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68ish-75 Tail Light Lenses

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by timgr, May 16, 2020.

  1. May 16, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Working on my lights, and I noticed I have an assortment of lenses for the "last round tail light" used from the late '60s through the intermediates. See the CJ-3B page: Jeep Taillights on CJ3B.info

    CJ6taillenses.jpg
    The lens on the left is a Grote 9034, with numbers SAE AI ST-75. I presume this is for 1975, and this is an original lens. The lens in the Crown packaging appears to be the same as my other two lenses, one new one to the right on the desk and another newish one still on my CJ-6. All three of these have thin raised letters "SATE-LITE" at the top and "SAE-AIST-92-DOT" at the bottom with "169" below that. I'd guess these are all from a batch of these lenses made in 1992. The Crown package is marked 8122928 which is the correct Jeep part number, according to my parts book.

    Notice that the SATE-LITE lens lettering is upside-down from the Grote lens. The original lens would put the single screw at the top of the light, where the SATE-LITE would be right-side-up with two screws at the top. The light buckets have identifying stamped printing which would be visible from above if mounted in the Grote orientation.

    Looking now, there's no listing online for the Jeep PN, so I presume the 1992 run of these has been sold. If you want more, you could contact Crown and ask if they can make more. Pretty sure these are extras I bought for me when I first got my Jeep.

    (later) I searched and found more of these lenses on eBay as "Sate-lite 169." They also appear to be available on Amazon (!) with Prime as a Grote 90342. Cheaper than the Sate-lite too. I ordered one and will evaluate.
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2020
  2. May 16, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    Tim, I have one that is stamped "SAE-AIST-69-DOT" & 169 below that, On my '75 . I'm thinking it was from a scrap yard.
     
  3. May 16, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Thanks for the report Lockman. This topic is not earth-shattering news, but I had the parts out and thought I'd report. Might help someone later.
     
  4. May 16, 2020
    mike starck

    mike starck Member

    salem,oregon
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    Had to go out and check out my stash of lens.I have several of the grote 9034 w/the 75 at the top.I believe they came from Amazon.I also bought some of of Ebay that look like good repo's. The o.e.m. lens where on the ren II when I got it but in bad shape with one cracked. If anyone would like a close up of those I can try to get a decent photo. They have a 69 on them so oem maybe -maybe not.mike
     
  5. May 16, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    So.....It's possible that so far, 69 & 75 are the only ' Runs ' out there ? any one else ?
     
  6. May 17, 2020
    Twin2

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    Virginia Beach, VA
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    went out to garage attic
    these lights were on jeep when I bought it . used at 11 years old
    jeep tail lights.JPG
    one said
    REFLECT-O-LITE
    414-450
    SAE-AIST-71
    other said
    DO-RAY
    SAE-STIA-69
    and due to screws being different . I think one got replaced ( housing is damaged )
     
  7. May 17, 2020
    mike starck

    mike starck Member

    salem,oregon
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    DSC03796.JPG DSC03796.JPG DSC03797.JPG DSC03798.JPG DSC03797.JPG DSC03798.JPG The top lens is different then others so far top: LS-368
    bottom: KD-LAMP CO SAE-STIA-69 , left side DOT
    second is the DO-RAY chicago-toronto / 169 / SAE-STIA-69 and the bottom is the GROTE SAEAIST-75 / dot 9034 GROTE available from Amazon
     
  8. May 18, 2020
    WYOMIKE

    WYOMIKE Oct 1971 pic

    Parkman, Wyoming
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    Jan 22, 2003
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    685
    Tim
    Here is a list of all the lens on my 71 RII that I made up a long time ago that are all original from when I bought it brand new.
    One thing to keep in mind that back then most veh. manufacturers used the same SAE number of lens on their vehicles for a batch of years, however the year the veh. was made was part of the SAE number for that year even though the lens was the same. However Jeep was not very good at doing that like most manufactures (as in being cheap) and so used lens left over for next years. Back when I was in law enforcement that was one way for most vehicles we could tell the year of the vehicle real easy by just looking at the tail light SAE number. But sometimes like Jeep vehicles it did not work. I. E. even though mine was a 71, the SAE number of the lens was SAE ST1A "68" when it should have been ST1A "71" Different brands might have made the lens, but if the SAE number is the same, then the lens are the same no matter what brand they were.
    At least that is how I remember things, but heck I can not even remember what I had for breakfest anymore :(

    Hope this is off some help
    Mike

    upload_2020-5-18_10-38-42.png
     
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  9. May 18, 2020
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    Those dates are on lenses show when that particular light was first put into use. A good example on our Jeeps is the small plastic amber front signals. They are dated 62, even though they they were used from '63 through '67. The original design was from '62.
    The larger rear lenses were designed in '68, and I believe were used on Jeeps beginning in '69.
    Both of these light styles were somewhat "generic" and may have been used on other vehicles too. I'm pretty sure these later tail lights were manufactured by Grote.
    As far as dating a vehicle by the "date" on the lense, this worked fairly well for Detroit-built cars in the '50s through the '70s and beyond when those companies changed styles virtually every year. Each new body style had its unique tail light and turn signal lenses, and you could accurately determine the year of the car from the lenses. There were many cars that kept the same light over several years, including my first car, a Vega wagon. The Kammback used the same design for at least 3 years running, so this trick would just get you into the ballpark.
    -Donny
     
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