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Reproduction Lucas Fog lights

kevin

Banned
Joined
Oct 2, 2002
Messages
47
Hey guys! I'm currently working on reproducing the Lucas Square 8 fog lights used on the GT/CS. I know of no other reproduction source, so I thought I might give it a try. I am interested in any feedback that you can give me about your interest in this product. I figured that if I was going to spend $200.00 on a set, I might as well try to reproduce them.
I have great experience in foundry work. I have cast the backings of the lights from alluminum(just for trial), and then chrome plated it. I made the lens by vacuum forming plastic. I have made a trial set, and I can not tell the difference between the two visually.
Just thought this might be some interest to you guys on the forum.
Does anyone know why the lights haven't been commercially reproduced yet?
I will get pics posted soon.
 

StraightSix

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
272
Um, wow! :eek:

As always: pics please!

You know, even for people who already have the fog lights, some plastic lenses would be nice for driving. Driving with the covers on just doesn't look as cool :)

To answer your question about why the lights haven't been reproduced, I would say that it's because they can still be found without too much difficulty. However, they are pricey, so if you can make repros inexpensively they might sell. Another good point is that the Lucas lights were used on all sorts of British cars of the period, not just the GT/CS, HCS, and Shelby. Your potential market is a lot greater. Of course, that's why they can still be picked up without much difficulty -- they made a lot of them. Kevin, you seem to be quite the handyman. What is your background?

-Winston
 

guest

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
603
Lucas lights have already been reproduced. I believe they are built in Taiwan or Japan and claim to be exact reproductions. They come up from time to time on ebay for around $50.00.
 
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kevin

Banned
Joined
Oct 2, 2002
Messages
47
Thats cool, It seems the asians always get to things before americans can :) Oh well. Thanks for the info.
 

rjw

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 22, 2002
Messages
257
I think the interest would be huge! As for the $50 reproductions, I have not seen them on ebay. Please post a reference on this site the next time you see them. Having plastic lenses so driving without the covers is a grand idea.
 

admin

Staff member
Administrator
Joined
Aug 18, 2002
Messages
2,049
Yeah, I haven't seen those $50 ebay deals either, and I've been looking because one of my lenses is cracked.

Kevin, even if you only do the plastic lenses it sounds like quite a demand. I'm sure many would love to keep their original glass lenses for shows and use the plastic for daily driving.
 

68sunlitgold

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
1,357
I have seen Marchal plastic lenses on ebay, I attached a picture of them. They are not exactly the same but I do believe they would fit the 656's. As for the repros from across the sea, I have seen them advertised but they never include a picture of them, so I was very reluctant to buy them.

Doug
 

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kevin

Banned
Joined
Oct 2, 2002
Messages
47
I've checked everywhere for the reproduction lights, even e-mailed Jaguar and Rover forums in Europe. None of the have heard of the reproductions.
I casted some out of zinc this weekend, and the are the same weight as the originals. I copper plated them, then crome plated them. This method worked a lot better.
As soon as I have time, I'll start making some lenses for purchase. I'll keep you updated.
 

x-codegtcs

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2002
Messages
549
Location
Kaysville, UT
I am just talking out of the side of my mouth, but I think the reason they have not been reproduced is because of potential licensing issues with Lucas. Because the part was a standard Lucas part, they may have copyrights and/or design patents. Of course the patents would be dead now, but copyrights live forever (just ask Disney Corp.). Anyway, I do not know if you will want to go too far without first checking into this.

Just as a side note, you will notice that many of the repro parts that are out there are not specific to a brand other than Ford and Ford didn't have any idea the brand they were creating in 64 1/2 or they would have tied a lot of the design work out.

Anyway, just a bit of caution as you work toward this.

Good luck

Bryce
 

StraightSix

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
272
Copyright generally refers to text, music, design drawings, etc. Patents refer to the actual device itself. I don't think that there are any copyright issues here, but there may be patent issues. Of course, patents have to be renewed every so often, so as Bryce pointed out they are probably dead now. I wouldn't worry about this issue personally. The only thing I would see as a problem is if your reproductions retained the Lucas logo or Square 8 name, etc. Even so, I doubt that they would come looking for you :)

-Winston
 

guest

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
603
I recently purchased a beautifu pair of "correct" and original Lucas Square 8 fog lamps from a man in Sweden. His prices are very reasonable (between $200-300 for the pair) and the lights I purchased were near NOS. This man advertises in the Shelby American Auto Club publication regularly. He also has the light covers that are correct for the 1968 lights. If anyone needs his address (email or mailing) let me know and I'll look it up. Hope this helps. Russ
 

68sunlitgold

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
1,357
This gentleman goes by, I believe, "Jane7" on ebay and has items on ebay alot, so keep looking for them under "square eights".
Doug
 
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kevin

Banned
Joined
Oct 2, 2002
Messages
47
I got mine from a man in the UK that sells parts for the Rover 3500 P6. He sold them to me for 153.00 with shipping. They look perfect. He has many more.
 

guest

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
603
[quote author=kevin link=board=1;threadid=230;start=0#msg1152 date=1046213404]
I got mine from a man in the UK that sells parts for the Rover 3500 P6. He sold them to me for 153.00 with shipping. They look perfect. He has many more.
[/quote]
I have a 68 HCS and need the fog light I would love to have this address thanks. :) :)
 

x-codegtcs

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2002
Messages
549
Location
Kaysville, UT
Sorry for the confusion on Copyrights and Patents. What I meant was that the logo, part number or other markings on the lenses could be Copyrighted - perhaps Trademarked. The nice thing is as pointed out above, they have probably been left to die.
 

Jose

New member
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
3
Location
Orlando, Florida
repro Lucas lenses

whatever happened to the outcome of this thread?

I am trying to find someone who will reproduce one section of the tail-lamp Lenses in DOT-legal Amber for one of my cars, a 1965 Jaguar 'S' type.

Yes, I know this is not a Jaguar forum but since the thread was about Lucas Lenses, and Jaguar uses Lucas lenses, I thought I'd ask. Otherwise go ahead and kill me.

The Lucas lenses I need are being reproduced but only in DOT-legal Red.

Here's the idea: the light bulb sockets are removed from the rear of the housing in order to replace bulbs, so I can change the position of the Turn Signal light, and the Driving/Stop lights, and that's exactly what I want to do, being that the Driving/Stop lights are so low in this car that they are hardly visible by other drivers, so by changing the Driving/Stop light to the upper position, the rear of the car becomes more visible. It's a Safety First modification.

But there are no Amber lenses available for the lower section of the housing, where the Turn Signal lights will be flashing after they are changed.

So I need to have these lenses made in Amber. Anyone knows someone who will? I can provide a Red lens section to be used as a 'master' for a mold.

Thank you for any help and regards,

Jose
1965 Jaguar 3.8 'S' type
1984 Jaguar 4.2 XJ-6
 

Jose

New member
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
3
Location
Orlando, Florida
repro Lucas

John,

many thanks for your reply and the link. I already wrote to Hoop to see if he can help.

regards, :smile:
Jose
 

Mustanglvr

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2004
Messages
3,258
I`m curious as to why Kevin, the guy who started this thread got banned. Does anybody know?
 
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