Grrr.. headlight glass smashed.. options?
Discussion
Popped into the garage yesterday and noticed that one of my front headlight glasses has been smashed- suspect when I was out for my last drive out with my son.
Must have been a heck of a stone chip- punctured right through
What are peoples thoughts on options to replace glass, other jobs worth doing at the same time?
Car is a '95 mk1 front end. Headlights were "ok but poor" if you get my drift. (Ie on par for 80's _early 90's headlights. )
I quite like the idea of faired in lights on the mk1 grill (gives a slight d-type feel to the car- which would suit a black car), but would detract from originality, non reversible, and I do also like the classic headlamp look.
I recall lupo light conversions were also all the rage a decade or so back..
(NB- The other headlamp glass has had a stone chip in it for c15 years- so will probably at a min replace both glasses - hence considering wider options
Must have been a heck of a stone chip- punctured right through
What are peoples thoughts on options to replace glass, other jobs worth doing at the same time?
Car is a '95 mk1 front end. Headlights were "ok but poor" if you get my drift. (Ie on par for 80's _early 90's headlights. )
I quite like the idea of faired in lights on the mk1 grill (gives a slight d-type feel to the car- which would suit a black car), but would detract from originality, non reversible, and I do also like the classic headlamp look.
I recall lupo light conversions were also all the rage a decade or so back..
(NB- The other headlamp glass has had a stone chip in it for c15 years- so will probably at a min replace both glasses - hence considering wider options
There have been lots of threads on this over the years, personally im not a fan of the lupo look, there is just something that does not look right.
It would be oem or Mk3 upgrade for me, im not too sure if suitable replacements were found for the originals over the years but its worth reading the old threads.
It would be oem or Mk3 upgrade for me, im not too sure if suitable replacements were found for the originals over the years but its worth reading the old threads.
If they're generic 7" headlights, I've fitted the Wipac "crystal" plastic type to an old Landie (so clear front "glass", and the beam pattern is created by the shape of the reflector). They're cheap, they're better than old lights, and they don't look different enough to seem out of place.
Not my picture, but these:
Not my picture, but these:
Are these any use ?
CLASSIC CAR 5 3/4 or 5.75 INCH HEADLIGHTS HALOGEN WITH H4 BULB & PILOT ONE PAIR
https://ebay.us/m/9VkqN9
CLASSIC CAR 5 3/4 or 5.75 INCH HEADLIGHTS HALOGEN WITH H4 BULB & PILOT ONE PAIR
https://ebay.us/m/9VkqN9
sixor8 said:
Original lamps are only 5.75" in diameter. It's the faired in conversion where 7" get used. They are set back a bit further into the wing so that they fit.
The Griffith lights are 5.75, the chimaera are nearer 7 for the non faired in cars. The later cars moved to sealed units faired in, that meant dirt and corrosion of the reflector was less of an issue and light performance better.Edited by SMB on Monday 7th July 08:28
As far as I know (without getting outside and measuring my car, it's 7" for Chim.
5" is Griff.
You probably need to take the lamp apart to see what state the whole assembly is in.
You can do a refurb on the original kit, not crazy expensive, I saw someone had sent their cowls off to Germany for resilvering. And the lenses are available. I currently have this set up in my car, and bought the best bulbs I could, which are decent but not as bright as LEDs.
You can also consider a LED set up, because you'll end up with much better headlights, but will require a bit of modification of the nose.
You can go for the mk3 faired-in look, and put a proper sealed LED unit in behind it (create access from the rear for repair etc if required). I personally prefer the Mk1 look, but that's subjective.
You can look at the restomod market, and do a similar thing to the Lupo effect, but a bit closer to original in style and LED.
The best I found were these - not least because they are spec'd for RHD.
https://www.banginheadlights.com/collections/7-hea...
Whichever way has a price tag, and it depends on what you're willing to spend.
5" is Griff.
You probably need to take the lamp apart to see what state the whole assembly is in.
You can do a refurb on the original kit, not crazy expensive, I saw someone had sent their cowls off to Germany for resilvering. And the lenses are available. I currently have this set up in my car, and bought the best bulbs I could, which are decent but not as bright as LEDs.
You can also consider a LED set up, because you'll end up with much better headlights, but will require a bit of modification of the nose.
You can go for the mk3 faired-in look, and put a proper sealed LED unit in behind it (create access from the rear for repair etc if required). I personally prefer the Mk1 look, but that's subjective.
You can look at the restomod market, and do a similar thing to the Lupo effect, but a bit closer to original in style and LED.
The best I found were these - not least because they are spec'd for RHD.
https://www.banginheadlights.com/collections/7-hea...
Whichever way has a price tag, and it depends on what you're willing to spend.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff