Site for cross-referencing parts?

Err, only *some* kit car makers use lights from another vehicle. Rolls of that era certainly didn't.

Bedford

Flying Spares

sell pattern parts for these: 80 quid for the red one, 70 for the indicator. They also sell secondhand bits. Introcar are "only" 50 quid for the indicator. All plus VAT, of course.

Beare Essentials

a bit cheaper.

Might be worth checking with the RREC post-65 register spares person?

Many thanks for your replies: You may be right about Rolls of that era although my researches into these small procuction exceptionally expensive cars is that (for example) the door handle off the DB5 is exactly the same as the one on the TR4 (etc).

Yes, but Aston Martin weren't in the same league as Rolls in that respect. And door handles seem to be one part often shared - the Marina ones turn up on all sorts.

Rolls also tend to have bespoke switch gear - and that must cost a great deal.

Lights seem far more part of the styling these days - not like once when identical Lucas types, especially headlights, were found on many cars.

A little story about RR light units back in the 1980's. A past workmate used to work at the local RR dealership some years back, he went up to the RR factory for some training and a tour or the factory etc. - anyway they were been given the usual dealers tour, one of the 'production lines' was a line of ladies taking Lucas light units out of Lucas wrappings and placing them into boxes with RR artwork. He later looked up the price difference between the Lucas and the RR part, he said you could dime out of the difference....

It's no secret that Lucas made much of the electrics for R-R - although they originally made their own, since that was Royce's original occupation.

Nor is it unusual for parts in the maker's boxes to be cheaper than those from the dealer in the marque boxes.

They must have been pretty inefficient ladies if that's all they did...

occupation.

True, but as told to me the difference was more than a few quid. to say the least.

Well the 'visitors' were only in that area for a short time, so what they did before and after...

: Rolls also tend to have bespoke switch gear - and that must cost a great : deal.

The hazard warning switch for the Reliant Rialto (and maybe the Robin) is a bespoke item! It's mounted horizontally, so the wee red triangle is 90 degrees round from the standard Lucas version. I found this out when I took a dud one into Lucas and they said "Sorry, guv, that one has to come from the manufacturer" and didn't suggest the standard one. Then when I had ordered it from a specialist I got the standard one anyway, as the Reliant ones are unavailable. Huh.

Ian

Not that unavailable! I am looking at a secondhand one right now.

occupation.

Funnily enough it can work the other way around. I remember a few years ago going into a Jaguar main agent for a headlamp bulb for my Sovereign. They gave me a choice - the official Jaguar part in a natty green and gold box, or the OEM in a plain cardboard box. Identical bulbs, but the Jaguar one was considerably cheaper.

Geoff MacK

Yes, I had an experience like that with a Citroen BX fuel pump. The aftermarket part caused me loads of problems as the actuator shaft was slightly too long and would pack up when it got hot. Got my money back, went to the Citroen garage and their part was £2 cheaper!