EXHIBIT 5.1

                            Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

                                 101 Park Avenue

                               New York, NY 10178

                                  June 6, 2005

Board of Directors
Standard Motor Products, Inc.
37-18 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City, NY  11101

                 Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8 for
                      2004 Omnibus Stock Option Plan and
                      2004 Independent Directors' Stock Option Plan

Dear Sirs:

                  We are acting as counsel to Standard Motor Products, Inc., a
New York corporation (the "Corporation"), in connection with the preparation and
filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Act"), with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") relating to the registration of an
aggregate of 550,000 shares of common stock, $2.00 par value per share (the
"Shares"), of the Corporation, of which 500,000 Shares are issuable pursuant to
the Registrant's 2004 Omnibus Stock Option Plan and 50,000 Shares are issuable
pursuant to the 2004 Independent Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Plans").

                  In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied
upon copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of: (i) the
Plans; (ii) an executed copy of the Registration Statement; (iii) the
Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and the Corporation's
Restated By-laws; and (iv) the minute books and other records of corporate
proceedings of the Corporation, as made available to us by officers of the
Corporation. In addition, we 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 and the genuineness
of all signatures on all documents examined by us. 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 Corporation. We are members
of the Bar of the State of New York and express no opinion as to any law other
than the laws of the State of New York 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 to be issued by the Corporation pursuant to the
Plans have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, when certificates
for the Shares have been duly executed by the Corporation, countersigned by a
transfer agent, duly registered by a registrar for the Shares and issued and
paid for in accordance with the terms of the Plans, the Shares will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

                  This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed
herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated
herein. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the
present laws of the State of New York or the federal laws of the United States
of America be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

                  We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an Exhibit
5.1 to the Registration Statement. 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,

                                         KELLEY DRYE & WARREN LLP


                                         By:  /S/ KELLEY DRYE & WARREN LLP
                                              ----------------------------
                                                       A Partner