<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>ex5-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 5.1
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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                            Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
                                101 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10178


                                  June 4, 2003


Standard Motor Products, Inc.
37-18 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City, New York 11101


Ladies and Gentlemen:


We are acting as counsel to Standard Motor Products, Inc., a New York
corporation (the 'Company'), in connection with the proposed public offering of
4,750,000 shares (the 'Firm Shares') of the Company's common stock, $2.00 par
value per share (the 'Common Stock'), and up to an additional 712,500 shares
(the 'Option Shares') of Common Stock subject to an over-allotment option
granted to the several underwriters of such public offering. The Firm Shares and
the Option Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the 'Shares.' The
Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-103194)
(the 'Registration Statement') with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
'Commission') pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Act'),
with respect to the public offering of the Shares. As such counsel, you have
requested our opinion as to the matters described herein relating to the
issuance of the Shares.


In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon copies
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of: (i) the Registration
Statement, and each amendment thereto through the date hereof, together with
exhibits and schedules thereto in the form filed with the Commission; (ii) the
Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and
Amended and Restated By-Laws; and (iii) the minute books and other records of
corporate proceedings of the Company, as made available to us by officers of the
Company; and have reviewed such matters of law as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion.


For purposes of this opinion we have assumed the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents
submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the
originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the
legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures on all
documents examined by us, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the
parties thereto other than the Company and the due authorization, execution and
delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Company. As to
certain factual matters material to the opinion expressed herein, we have relied
to the extent we deemed proper upon representations, warranties and statements
as to factual matters of officers and other representatives of the Company. Our
opinion expressed below is subject to the qualification that we express no
opinion as to any law other than the laws of the State of New York, the
corporate laws of the State of Delaware, and the federal laws of the United
States of America. Without limiting the foregoing, we express no opinion with
respect to the applicability thereto or effect of municipal laws or the rules,
regulations or orders of any municipal agencies within any such state.


Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications, assumptions and
limitations and the further limitations set forth below, it is our opinion that
the Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for as contemplated by
the Registration Statement and countersigned by a transfer agent, duly
registered by a registrar for the Shares, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.





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                           Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

June 4, 2003
Page Two


We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to our Firm in the Prospectus included therein
under the caption 'Validity of Common Stock.' In giving such consent, we do not
admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.


This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the
Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise
relied upon for any other purpose.


                                                  Very truly yours,


                                                  /s/ KELLEY DRYE & WARREN LLP







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