Hidden headlamp

File:Desoto1943promart.jpg

A 1942 DeSoto, the first mass produced American car with hidden headlamps

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 1968 - 2004 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 had to be turned by hand when the headlamps needed to be used.

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 have fallen 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
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  A 1938 Buick Y-Job
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  A 1967 Ford Thunderbird
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  A 1973 SAAB Sonett III
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  A Mazda 323F

List of cars with hidden or pop-up headlights

Acura/Honda Integra, 1986-1989 Acura/Honda NSX, 1990-2002 Aston Martin Lagonda, 1976-1989 Bricklin SV-1, 1974-1976 BMW 8 Series, 1989-1999 BMW M1, 1978-1981 Buick Reatta, 1988-1991 Buick Riviera, 1965-1969 Buick Y-Job, 1938 (concept car) Cadillac Eldorado, 1967-1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 1967-1969 (optional) Chevrolet Caprice, 1968-1969 (optional and very rare) Chevrolet Corvette, 1963-2004 Chrysler 300, 1968-1971 Chrysler Imperial, 1990-1993 Chrysler LeBaron, 1987-1992 (coupe & convertible only) Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue, 1990-1993 Chrysler New Yorker, 1976-1981 and 1988-1993 DeSoto, 1942 Dodge Charger, 1966-1970, (optional in 1971 & 1972) Dodge Charger Daytona, 1969-1970 Dodge Daytona, 1987-1991 Dodge Magnum, 1978-1979 (clear covers) Dodge Monaco, 1972-1973 Dodge Royal Monaco, 1976-1978 Dodge Stealth, 1991-1993 Dodge St. Regis, 1979-1981 (clear covers) Eagle Talon, 1990-1991 Ferrari 308 GTB, 1975-1984 Ferrari 328, 1985-1989 Ferrari 348, 1989-1995 Ferrari F355, 1994-1999 Ferrari 400/412, 1976-1989 Ferrari 456/456M, 1992-2003 Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, 1973-1984 Ferrari Daytona, 1970-1973 Ferrari GT4, 1974-1980 Ferrari Testarossa, 1984-1996 Fiat X1/9, 1973-1988 Ford Galaxie 500 XL, 1968-1970 Ford LTD, 1968-1970 (including Country Squire wagon) Ford LTD Landau, 1975-1978 (including Country Squire wagon) Ford Probe, 1989-1997 Ford Ranchero, 1970 (GT only) Ford Thunderbird, 1967-1969 and 1977-1982 Ford Torino Brougham, 1970 Geo Storm, 1991 Honda Accord, 1986-1989 Honda Integra, 1986-1989 Honda Prelude, 1983-1991 Imperial, 1969-1975 and 1981-1983 Jaguar XJ220, 1992-1994 Lamborghini Athon, 1980 (concept car) Lamborghini Bravo, 1974 (concept car) Lamborghini Countach, 1974-1990 Lamborghini Diablo, 1990-1998 Lamborghini Islero, 1968-1969 Lamborghini Jalpa, 1981-1988 Lamborghini Jarama, 1970-1976

Lamborghini Marco Polo, 1982 (concept car) Lamborghini Miura, 1966-1973 Lamborghini Silhouette, 1976-1979 Lamborghini Urraco, 1970-1979 Lancia Montecarlo, 1975-1979 Lancia Stratos, 1972-1973 Lincoln Continental, 1970-1981 Lincoln Mark series, 1968-1983 Lotus Eclat 1974-1982 Lotus Elan 1962-1973, Lotus Elan +2 1967-1975, Lotus Elan M100 1989-1995 Lotus Elite 1974-1982 Lotus Esprit, 1976-2004 Lotus Excel 1982-1992 Maserati Indy, 1969-1974 Mazda 929 (some models) Mazda AZ-550 Sports Type A, 1989 (concept version) Mazda Familia Astina, 1989-1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata, 1989-1997 Mazda RX-7, 1978-2002 Mercury Cougar, 1967-1970 Mercury Marquis, 1969-1978 Mercury Montego, 1970 (some models) Mitsubishi 3000GT, 1991-1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse, 1990-1991 Mitsubishi Starion, 1982-1990 Nissan Silvia/Nissan 200SX(S12), 1983-1989 Nissan 180SX/Nissan 200SX/Nissan 240SX(S13), 1989-1994 [also 1996-1998 (Kouki) 180SX] Nissan 300ZX, (Z31), 1984-1989 Nissan Pulsar/N12 NX/N13 NX/N13 EXA, 1983-1990 Oldsmobile Toronado, 1966-1969 and 1986-1992 Opel GT, 1968-1973 Plymouth Fury, 1970-1971 (Gran Coupe & Sport Fury, Sport Suburban wagon for 1971) Plymouth Fury III, 1972 (optional) Plymouth Laser, 1990-1991 Plymouth Superbird, 1970 Pontiac Fiero, 1984-1988 Pontiac Firebird, 1982-2002 Pontiac Grand Prix, 1967-1968 Pontiac GTO, 1968-1969 Porsche 911 'Slantnose', 1985-1989, 'Flatnose', 1994 Porsche 914, 1969-1976 Porsche 924, 1976-1988 Porsche 928, 1978-1995 Porsche 944, 1982-1991 Porsche 968, 1991-1994 Saab Sonett III, 1970-1974 Saturn SC2, 1991-1996 Subaru XT 1985-1991 Toyota 2000GT, 1967-1970 Toyota Celica, 1982-1993 Toyota Corolla, 1983-1991 (GT-S and SR-5 only) Toyota MR2, 1984-1999 Toyota Sprinter Trueno, 1983-1992 Toyota Supra, 1982-1992 Triumph TR7/TR8, 1975-1982 Venturi Atlantique 300, 1987-1999[1] Volvo 480, 1986-1995

Other vehicles with pop-up headlights

Keisei AE-100 Skyliner

Motorcycles

• Honda Spacy 125 Striker, 1983-1986 [2]
• Suzuki GSX750S (Katana), 1984-1985 [3]

Trains

• Keisei Electric Railway AE100 (Skyliner), 1990-

Bicycles

• Bridgestone Young Way Monte Carlo, 1979 [4]

See also

• Automotive lighting
• Daytime Running Lamp