NEED good used '61 Lark tail light lenses

[studesnbldr]

I was wondering if anyone has a decent set of used tail light lenses for a '61 Lark Sedan. They don't have to be new, given their current asking prices. Need a nice, useable set for a daily driver which has no lenses at present. Will gladly buy a reasonably priced single one or a pair.
Please let me know; I would greatly appreciate it.

Christof Kheim
---studesnbldr
christof@rockymountainstudebaker.net

[JDP]

Here's a new pair:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ140741QQihZ016QQitemZ260209035811QQrdZ1QQ

JDP/Maryland
63 R2 SuperHawk (Caesar)
spent to date $54664,75
64 R2 GT (Sid)
spent to date $62,839.60
63 Lark 2 door
57 wagon
51 Commander
39 Coupe express
39 Coupe express (rod)

[studesnbldr]

JDP- If you'd like to bank-roll this NOS set, please feel free! It most certainly would be appreciated!!

Christof Kheim
---studesnbldr
christof@rockymountainstudebaker.net

[bams50]

Christof, why not just put on a pair from a '60? Personally, I can't see why anyone would spend the money '61s are going for except for a high-point show car! In fact, if I had a '61 with good ones I'd put '60 assemblies on and put the originals away for safe keeping.

Exposed as they are, how hard would it be to back into something and wipe one out- or have someone else do the same when you're parked?

Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

[StudeRich]

Your're RIGHT about that one Bob, at Frost and French Studebaker in Los Angeles we had pallet crates 4 ft. high FULL of boxes of '59 & '60's and a smaller pile of '61 since there were not many of those around, but they all sold like hotcakes, even the local junkyards began to STOCK new ones for that very reason thousands were out there getting crunched!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[studesnbldr]

quote:Originally posted by bams50

Christof, why not just put on a pair from a '60? Personally, I can't see why anyone would spend the money '61s are going for except for a high-point show car! In fact, if I had a '61 with good ones I'd put '60 assemblies on and put the originals away for safe keeping.

Exposed as they are, how hard would it be to back into something and wipe one out- or have someone else do the same when you're parked?

Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

Bob- It was my understanding that the '59-60 lenses will not fit onto the '61 housings and that if you wanted to put the earlier housings onto a '61, new holes would need to be drilled in the body. True?

Also, another source told me the contour of the '61 rear quarters differed from the '59-60 quarters in such a manner that they would not accept the '59-60 housings. True?

I have no problem with running the '60 lenses on the '61, but want to be clear as to how to best adapt them with minimal alterations to the car (ie: drilling too many new holes).

Your, or anyone who has performed such a switch, response & opinion is welcome. Thanks.




Christof Kheim
---studesnbldr
christof@rockymountainstudebaker.net

[studegary]

Those eBay lenses, that John referenced, appear to be from the reproduction run made years ago and do not appear to be NOS.

At the prices that these 1961 Lark lenses are bringing, I keep telling myself that I should take a few hours and find out if I still have any new ones left.

EDIT: I have confirmed with the seller that the 1961 lenses that he is selling on eBay are reproduction lenses and not NOS. It was an honest mistake. He did not know that reproduction 1961 lenses had been made (years ago).

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[bams50]

I've yet to do it myself, but I understand the 60 fits right on. You do need the 60 light assembly, and may have to drill different holes.

Shouldn't be a big job doing that, then you'll always have the much cheaper 60s hanging out there vulnerable to damage. Drill for the 60 assembly, and just before you install it, fill the original holes with some silicone. Then if you want to go back, you can just peel off the silicone.

I have never compared that area between a 60 and 61, but I doubt there is any difference between them.

Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

[studesnbldr]

quote:Originally posted by bams50

I've yet to do it myself, but I understand the 60 fits right on. You do need the 60 light assembly, and may have to drill different holes.

Shouldn't be a big job doing that, then you'll always have the much cheaper 60s hanging out there vulnerable to damage. Drill for the 60 assembly, and just before you install it, fill the original holes with some silicone. Then if you want to go back, you can just peel off the silicone.

I have never compared that area between a 60 and 61, but I doubt there is any difference between them.

Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

Bob, I do not have a problem drilling new screw holes and attaching the '60 T/L housings/bases to the car. A local friend with two '61 sedans said he tried to install those '60 assemblies onto a '61 and the contour/shape of the rear-quarters is, indeed, different and will not readily accept them. Do we know of anyone who has successfully done this retro-fit to their car, and lived, so as to tell us about how they went about it? If I'm going to do this for my customer, I want to do it right so it does look good & factory-like. At this point, any NOS '61 lenses are out-of-the-question due to financial constraints and they don't make sense for a driver vehicle. Thanks.

Christof Kheim
---studesnbldr
christof@rockymountainstudebaker.net

[bams50]

I'll be interested to see those with real experience chime in- are they different or not?

Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

[ChampTrucking]

I did it on my Lark,and it was OK. IIRC all I had to drill was the 60 taillight housing.The quarter panel was fine!

[StudeRich]

Sorry to disagree Champ, but '59 & '60 Larks have the large bulb socket hole diagonally in the corner of the fender, and the '61's have it in the rear panel. There is no way to avoid drilling a new large hole in the rear fender and inner fender, if you use a '60 Tail Light Housing. You would really have to do a crude job to make a '60 Lense fit a '61 housing because the gasket surface is completely different.

I think that Yellow W/Red flamed front clip '61 Lark 4dr. race car had that done, he just butchered the lenses and siliconed them on, I guess because it was not a show car.

quote:Originally posted by ChampTrucking

I did it on my Lark,and it was OK. IIRC all I had to drill was the 60 taillight housing.The quarter panel was fine!

StudeRich -Studebakers Northwest Ferndale, WA

[ChampTrucking]

Then I must have used 59-60 rear quarters on my car when I redid the body,because all the holes were there.I only drilled a small screw hole in the housing.It has been soo long ago,I wish I could remember which new quarters I used.Sorry to add confusion to this,but my Lark has 60 tail lights,and swear I did not drill any new holes in the body or quarter.