Early tail lights versus late tail lights

[parklandmb]

Hello 190sl fellows,

I'm in the midst of the restoration on my 56' 190SL chassis#2261 and it's time to buy new tail lights.

My question is what exactly is the difference between the early versus late tail lights?

My car had a tail panel replacement which was purchased by the previous owner and I'm not sure if there is a difference in the length of the tail lights?

Much appreciated!!

[BillAinsworth]

Per the Technical Timeline, it looks like your car should have the smaller tail lights.

https://www.190slgroup.com/tech/time..._taillight.htm

[wpuryear]

Not definitive but good information in this thread.

https://forums.190slgroup.com/showth...taillight+size

[pawel66]

I was in exactly the same situation. I also have a 56 car, where one of the POs replaced the rear panel, lights, trunk locks, but also door trims, door handles, front blinkers, etc.

I took me some time and effort to find and buy all these items to fit the early car timeframe. I cut the openings in the rear sheet metal for the trunk lights. What I left incorrect was the front snaps for soft top cover in the J strip ends.

The Timeline, the club books (from the Club Store) and experience of the Members here will allow you to get the right parts to give the car the look as per 56 specs.

The www.sls-hh-shop.de have good pictures and lots of parts for late and early cars.

Enclosing the picture of the rear of the 56 car (do not pay attention to the soft top cover, it is pathetic). Bumper guards were optional (I have an Euro car) and they were not on options list. My car is a coupe - it is important to know it, there were different trims, seats, etc. in coupes and roadsters.

[parklandmb]

@Bill
@Walt
@Pawel

Thank you for chiming in on this!
After further investigation it appears that the rear panel replacement on my 190sl is the one of a later car but it's supposed to be fitted with an early tail light mount.
So at this point I assume that the newer panel would NOT accommodate for the early style tail light. Could some one confirm this please?
Much appreciated guys!
Sven

[pawel66]

I simply cannot remember now what we did in my car (I had later lights, changed to earlier lights). I just brought lights to the car body guy and told them to fit it (just like many other items a car body guy has to fit to body).

The car body guy retired, I do not have contact with him...

The part number for later light buckets is A 101 208 82 00 24. If someone can check the part number in parts book edition A or B, we will know if part number changed, which would be some indication. Most likely there will not be "10" as two first digits in the part number.

I do not see anything like rear lights bucket for earlier type of lights, on the other hand...

[parklandmb]

Thank you for sharing Pawel.
I will further investigate.
Much appreciated guys!

[marco francia]

Based on the different shape and size, the early tail lights (bottom) are much smaller and require a smaller housing in the rear panel.
Marco

[pawel66]

There is size difference, but the part of the lamp that goes into bucket is not that different as it seems. The fitting screw and wire hole are in the same place.

I wonder how it would look like if you try it on...

Look here, Authentic Classics are usually pretty accurate as for what fits what, they have one type of bucket and do not mention early/late lamps, maybe it is a good idea to ask them?

https://www.authenticclassics.com/Fe...uth-003426.htm

[wpuryear]

The late base plate part number is 180 820 00 59.

The early base plate was supplied in combination with the the lamp bracket as part numbers 180 820 01 22 and 180 820 02 22 left and right.

[pawel66]

Base plate - you mean the part of lamp (base plate + seal + reflectors + lens + frame = lamp)?

What I was after was the lamp housing (bucket) - the part you weld into/between fender and rear cross member.