1968 Coupe Interior Courtesy Light Lenses

[Duane]

OK Guys,
The first batch of reproductions came in today and they look great. I have 6 sets for sale, plus the 3 sets that go to the Eggman and Roberta for helping get the project started.

The price is $30.00 a pair plus $3.00 for shipping anywhere in the Continental US.

These lenses cost me $26.00 a pair. This includes a little money to pay for the mold and replace it when it starts to show wear. (I figured I would let you know my costs, before someone starts to bitch about the cost of the parts.)

If you want a pair/set send a check to:

Classic Car Interiors
120 President Ave.
Rutledge, Pa. 19070

Please include your name, address, and telephone number with the order.
Thanks.
Duane

[David Gramlow]

Great to hear some are done, Duane! I'll take one set for now...don't want to be greedy you know. Do you accept any other forms of payment? Paypal, credit card?

[Duane]

I don't take Paypal or credit cards. Sending a personal check or money order is fine.
Duane

PS. I knew you would ask for a set first, so I already put one set aside for you.

[David Gramlow]

Duane said:I don't take Paypal or credit cards. Sending a personal check or money order is fine.
Duane

PS. I knew you would ask for a set first, so I already put one set aside for you.

:laugh: :laugh: Thanks Duane! Not a problem, I'll get a check in the mail for you today. I'll give you some time to move more of these, then I may pick up a 2nd set, if you have leftover stock. Thanks for coming thru for us! :beer :TU:

[Ken Mild]

Guys, are these 68 only? The 69 ones are the rectangular ones with the tri shield in the middle. Are these the same ones??

[David Gramlow]

Sorry Ken! 69 lenses are not the same dimensions as 68's. 68's are a 1 year only piece. Sounds like you need to drum up support(buyers) to get 69's made. Did all 69's have the emblem molded in?

[David Gramlow]

ttt

[Duane]

Ken,
I made the 69 Tri-shield courtesy lens mold a few years ago, but have not offered any lenses for sale. I made a run of about 5 sets to check the mold, and have not gone any further with the project.

I am trying to decide if it is worth going through GM licensing so I can sell them. I will probably check into this, but with such a limited amount of expected sales, I don't think it will be feasable, and will probably just let the project die. I certainly have no intention of getting into trouble over a part with expected yearly sales of under $400 a year.
Duane

[Ken Mild]

David Gramlow said:ttt

Sorry. :)

Yes Dave, they do have the tri-shield molded into them but I don't know if they "all" did. In fact, I'm not even quite sure all 69's had the courtesy lamps in the rear. They are rectangular in shape and go in the rear 1/4 door panel. I have two but they are original and a little yellow....and brittle too.

Duane, the problem I find with 69 guys....and we are a special breed.......is that we are always complaining about lack of parts, but when they are made available everyone seems to disappear into the cracks. How many sets would make it worth your while and how much down would you need if say 30 people wanted sets? (just using 30 as an example)

Also, you said you have like 4 sets? Are any for sale if the project does not get off the ground?

I'll tell you what project MAY get off the ground possibly a little quicker possibly, the "400" quarter marker lenses for the 69. That is something you may get some serious interest in no?

[David Gramlow]

Ken Mild said:Sorry. :)


No apologies needed Ken, I was just bumping this topic back up for other 68 guys to see this news. :beer

[Duane]

Ken,
The 69 coupe cars with the deluxe interiors would have the lenses. I think the standard interior cars had a dome light in the center of the roof and no interior quarter panel lenses, but I don't remember.
You can see my costs and pricing on the 68 lenses. My concern with the 69 lenses is if the added cost of getting them "Authorized" would price them out of the market. I realize everyone needs them, but they are only 2 lenses, and I would feel uneasy about charging a lot for 2 small pieces of plastic.
This is the problem with making parts from low dollar molds, the material needed to make the part makes the cost per part expensive. The good side is that you can bring the parts to market faster, and make parts that would otherwise never get reproduced.
As far as the few pieces that were run, they were given out to friends, etc. There are certainly none left, except for my single display part, and the 2 sets that are going to Mark Deconti for giving me the original part to make the mold.

