Ran across this explanation of the switch from Autolite to Prestolite > equipment in a May 18, 1962 Studebaker Service Letter (# S-1045):>

"Effective with passenger car and truck production of approximately May > 18, 1962 component parts of the electrical system used on 1962 model > Studebaker passenger cars and 7E series trucks will have the brand name > PRESTOLITE. The change in brand name from AUTO-LITE to PRESTOLITE is > occasioned by the purchase of the exclusive rights to the brand name of > AUTO-LITE by another automotive manufacturer.>

Electrical units such as generators, voltage regulators, distributors, > and starting motors used on our products and with the brand name of > PRESTOLITE will continue to be manufactured by the Electric Auto Lite > Company. The part number of these assemblies , as well as the part > number of service replacement parts, will not be changed. Service > procedures for these units also remain unchanged. Since the brand name > ONLY has been changed, parts currently in the dealer's inventory with > the former brand label are applicable in their application as > replacement for units or components of units with the PRESTOLITE label. > Service replacement parts with the PRESTOLITE label are also applicable > as replacement for units or components of unites with the AUTO-LITE label">

Based on this it sounds like the distributors used on the 1962 V-8's > produced before May 18, 1962 (much of the production year) would carry > the AUTO-LITE label not PRESTOLITE? Has anyone run across this? I > thought the later V-8 distrubutors were all labeled PRESTOLITE?