Lucas L551 rear/brake lights as fitted to Series 1 Elans/26Rs (and Type 14 Elites)
Unfortunately they are not in their original boxes but I am sure these are ‘New, old stock’ as they are date stamped June 1959 and August 1959. Yes, technically this means they were manufactured a few years before the 1st Elans but hey, maybe Fred did a deal on a bunch of lights that had been sitting around for a while! 
They also have the older style ‘braided’ or textured insulation as opposed to the smoother later style.
Reproduction ones often utilise two bulbs whereas these use a single, twin filament bulb with offset pins to ensure the brake light can outshine the ‘sidelight’. The problem with those repros is you have to cut a bit of bodywork away to clear the second bulb.
As shown in the photos, despite their apparent age these lights are in excellent, unused condition with just some dulling of the galvanizing. They are complete with the rubber ‘light to body’ gasket, the clear plastic ring and the underlying foam that seals the lens to the metal light body. They also have the rubber boots that help prevent water and debris getting into the lights via the wiring. I suspect they have been well stored in the dark as all the rubber elements are in apparently good shape and the lenses are unmarked and a consistent bright, deep red.
Reproductions seem to be on the market at between £80 and £110 each so I guess it depends how much you share my belief that these are genuine NOS items and what sort of a premium (if any) you put on that. I have a few of these and am happy to sell individually or as pairs; I’m going to keep one as a rain light for my 22 and a couple for my (yet to be purchased) Elite but I will still have some spares I’d like to see go to a good home. I’m open to offers (I have just sold a pair to the USA for £200 and the buyer described them as “perfect”) but they don’t take up much space so I’m not desperate to get rid of them…
Give me a shout if you need more photos or a postage quote (I’d have thought about £10/15 for most of the UK).
Cheers. Rob
