Reverting to Mk1 headlamps

[cmb]

I'm in the market for a Cerbera 4.5L, but I'm only interested in the Mk1 body style. I specifically want the large single headlamps.

I notice that many Mk1 cars have been converted to the later style headlamps, so I was wondering -- would it be straightforward to convert such a car back to the original Mk1 style? Does anyone have experience with this? I couldn't find a retailer selling the necessary fibreglass parts.

--Colin

[Byker28i]

Probably the usual breakers, but they'd probably be a lot, then the work to fit and the painting? It's possible, but easier to find the car with them already in?
If you were going single headlight then there's opportunities to upgrade to a modern unit.

[Mr Cerbera]

cmb said:

I'm in the market for a Cerbera 4.5L, but I'm only interested in the Mk1 body style. I specifically want the large single headlamps.
....
Colin

Hi Colin

What is a " Cerbera 4.5L", please ?

Ta !

PJ

[cmb]

Mr Cerbera said:

What is a " Cerbera 4.5L", please ?

4.5 litre AJP8. Apologies if the 'L' for litre is not a common abbreviation -- I'm based in the US so I might not be totally familiar with the terminology.

[Luckyone]

cmb said:

I couldn't find a retailer selling the necessary fibreglass parts.

--Colin

It's not something that has ever been offered as a kit, you can get the outer surrounds for each side no problem:



The glass is available too, but the part of the body that has to be cut out behind the surround would only be available from a breakers if you bought a whole front corner:



The reflectors aren't available & are very had to get hold of as a lot of people want them, they go dull & stop working properly.

I'm guilty of swapping to the twin pods, I did it back in 2002 as the reflectors had gone bad back then!

sorry terrible pic, camera phones were very new & not the best back then

The twin pods give much better light output, can now be upgraded to LEDs safely & you can have the main beams on at the same time as the dips. With the originals the dips had to turn off when the main beam came on or it would over heat the single bulb. Back in the day it was the best option to get better light output, that's a big part of the reason so many have been converted.

If you were stuck with an early car that had been converted you could just get a pair of the surrounds. The remains of the cut in the body should still be under there somewhere, enough to find the correct location for the surrounds. Then you could get a shop who specialise in fiberglass work to fit some new style single head light units in. There is a huge range of new light units available now. You'd have to check the rules in your state about after market light units though.

[cmb]

Luckyone said:

If you were stuck with an early car that had been converted you could just get a pair of the surrounds. The remains of the cut in the body should still be under there somewhere, enough to find the correct location for the surrounds. Then you could get a shop who specialise in fiberglass work to fit some new style single head light units in. There is a huge range of new light units available now. You'd have to check the rules in your state about after market light units though.

Exactly the sort of information I was looking for -- thank you!

[Byker28i]

If you are in the US, wouldn't you be looking at the few importers currently, or are you looking to import yourself? That would open up the market of available cars so you could find one with the original headlights in

[cmb]

Byker28i said:

If you are in the US, wouldn't you be looking at the few importers currently, or are you looking to import yourself? That would open up the market of available cars so you could find one with the original headlights in

I'm probably going to end up importing a car myself. The Mk1 4.5 is a fairly rare configuration, so I don't think I can leave it to chance to find one that an import company has already brought to the US. I'm willing to pay a premium price for the right car, but I would want to be able to verify that any major servicing gets done (including outrigger repair/replacement) -- preferably while the car is still in the UK, where parts and expertise are more readily available.

I've contacted a couple TVR specialists (including Str8six) a couple times via email to start a conversation about finding a car, but I haven't heard back. I suppose it's possible they aren't too interested in dealing with an international buyer who is still searching.

[Byker28i]

cmb said:

Byker28i said:

If you are in the US, wouldn't you be looking at the few importers currently, or are you looking to import yourself? That would open up the market of available cars so you could find one with the original headlights in

I'm probably going to end up importing a car myself. The Mk1 4.5 is a fairly rare configuration, so I don't think I can leave it to chance to find one that an import company has already brought to the US. I'm willing to pay a premium price for the right car, but I would want to be able to verify that any major servicing gets done (including outrigger repair/replacement) -- preferably while the car is still in the UK, where parts and expertise are more readily available.

I've contacted a couple TVR specialists (including Str8six) a couple times via email to start a conversation about finding a car, but I haven't heard back. I suppose it's possible they aren't too interested in dealing with an international buyer who is still searching.

I'd chase Str8Six again (Jason) because I know they've exported cars to the US already, prepping them first etc. Might just be it's school holiday time/summer over here. His admin guy left the business so Jasons doing it all currently.

[Gazzab]

cmb said:

Byker28i said:

If you are in the US, wouldn't you be looking at the few importers currently, or are you looking to import yourself? That would open up the market of available cars so you could find one with the original headlights in

I'm probably going to end up importing a car myself. The Mk1 4.5 is a fairly rare configuration, so I don't think I can leave it to chance to find one that an import company has already brought to the US. I'm willing to pay a premium price for the right car, but I would want to be able to verify that any major servicing gets done (including outrigger repair/replacement) -- preferably while the car is still in the UK, where parts and expertise are more readily available.

I've contacted a couple TVR specialists (including Str8six) a couple times via email to start a conversation about finding a car, but I haven't heard back. I suppose it's possible they aren't too interested in dealing with an international buyer who is still searching.

Outrigger repair can be a red flag. General consensus is that outriggers can’t be done properly without body off. If outriggers are shot then you can be sure there is more rot.

[camel_landy]

cmb said:

I've contacted a couple TVR specialists (including Str8six) a couple times via email to start a conversation about finding a car, but I haven't heard back. I suppose it's possible they aren't too interested in dealing with an international buyer who is still searching.

Have you spoken to TVR Garage on your side of the pond?

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/tv...

It would appear that Jason (Str8Six), is working with them to source & prep cars here, before sending over.

HTH

M

[Byker28i]

Spotted this one one the way, 1996 4.2, obviously I think the better engine

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-EfIrupnLE/?igsh=NzN6...

[ukkid35]

Gazzab said:

Outrigger repair can be a red flag. General consensus is that outriggers can’t be done properly without body off. If outriggers are shot then you can be sure there is more rot.

I disagree

[ukkid35]

Byker28i said:

Spotted this one one the way, 1996 4.2, obviously I think the better engine

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-EfIrupnLE/?igsh=NzN6...

Brandon said:

I didn't know they were so cheap

You gotta love the innocents

[camel_landy]

Brandon said:

I didn't know they were so cheap

I was taught to never use the word "Cheap"... It's always "More affordable".

ukkid35 said:

You gotta love the innocents

M

[Byker28i]

camel_landy said:

Brandon said:

I didn't know they were so cheap

I was taught to never use the word "Cheap"... It's always "More affordable".

ukkid35 said:

You gotta love the innocents

M

Good value...