Reproduction Corner Lamps?

[twotone_ra64]

Yesterday, I spent some time tearing down a corner lamp that a generous member of the community sent me. I performed this teardown to gain a better understanding of the lamp, as well as understand manufacturing feasilbility. These are wonderfully complex lamps, and contain 9 unique parts each. Outer lens, housing, inner turn signal lens, metal running lamp reflector, parabolic turn signal reflector, drain hole elbow, metal mount bearing, lower weatherstrip/garnish and screws.



I would like to gauge what the community can do, and figure out what I could potentially produce for you all, so I have a serious question- if I were to reproduce the '84-85 corner lamps, as a 1:1, OEM-spec, fully injection molded part, how much would you be willing to pay for a pair?

[RedCar]

Cool project idea.
I bet you could get $300 for a pair no problem... good used pairs on ebay can go for that much... I'd probably pass if it was above 400.

[sirdan]

IMHO I think you would be better off just reproducing the outer lens as usually that is all that is wrong. maybe the outer trim piece. There just isn't a lot of celica people around and most of them are broke. You would sell more lenses I think as they would be more affordable. Just my thoughts.

[twotone_ra64]

Thanks for the feedback fellas!

Cool project idea.
I bet you could get $300 for a pair no problem... good used pairs on ebay can go for that much... I'd probably pass if it was above 400.

A cool project indeed, but a very expensive venture for an OEM-quality injection-molded reproduction part. Okay, so $400 is your max cap. Got it!

IMHO I think you would be better off just reproducing the outer lens as usually that is all that is wrong. maybe the outer trim piece. There just isn't a lot of celica people around and most of them are broke. You would sell more lenses I think as they would be more affordable. Just my thoughts.

Honestly, a lot of people on Facebook had the same feedback! It's not a bad idea in terms of cost savings. The reason I am wary of this option is the fact that taking apart a corner lamp is tricky, and when dealing with such old plastic, it means easy warping and cracking. One could spend the money on a new outer lens, but then have no housing to glue it back onto.

[twotone_ra64]

Well, after gathering all of the data for what folks are willing to pay for new lamps, here are the survey results:



A majority, 44/89 (~50%) respondents on this group, Instagram and the forum replied with a price range willingness of $100-200 USD. Only four folks had the right idea. These won't be cheap.

Sadly, this is not enough to produce an OEM reproduction lamp assembly, let alone an outer lens. There are so many cost factors that go into producing new, injection moulded parts. Minimum order quantity, and initial cost of tooling are two of them. I'm still looking into other ways to produce the outer lens, that still maintains all optical features, and at the correct price point. It may not be possible now, or for another 10 years. We shall see.

In the meanwhile, look forward to some other cool parts this year! I am in talks with some Cube Speed and Sigma Projects to produce parts you will all love, at an affordable price point. Stay tuned!