Hidden headlamp

A Mazda 323F

Hidden headlamps, also commonly known as pop-up headlamps, hideaway headlights or just headlights, are a form of automotive lighting and 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 1963–2004 Chevrolet Corvette, or may be concealed behind retractable or rotating grille panels as on the Dodge Charger, Mercury Comet, or the 1960s Buick Riviera, which pioneered the feature.

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, 1980s, 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. Development of both projector beam headlamps — like those on the 1990 Nissan Z — and more efficient, bright LED headlamps of small size will most likely eliminate the need for concealed headlamps altogether, though composite headlamps containing small halogen bulbs offered enough freedom of styling have already replaced them to a mainstream scale.

List of cars with hidden or pop-up headlights

AC 3000ME, 1979-84 Acura/Honda Integra, 1986–89 Acura/Honda NSX, 1990–2001 Adams Brothers Probe 15, 1969 Adams Brothers Probe 16, 1969–70 Adams Brothers Probe 2001, 1970–72 Alfa Romeo Montreal, 1970–77 Alpine A610, 1991–95 Alpine GTA, 1987 (U.S. spec) AMC AMX/3, 1970 (concept car) Aston Martin Lagonda, 1976–89 Aston Martin Vantage Zagato Volante, 1986–89 Aston Martin Bulldog, 1980 (concept car) Asüna Sunfire, 1993 Bitter CD & SC, 1973–79 Bricklin SV-1, 1974–76 BMW 8 Series, 1989–99 BMW GINA, 2008 (concept car) BMW M1, 1978–81 Buick Reatta, 1988–91 Buick Riviera, 1965–69 Buick SkyHawk, 1986–89 Buick Y-Job, 1938 (concept car) Cadillac Eldorado, 1967–68 Chevrolet Camaro, 1967–69 (optional - usually with the Rally Sport model or the RS/SS package) Chevrolet Caprice, 1968–69 (optional and very rare) Chevrolet Corvette, 1963–2004 Chrysler 300, 1968–71 Chrysler Imperial, 1969–93 Chrysler LeBaron, 1987–92 (coupe & convertible only) Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue, 1990–93 Chrysler New Yorker, 1976–81 and 1988–93 Cizeta-Moroder V16T, 1991–2003 Cord 810, 1936–37 DeSoto, 1942 De Tomaso Mangusta, 1970–71 (US-spec) De Tomaso Pantera, 1971–74 De Tomaso Guarà, 1993–2004 Dodge Charger, 1966–70, (optional in 1971 & 1972) Dodge Charger Daytona, 1969–70 Dodge Daytona, 1987–91 Dodge Magnum, 1978–79 (clear covers) Dodge Monaco, 1972–73 Dodge Royal Monaco, 1976–78 Dodge Stealth, 1991–93 Dodge St. Regis, 1979–81 (clear covers) Dome Zero, 1976–86 (concept car) Eagle Talon, 1990–91 Ferrari 288 GTO, 1984–85 Ferrari 308 GTB, 1975–84 Ferrari 328, 1985–89 Ferrari 348, 1989–95 Ferrari 365 California Spyder, 1966–67 Ferrari F355, 1994–99 Ferrari F40, 1987–92 Ferrari 400/412, 1976–89 Ferrari 456/456M, 1992–2003 Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, 1973–84 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 & GTS/4 "Daytona", 365 GTC/4, 365 GT4 2+2, 1970–76 Ferrari GT4, 1974–80 Ferrari Mondial, 1980–95 Ferrari Testarossa, 512TR, 1984–94 Fiat X1/9, 1973–88 (also called Bertone X1/9 in the USA) Ford Galaxie 500 XL, 1968–70 Ford LTD (Americas), 1968–70 ;Landau, 1975–78 (including Ford Country Squire wagon) Ford LTD (Australia), 1973–76 Ford Probe, 1989–97 Ford Ranchero, 1970–71 (GT only) Ford Thunderbird, 1967–69 and 1977–82 Ford Torino Brougham, Cobra, GT 1970–71 Geo Storm, 1990–91 Ginetta Dare DZ, 1998 Honda Accord, 1986–89 Honda Ballade, 1984–87 Honda Integra, 1986–89 Honda NSX; 1990–2001 Honda Prelude, 1983–91 Honda Vigor, 1986–89 Imperial, 1969–75 and 1981–83 Iso Lele, 1969–74 Iso Grifo, 1965–74 Isuzu Piazza, 1981–87 (also Isuzu Impulse, Holden Piazza) Jaguar XJ220, 1992–94 Lamborghini Athon, 1980 (concept car) Lamborghini Bravo, 1974 (concept car) Lamborghini Countach, 1974–90 Lamborghini Diablo, 1990–98 Lamborghini Islero, 1968–69 Lamborghini Jalpa, 1981–88 Lamborghini Jarama, 1970–76 Lamborghini Urraco, 1973–79 Lamborghini Marco Polo, 1982 (concept car) Lamborghini Miura, 1966–73 Lamborghini Silhouette, 1976–79

