STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC. ANNOUNCES

FOURTH QUARTER 2003 DIVIDEND

New York, NY, January 12, 2004……Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE:SMP), an automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, Board of Directors has approved payment of a quarterly dividend of nine cents per share on the common stock outstanding. The dividend will be paid on March 1, 2004 to stockholders of record on February 13, 2004.

Under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Standard Motor Products cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made by the company, including those that may be made in this press release, are based on management's expectations at the time they are made, but they are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events or performance to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results, events or performance to differ materially from those risks and uncertainties discussed in this press release, including, without limitation, those related to estimates of asbestos-related contingent liabilities, and detailed from time-to-time in prior press releases and in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. By making these forward looking statements, Standard Motor Products undertakes no obligation or intention to update these statements after the date of this release.

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