subject: Hidden Headlamps [print this page] Hidden headlamps are an automotive styling feature that conceals an automobile's headlamps when they are not in use. Depending on the design, the headlamps may be mounted in a housing that rotates so as to sit flush with the front end as on the Porsche 928, may retract into the hood and/or fenders as on the 19682004 Chevrolet Corvette, or may be concealed behind retractable or rotating grille panels as on the 1966 Dodge Charger.
Hidden headlamps first appeared on the Cord 810 in 1936. Each unit had a crank on its side of the dashboard, which was turned by hand when the headlamps were needed.
Powered hidden headlamps were pioneered in GM's Buick Y-Job concept car of 1938 and were used briefly on Chrysler Corporation's 1942 production DeSoto. The feature's popularity has waxed and waned over time. Hidden headlamps regained popularity in the late 1960s, particularly in the US market where aerodynamic headlamps were not permitted. A relatively large variety of cars incorporated hidden headlamps in the 1970s, '80s, and early 1990s. Currently, hidden headlamps are out of favour.
Numerous car manufacturers used hidden headlamps to get around the headlight height regulation in the United States, for instance Toyota exported their retractable headlight version of the AE86, known domestically as the Sprinter Trueno in favour of their Corolla Levin as the former had higher headlamp height, enough to satisfy US regulations rather than raise body height which affected handling.
US laws now permit aerodynamic headlamps, relative to which hidden headlamps represent added cost, weight, and complexity as well as reliability concerns as cars age. Internationalized ECE auto safety regulations have also recently incorporated pedestrian-protection provisions restricting protuberances from car bodies, making it more difficult and expensive to design compliant pop-up headlamps.
The last time pop-up headlamps appeared on a volume-production car was in 2004 when both the Lotus Esprit and C5 Corvette ended production.
A 1937 Cord 812
A 1938 Buick Y-Job
A 1967 Ford Thunderbird
A 1973 SAAB Sonett III
A Mazda 323F
Opel GT
Dodge Charger
Volvo 480
List of cars with hidden or pop-up headlights
Acura/Honda Integra, 19861989
Acura/Honda NSX, 19902002
Alfa Romeo Montreal, 19701977
Aston Martin Lagonda, 19761989
Aston Martin Vantage Zagato Volante, 19861989
Aston Martin Bulldog, 1980 (concept car)
Asna Sunfire, 1993
Bitter CD, 1973
Bitter SC, 1979
Bricklin SV-1, 19741976
BMW 8 Series, 19891999
BMW GINA, 2008 (concept car)
BMW M1, 19781981
Buick Reatta, 19881991
Buick Riviera, 19651969
Buick SkyHawk, 19821988
Buick Y-Job, 1938 (concept car)
Cadillac Eldorado, 19671968
Chevrolet Camaro, 19671969 (optional)
Chevrolet Caprice, 19681969 (optional and very rare)
Chevrolet Corvette, 19632004
Chrysler 300, 19681971
Chrysler Imperial, 19901993
Chrysler LeBaron, 19871992 (coupe & convertible only)
Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue, 19901993
Chrysler New Yorker, 19761981 and 19881993
DeSoto, 1942
De Tomaso Mangusta, 19701971 (US-spec)
De Tomaso Pantera, 19711974
De Tomaso Guar, 19932004
Dodge Charger, 19661970, (optional in 1971 & 1972)
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