Lancia Montecarlo, 1975–79 (for Scorpion, North-American version) Lancia Stratos, 1972–73 Lincoln Continental, 1970–79 Lincoln Mark series, 1968–83 Lister Storm, 1993–99 Lombardi Grand Prix, 1968–72 Lotus Eclat, 1974–82 Lotus Elan, 1962–73 +2 model, 1967–75 Lotus Elan M100 1989–95 Lotus Elite, 1974–82 Lotus Esprit, 1976–2004 Lotus Excel, 1982–92 Manta Mirage, 1974–86 Maserati Bora, 1971–80 Maserati Ghibli, 1966–73 Maserati Indy, 1969–74 Maserati Khamsin, 1974–82 Maserati Merak, 1972–82 Matra 530, 1967–73 Matra Bagheera, 1973–80 Matra Murena, 1980–83 Mazda 929 (some models) Mazda AZ-550 Sports Type A, 1989 (concept version) Mazda Familia Astina, marketed in Europe as the original 323F, 1989–94 Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA), 1989–97 Mazda RX-7, 1978–2002 Mercury Cougar, 1967–70 Mercury Capri, 1991–94 (Third Generation) Mercury Cyclone 1970-71 (hidden headlights optional on GT) (70 was a Comet Cyclone and 71 was a Montego Cyclone) Mercury Marauder, 1969–70 Mercury Marquis, 1969–78 Mercury Montego, 1970–71 (some models) MG EX-E, 1985 (concept car) Mitsubishi GTO/3000GT, 1991–93 Mitsubishi Eclipse, 1990–94 Mitsubishi Starion, 1982–90 (also Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler Conquest, captive imports) Monica 560, 1973–74 Nissan Silvia/200SX(S12), 1983–89 Nissan 180SX/200SX/240SX(S13), 1989–94 [also 1996–98 (Kouki) 180SX] Nissan 300ZX (Z31), 1984–89 Nissan Pulsar/N12 NX/N13 NX/N13 EXA, 1983–90 Oldsmobile Toronado, 1966–69 and 1986–92 Opel GT, 1968–73 Panther Solo, 1989–90 Plymouth Fury, 1970–71 (Gran Coupe & Sport Fury, Sport Suburban wagon for 1971) Plymouth Fury III, 1972 (optional) Plymouth Laser, 1990–91 Plymouth Superbird, 1970 Pontiac Fiero, 1984–88 Pontiac Firebird (including the Trans Am and Formula), 1982–2002 Pontiac Grand Prix, 1967–68 Pontiac GTO, 1968–69 Pontiac Sunbird SE/GT 1986–93 Porsche 911 Turbo SE 'Slantnose', 1985–89, 964 Turbo S 'Flatnose', 1994 Porsche 914, 1969–76 Porsche 924, 1976–88 Porsche 928, 1978–95 Porsche 944, 1982–91 Porsche 968, 1991–94 Quantum Sports Cars 2+2, 1993– Reliant Scimitar SS1, 1984–90 Reliant Scimitar SST, 1990 Reliant Scimitar Sabre, 1990–93 Saab Sonett III, 1970–74 Saturn SC2, 1991–96 Subaru XT 1985–91 Škoda 1100 GT, 1970 Škoda 110 Super Sport "Vampire the Ferat", 1971 Tatra MTX V8, 1991 Toyota 2000GT, 1967–70 Toyota Celica, 1984–93 Toyota Corolla, 1983–91 (some versions) Toyota MR2, 1984–99 Toyota Sprinter Trueno, 1983–92 Toyota Supra, 1982–92 Toyota Tercel, 1982–88 (also known as Corolla II and Sprinter Carib) Triumph TR7/TR8, 1975–82 TVR 350i, 350SX, 1983–89 TVR 350SE, 1990–91 TVR 390SE, 420SE, 1984–89 TVR 400SE, 400SX, 430SE, 450SE, 1988–91 TVR 420 SEAC, 1986–88 TVR 450 SEAC, 1988–89 TVR Tasmin, 280i, Tasmin 200, 1980–88 Venturi 400 GT Venturi Atlantique, 1987–99 Venturi Coupe Venturi MVS Venturi Transcup Volvo 480, 1986–95 Vector M12, 1995–99 Vector W8, 1989–93 Vector WX-3, 1993 Zimmer Quicksilver, 1986–90

Other vehicles with pop-up headlights

Keisei AE-100 Skyliner

Motorcycles

• Honda Spacy 125 Striker, 1983–86
• Suzuki GSX750S (Katana), 1984–85

Trains

• Keisei Electric Railway AE100 (Skyliner), 1990–

Bicycles

• Bridgestone Young Way Monte Carlo, 1979

Gallery

• 

  A 1937 Cord 812

• 

  A 1938 Buick Y-Job

• 

  A 1967 Ford Thunderbird

• 

  A 1973 SAAB Sonett III

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  Opel GT

• Dodge Charger RT 1968.Front.jpg

  Dodge Charger

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  Volvo 480

• 

  BMW M1

• 

  Plymouth Laser

• 

  Tatra MTX V8

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  Škoda 1100 GT

See also

• Daytime running lamp