp (mainly due to the NB having the centre panel integrated into the rear bumper, where on the NA it is a separate piece)

In saying that, adding a reverse lamp would be quite simple, either using slim LED lamps, or buying a normal one and cutting the centre panel to fit the lamp neatly.