I was thinking.....

If you can clear out the bottoms on a 97 tail, can u clear out the top and paint the clear bottom red and make red clears?

 

if i recall, i don't think you can, the red and amber tails of the 95-96 are connected as one piece where as the 97-99, you can remove the amber lense piece and replace it with clears, i've seen clears on 95-96, not sure how those are done

 

I think he means to take the outside tails off a 97+, clear them out and paint the bottom to match the 96 inners.

 

that would be a great idea....can someone comment on this? does the 1997 tail light fit a 1996 maxima exactly without cutting?

 

The outer tailights fit right in with no problems. However, the 97-99 inner lights only fit into the 97-99 trunk lid.

Mixing and matching between the two will not look right at all.

 

No...because the red part on the 97 lights is actually RED...
the amber part is just an insert....

 

are you positive, how about any aftermarket red/clear tails that are mad? are they inserts?

 

yes i am sure....

and no the red part is red on aftermarket ones too....