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When it comes to a 1957 corvette,can anyone tell me if there is a way to tell the original and the reproduction tailight housings apart and how. Does anyone know the original part numbers for the housings? Please help!
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Re: Tailight housings for 1957 corvette
My Chevrolet parts book from 1963 lists your taillamp assembly as part number 898097. $20.50 each.
Scott Sinclair, the 1956-57 Team Leader will welcome your call to explain the difference between a reproduction assembly and an original assembly. His phone number is on page two of your Restorer magazine.
If you are not an NCRS member, NOW is the time to join.
Dale. -
Re: Tailight housings for 1957 corvette
John, the reproduction '57 tailight housings have only been around for 3 or 4 years. My original housings had been replated, obviously after 40 years, and they have "Guide" and the part number cast into them in the back, where the light is. The new ones have the repro manufacturer's stamp ID. Comparing the two, you should have no problem distinguishing the real ones from the repro's. If I had to buy one or the other, I'd take the repro, I can't see any difference externally. They are $550 a pair. PatrickComment
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Re: Tailight housings for 1957 corvette
Patrick-- Thank you for the info. My tailight housings have GUIDE on the socket side of them with the number 5947403 stamped in it. Also made in usa and R-1A-56 are stamped too. Is it possible these are original?Comment
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Re: Tailight housings for 1957 corvette
John, that sounds like an original. I remember those marking were cast into the pot metal section, not the socket itself. The repro that I have seen has the Manufacture ID on the back, not the GM number or Guide. The ones you have could be '56 or '57 and they may have different numbers, but they are identical. I was told that a nice replate job on a pair of originals runs about $500.
PatrickComment
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