Don't give up yet, I will check out the "Authorization" costs and get back to everyone at a later date. We can discuss quantities of needed orders then.
Duane

[John Eberly]

Duane -

I sent a check yesterday - please hold a pair for me

[Duane]

John,
Consider it done, and thanks for the order.
Duane

[GSMAG]

The '69 lense also is what is in the back of my '69 Sportwagon. I'd love a new one since the other was held together with tape when I bought the car. Please go forward with the '69 lense!

[carguy]

Wow! I could use these. One of mine literally blew out on the highway driving with the windows down. Would you be willing to ship to Canada?

Mark

[David Gramlow]

Duane, got my lenses today, and they look great! Now, if winter would just go away AGAIN, I would swap 'em in. :af:

[Duane]

David,
Glad you liked the lenses.

Mark,
I am checking on what it will cost to ship the lenses to Canada. I will let you know.
Duane

[dcm422]

Duane,
Just got the 69 lenses you shipped and they are GREAT :TU: Guess it helps to have a nice solid piece to make the molds from. :grin:
Hope there is enough interest out there and you can go ahead and repro them too.
Thanks Again!
Mark DeConti

[Duane]

Mark,
Glad you liked the 69 Lenses. I put 1 in the dome light of my "X-Camino". I figured a Buick El-camino should have a Buick lens in it. Looks cool there, and I get comments about it when I point it out to people. It has a Buick vanity mirror on the passenger visor also. Just finishing touches.

Again, thanks for giving me such a beautiful part to start with.
Duane

[James P]

Duane,

Rich and I noticed those features when we were checking out the X-camino last summer during the party at your place. It really raises the 'cool factor' in my opinion. :bglasses:

Add me to the list of definite buyers should you ever produce these lenses.

[John Eberly]

Duane -

Lenses came yesterday and they are perfect! Thanks for taking the time to repro a part that has been a problem for years!

[Nicholas Sloop]

Duane
Do you have any of these left? My friend Patrick wants a set, and can pick up at the Nats.

[Duane]

I have 1 set of the original run left for sale. I will try to get more made before the GS Nats, but I will not promise that.

I would like to get 2 of the 68 housings for these lenses. I want to use these as display pieces, so if you guys have any spares I could use a set. I already have some 69 housings. Thanks in advance.
Duane

[Eggman]

Duane, I got my new lenses & the NOS original in the mail today. As with everyone else, they look great. Thanks for putting in the time & effort to reproduce these & the other items you have. I'll be in touch for more possibilities in the future.

"Eggman"

[Nicholas Sloop]

Duane
We'll look for you in BG. If you have no sets available at that time, we'll work something out.
I know Patrick has a set of spare housings; I'll see if he's willing to part with them.

[carguy]

I'm still interested in a set if you get a chance to check on shipping to Toronto, Canada.

Mark

[Duane]

Mark,
I checked into the costs to ship to Toronto Canada. It will cost about $2.00 more for shipping, so your total cost to me would be $35.00 a pair. We have to fill out some paperwork, so you will probably have to pay a duty upon receipt of the part. I still have 1 set from the original batch and can save them for you if interested.

I should have some more lenses to bring to the GS Nationals, but I won't know for sure until the day before I leave. If not they will be available upon my return.
Duane

[carguy]

Thanks Duane,

I sent you an email.

Mark

[Duane]

Mark,
I sent you one back.
Duane

[David Gramlow]

Just wondering if anyone has installed their lenses yet? How was your fit?

[David Gramlow]

ttt

Anyone? :Do No:

[John Eberly]

David Gramlow said:Just wondering if anyone has installed their lenses yet? How was your fit?

I did.

Fit is perfect - highly recommended.

These look so much better than the crunchy old yellow ones that I think they are well worth the cost.