£45 for two little bits of plastic

[sparkythecat]

PH classified ad said:

Pair of clear front indicator lenses for chim/griff, brand new unmarked genuine Lucas items. Exactly the same as the original orange ones but clear! £42 + £3 postage

Now this vendor isn't being greedy. The same items go for similar money on ebay.

The cost of manufacture of these items must be less than £1, so why are they so very very expensive?

[pupp]

Because folk are prepared to pay good money to make orange lights look white (clear). Have never understood why you'ld want to TBH

[ozzie dave]

I'm in a company that does glass for cars, we are looking at replica lights as well ,this has proved to be interesting , the material comes in different grades , but that is a minor cost. No-one will do production for under 500 units, the moulds are not too expensive (a thousand or so dollars US each, but the biggest cost is E type approval , many times the cost of molds. we are also looking into making chrome on brass vents and replica parts etc that will meet current approvals. We currently also make cobra & hotrod frames aswell. Hope this gives an idea of what makes up the cost so it does not seem so bad.

Dave

[macdeb]

That's about the price. It's also what I wanted for my car but TVR dealer supplied me with Tuscan indicators instead so he could charge £164!!! [for two little bits of plastic] Will not purchase anything from there ever again.

Edited by macdeb on Thursday 28th September 09:15

[funkyol]

Are they not sourced from another car / manufacturer like most bits on the older TVR's are? Can you not go that route?

[TT Tim]

I have a niggeling feeling that they are Land Rover 101 forward control side or reverse lights, but I may be wrond, also I seem to remember a ferret (the armoured car) mentioned once or twice.

Tim

[jon h]

TT Tim said:

I have a niggeling feeling that they are Land Rover 101 forward control side or reverse lights, but I may be wrond, also I seem to remember a ferret (the armoured car) mentioned once or twice.

Tim

Yep, from a military landrover... I think FlipFlopGriff found a source for about £7.00 a go, IIRC, a while back. There was a thread with the details on, probably over a year ago.

Jon H

[Dave 500]

Just got mine off ebay for £26.00 if that helps. Real fast delivery to

[antonyj]

I used to sell them on Ebay myself, till my supply dried up.

There is one guy still selling them who copied my old ad completely, cheeky git.

Just search for military lights on ebay and go for it.

[FlipFlopGriff]

jon h said:

TT Tim said:

I have a niggeling feeling that they are Land Rover 101 forward control side or reverse lights, but I may be wrond, also I seem to remember a ferret (the armoured car) mentioned once or twice.

Tim

Yep, from a military landrover... I think FlipFlopGriff found a source for about £7.00 a go, IIRC, a while back. There was a thread with the details on, probably over a year ago.

Jon H

£8 each actually Jon but yes they are earlier military landrover/4 tonner and some tanks, so if you can find a miltary vehicle supplier they should be a stock item. My supplier doesn't do them anymore (someone told me 6 months or so ago) so I can't help. Had mine at least 2 years now.
FFG

[theaxe]

On a similar note clear replacements for the orange reflectors on XK8/R cost about £200 for the four!

I guess it's the setup costs and limited demand but £50 for a small piece of plastic is steep.

[chim666]

If the indicator lenses are originally coloured orange, then I believe that if you replace them with clear lenses, then you must install orange-coloured bulbs.
That is certainly true for side repeaters and therefore I assume the same applies to the other indicator lights on the car.

[antonyj]

Silver coated "orange" lighting bulbs take care of this.
It also prevents the car looking like someone has thrown fried eggs at it.

[bigdods]

Theres a pair on ebay right now - currently £14.50 + £3 shipping for the two. But with 2 days to go it will probably go a bit higher..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TVR-CHIMAERA-MI

[dean_ratpac]

you don't have to have orange bulbs, this can casue the 'yoke' effect. i looked for suppliers of these lenses for a long time. i ended up buying off ebay, great service, had them put in when i got the body resprayed.
you can find these silver/chrome bulbs that stop the yolk effect.

[FlipFlopGriff]

chim666 said:

If the indicator lenses are originally coloured orange, then I believe that if you replace them with clear lenses, then you must install orange-coloured bulbs.
That is certainly true for side repeaters and therefore I assume the same applies to the other indicator lights on the car.

Philips Silver Vision bulbs - a bit more expensive but are silver when off and orange when on so you don't get that horrid egg effect where you can see the yoke though the lens.
FFG

[mikedavis1]

Take a look here...thread from Nov 05...


www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=220666


M

[valhalla]

TT Tim said:

I have a niggeling feeling that they are Land Rover 101 forward control side or reverse lights, but I may be wrond, also I seem to remember a ferret (the armoured car) mentioned once or twice.

Tim

You are correct in saying they are Land Rover parts, I only know as a mate bought a pair of clear ones for his Chim, and the total was £13 plus vat.
I'm off to the local Land Rover dealers tomorrow then back home to e**y

[mikedavis1]

Beware they may not be the same as standard early LR items - local LR indie spares guys dug about 6 different pairs out for me to no avail, similar but different: He was convinced they were an MOD only item and tried but couldn't get a match..... if you can get a LR part number for the £13 per pair set you could be a popular PHer....

M

[antonyj]

The number on the front of the clear lenses should be FV817224.

There are a few on ebay at the moment....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-ROVER-MILI

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MILITARY-LANDRO

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TVR-CHIMAERA-MI


Hope this helps