Wanted: Beehive tail lights

I am converting to the pre-1957 beehive tail lights. Does anyone have a spare set or know of a source that is less expensive than Stoddard?

Thanks, Chuck

NLA..has them in stock. Stoddards won't order them until you order them.

Thanks Steven. I'll check them out

Thanks Wolfgang. That's an interesting idea. It's been years since I've seen a Bugeye up close. They were always a favorite of mine.

Chuck, you might check with Henry at IM. I believe he has sourced some hives that may be at less cost (than the NLA repros) that look very nice. I'm not sure on this, but it's worth a call. If you do end up going with the thicker original style repros you may want to think about brighter tail/brake lights. I am about to modify mine now (LED) as the normal bulbs dont shine through the repro hives as well as you might want. Anyway, I would check IM before going anywhere else.

You have a sharp looking Intermeccanica. It's neat to see the vinatge IM coach badge and also the build info plate. Keep us up on the progress.

If you don't demand SWF OEM brand but are just looking for the beehive look then use the brake lights from an older Austin Heally/MG/Triumph. They have a nice water proof base, chrome/stainless bezel and beehive glass red lense. (You can get them with sockets for 1 or 2 filament bulbs). They also come in amber and clear for front or turn signals. At $25 each try Moss Motors -
www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29350

Jim: I called IM today & they referred me to NLA for the beehives. They are about the same price as Stoddard. I ordered a set from Moss Motors that are for the big Healeys. I can return them if they're not acceptable. At less that 1/2 price, it's worth a look.

Do you know where your ruby red paint color comes from? That looks like what I am looking for.

Thanks, Chuck

Chuck,

Ruby Red is a Porsche color on Speedsters 56-59 (and other 356 series). Henry's paint shop used Glasurit Ruby Red with Clear to paint it. I think mix codes are on the Samba and you can get 4"x8" sprayed samples of it and any other 356 color from Wilhoits in Los Angeles so that you can have a local paint shop match it. A link to Wilhoits can be found by going to The 356 Registry and then going to their list of Vendors. If you are looking for an orginal color, they are a great resource. Ruby is a rich, deep red, and I really like it.

NLA may be where Henry is sourcing all of the hives now. That's where I got mine (through IM). They are high quality (as you saw, so was the price). It may be a long shot, but I would also check Parts Obsolete in Oregon. They have been going out of the parts business and selling off their inventory. They may still have a pair... and their prices were always competitive. I would also watch E-Bay, as I have seen pairs under 'Porsche' 356 searches. One last place to check is the SAMBA...... there are always parts on sale there and one vendor is repro-ing knobs in black/white/ivory.

Keep us up. It looks like you are filling and sanding now!

Jim: Thanks for the tip on Wilhoits. A paint sample is in the mail. I also received the beehives from Moss Motors. I think that they will work.

I am having trouble with the spacing for the beehives. If it's not too much trouble, could you measure yours and give me measurements from the top of the bumper to the bottom of each light and the distance from the license plate frame to the edge of each light?

Thanks, Chuck

Chuck,

I am happy to hear that Wilhoits worked out... that's a neat site to check out, eh?

The stats are from the plate frame edge to the rubber molding edge on the hives, and from the top bumper edge to the bottom of the hive rubber moldings. If you want the stats to the edge of the chrome surround or center of the hives let me know... also I could give you the measurements from the center of the plate mount..

From the edge of the plate to the inner hive molding is 10" and 14 1/2" for the outer hive molding edge. There is 1" spacing between the molding edges of each hive.

From the bumper top edge to the bottom edge of each Hive's rubber molding is 3 1/2". I'll take a measurement from the bottom edge of the car in the morning.

Let me know if I can help in any way Chuck. Stay in contact.

Jim

Jim: Thank you for the measurements. That is exactly what I needed.

Chuck

Chuck,

You got the beehives from the Healey 3000? Could you please post the Moss Motors part numbers for me?

Thanks!

TC

The original link I provided gets you right to the ones you want - all English cars used the same Lucas parts so a AH 3000 one is same as a AH Bugeye Sprite. I have some extra chrome rings and the bulb mount bases if some one needs them --- you'd need the rubber base and the lense. These also (with a clear or amber lense) work for the front turn signals.

www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29350

"all English cars used the same Lucas parts so a AH 3000 one is same as a AH Bugeye Sprite" . . . . ? ?

Thanks for the link, Wolfgang!

TC: The Moss Motors part # for the lights that I ordered is: 143-950.

Chuck

TC: The Moss Motors part # for the lights that I ordered is: 143-950.

Chuck

TC: More beehive info for you. The Bugeye turn lamps (144-000) are single filament and the 3000 rear lamp (143-950) are dual filament. They should both be the same size according to Moss Motors.

Chuck

Sweet! Thanks Chuck!

I ordered a set of 356 beehives from Stoddard to compare with the AH lights from Moss Motors.

356 AH
Diameter: 3 1/4" 2 3/4"

Height: 1 5/8" 1 7/8"

The shape & color of the lens are quite different when they are placed side by side. I am going to send the AH lights back, which is unfortunate since they seem to be of better quality at 1/2 the price of the 356's.

I hope this info proves to be useful to those who are considering the swap to beehives.

Chuck

My previous post does not look like what I typed!

356 Diam: 3 1/4"
356 Ht: 1 5/8"

AH Diam: 2 3/4"
AH Ht: 1 7/8"

Sorry for the confusion

Chuck