Backup light sedan c/k difference

[Studebakerboy]

Going through my Dad's stuff I came about 3 backup lights of 1955 vintage. All three were used and had the tri-star. Two were very nice!!! .... had a short housing. The other had some acne and had a long housing.

Is the long one for the C/K, and the short ones for the sedans?

Thanks

Kevin

[rockne10]

Yes, but I believe the tri-star lense would have been used in '53. Tri-stars dissappeared from later models because Mercedes thought it an infringement. Will need to check the parts catalog to see if the lenses are designated through certain VIN numbers.

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
'33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight, '53 Commander Starlight

[rockne10]

Yes, but I believe the tri-star lense would have been used in '53. Tri-stars dissappeared from later models because Mercedes thought it an infringement. Will need to check the parts catalog to see if the lenses are designated through certain VIN numbers.

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
'33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight, '53 Commander Starlight

[55studeman]

Yes, there's a difference in the housing between sedan and C/K and this applies across the years. You can mount a wrong housing on a car BUT they will face the wrong way, as in point downward, etc. The difference in lens, tri-star vs smooth is year based but switchable, i.e. a 53 tri-star can be switched for smooth lens -meaning the housing is the same from 53-55. But check the parts cataloge, to verify what we say and when in doubt.

Best Regards,
Eric West
"The Speedster Kid"
Sunny Northern California
Where the roads don't freeze over and the heat doesn't kill you.
And an open road is yours to have -only during non-commute rush hours 9am-4pm and 7pm to 7am (Ha, ha, ha)
55 Speedster "Lemon/Lime" (Beautiful)
55 President State Sedan (Rusty original, but runs great and reliable)

[55studeman]

Yes, there's a difference in the housing between sedan and C/K and this applies across the years. You can mount a wrong housing on a car BUT they will face the wrong way, as in point downward, etc. The difference in lens, tri-star vs smooth is year based but switchable, i.e. a 53 tri-star can be switched for smooth lens -meaning the housing is the same from 53-55. But check the parts cataloge, to verify what we say and when in doubt.

Best Regards,
Eric West
"The Speedster Kid"
Sunny Northern California
Where the roads don't freeze over and the heat doesn't kill you.
And an open road is yours to have -only during non-commute rush hours 9am-4pm and 7pm to 7am (Ha, ha, ha)
55 Speedster "Lemon/Lime" (Beautiful)
55 President State Sedan (Rusty original, but runs great and reliable)

[Studebakerboy]

He had a Speedster that we sold last fall. He must have bought the nicer short housing units for the car thinking they were for the car and not a sedan.

I did a little research and it looks as if the 55 grill center was the same for all models. The side grills look right, but I understand they are different as well as bumpers and foglights.

Thanks again.

Kevin

[Studebakerboy]

He had a Speedster that we sold last fall. He must have bought the nicer short housing units for the car thinking they were for the car and not a sedan.

I did a little research and it looks as if the 55 grill center was the same for all models. The side grills look right, but I understand they are different as well as bumpers and foglights.

Thanks again.

Kevin

[Roscomacaw]

The center grille IS the same - the side grilles are different. The longer BU lite housing is for the C-K cars (speedster included) and lots of BU lite kits that were sold after '53, still had the tri-star lenses in them.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

The center grille IS the same - the side grilles are different. The longer BU lite housing is for the C-K cars (speedster included) and lots of BU lite kits that were sold after '53, still had the tri-star lenses in them.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe