Early lenses (pre-62/63*) were made from a high-carbonite injection molded plastic (similar to those plastic "party" dishes used for guests at Sunday BBQs) while later lenses are manufactured in acrylic-resin. The former tends to dull, or bleach color over the seasons while the latter often develops a web of hairline cracks just below the cast surface.

If your Taillight & Turnsignal lenses appear dingy and dull, display small hairline striations (cracks) and look like they've weathered a nuclear-winter or two take an hour or so and "rejuvenate" them for far less than the cost of cheap, ill fitting, after-market replacements..

First, remove the lenses from the car utilizing your trusty medium Phillips screwdriver. They're probably pretty brittle at this stage and we don't want you waiting until the cows-come-home for our article on repairing broken lenses so, be careful and gently rock the lens back and forth until it releases its hold on the underlying bulb-housing.

Once you've got them removed, fill your bucket (or kitchen sink if your flatmate agrees in theory) with warm, clean, soapy water. Take your bristle brush and a lens and "gently" clean all the accumulated dirt and debris away from the refractor-grids (the inside of the lens is cast with a series of small pyramid or crescent shaped light refractors). Deeply embedded stuff can be dislodged from the cavities of the lens using a toothpick or two.

Acrylic-Enamel aerosol (rattle-can) can be used if you don't have a compressor/paint gun/booth and the $3.99 results are practically indistinguishable from the $17,000.00 +/- pro-booth, so, save a few bucks and get a can of -good- paint, preferably a quality Enamel like Plasti-Cote, clear #229 which should be available at most automotive parts houses.

The paint process is relatively simple. First apply a single, uniform light coat as an base, wait a few minutes and apply a slightly heavier coat until the entire lens looks "wet" or glossy. If the clear goes on and turns a "Milky-White" there's a bit of moisture in the air, or on the lens. Don't freak... It should clear as the moisture purges from the surface (usually within 5 minutes). Reapply coats until you like what you see, let dry thoroughly and reassemble...