Correct taillight for 1964 to 1966 Lark

[earthtechy]

Saw this item on EBay below

Know which years it is correct?

http://m.ebay.com/itm/291573615921

[thunderations]

66 only............and early production. Later ones were chrome. Louvers were for the flow-thru air from the passenger compartment, through the package shelf slots into the trunk and out the tail light housing.

[Sam Ensley]

That is a 1966 light. The bars were part of the fresh air system.

[StudeRich]

That looks like a NOS bare cast Tail Light Rim. There should still be big piles of the bare ones in South Bend.

They played a little game with the Painted vs Chrome Rims in '66, oddly the Lower Level Commanders & Daytonas had Chrome ones and Cruisers were Painted, later in the Model Run they started putting Chrome ones on Cruisers as well.

To install one on a '64 or '65 you would need the Flow Through Ventilation Tail Light Box and the whole Car Rear Panel or some mods to it plus the Lenses for the Bottom, are not the same as the Lenses for the Top as used on '64-'65's.

A '64 Cruiser

[8E45E]

They played a little game with the Painted vs Chrome Rims in '66, oddly the Lower Level Commanders had Chrome ones and Cruisers were Painted, later in the Model Run they started putting Chrome ones on Cruisers as well.

Rich, early Commanders were all body color, and Daytonas and Cruisers had only the louvers painted with chrome exposed around the lens. Later in the year, all models (except Wagonaire) got the entire chrome bezel.

Craig

[StudeNewby]

Would one of these fit on a 64 or 65, just not being functional?

[StudeRich]

Rich, early Commanders were all body color, and Daytonas and Cruisers had only the louvers painted with chrome exposed around the lens. Later in the year, all models (except Wagonaire) got the entire chrome bezel.
Craig

The Pics above kinda disprove that Paint & Chrome Theory don't they Craig? That must have only happened on sold in Canada Units, never saw one.

Here is another ALL Paint:

[8E45E]

The Pics above kinda disprove that Paint & Chrome Theory don't they Craig? That must have only happened on sold in Canada Units, never saw one.

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...9-Lots-of-66-s!

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...-see-those-66s!

Craig

[Skip Lackie]

Would one of these fit on a 64 or 65, just not being functional?

Yes, but you'll lose your back up lights. The 66s had separate back up lights just above the bumper.

[Studebakercenteroforegon]

There were indeed early vs. late editions - painted louvered area vs. chrome.
It is difficult to get electrolytic plating to "throw" correctly when the part geometry is like the slotted louvered feature. I'll bet the original intent was to have all chrome but plating problems forced them to regroup with the painted versions. I recall 3 variations - all painted, chrome lower bezel with painted louvered area, and finally, all chrome when they sort of solved the plating problem. I say sort of since the chrome was a little thin along the slotted features.
These running changes had nothing to do with Cruiser vs. Commander.

[8E45E]

I recall 3 variations - all painted, chrome lower bezel with painted louvered area, and finally, all chrome when they sort of solved the plating problem. I say sort of since the chrome was a little thin along the slotted features. These running changes had nothing to do with Cruiser vs. Commander.

At the beginning of the year, Commanders had different part numbers from Daytona & Cruiser:



The revised parts catalog insert shows the later all-chrome bezel for all models:



Craig

[bill matwijec]

Just a quick question about the trunk pictures. I like the chrome piece on the third picture. Is it possible to find one and would it fit on my 65 commander?

[Bullet]

Third picture chrome is a 64 Cruiser only item. I have seen them for sale at swap meets and yes they will fit on a 64 or 65 and even a 66 commander.

Mark

[StudeRich]

Just a quick question about the trunk pictures. I like the chrome piece on the third picture. Is it possible to find one and would it fit on my 65 commander?

It was only used on '64 Cruisers but it is Aluminum and the Chrome Letters do not show on silver.

So what they should have done was Satin Black the center ribbed part or use the Very trendy in '64-'65, Walnut Vinyl trim used on other makes, Trucks and Station Wagons.

I do not believe the Second Series, Late '64's from Canada had these.

[earthtechy]

Here is another 64 Daytona with the 66 tail lights - maybe it was offered?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/5788307718.html