Pop up headlamps - is this the end?
Discussion
Retractable headlamps have graced arguably some of the most attractive sports cars over recent decades e.g. the Ferrari 288 GTO, 355 Spyder and of course, the TVR 420 SEAC. Now it seems there are only a handful of production cars left in the world which still sport this form of nightime illumination: the C5 Corvette, the Firebird and T/A, the 3rd gen RX7 and the Lotus Esprit - all of which are due for replacement or retirement. Have we seen the last of this piece of automotive styling? Has it been forever consigned to the history books thanks to plexiglass and boring aerodynamics?
Retractable headlights, love 'em. Doesn't the MX5 have them too?
Only 1 thing really annoys me about them, and that's when they break and one stay's up, that REALLY bugs me just seeing it on a car coming the other way, it would drive me insane if I owned it - in fact Iwouldn't be able to drive it until it was fixed!
Only 1 thing really annoys me about them, and that's when they break and one stay's up, that REALLY bugs me just seeing it on a car coming the other way, it would drive me insane if I owned it - in fact Iwouldn't be able to drive it until it was fixed!
Back in the early 80's my Dad had an Esprit S3 and said that raising the headlights at speed felt like deploying airbrakes.
One thing to note is that pop-up headlights were developed because it was difficult to fair in lights without losing a lot of light due to reflection / refraction. These days this has largely been dealt with by advances in materials and design, so one of the main advantages of pop-ups is lost and the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
Besides, they look so dated these days, and make the cars pretty ugly when they're popped up too (in my opinion, of course).
One thing to note is that pop-up headlights were developed because it was difficult to fair in lights without losing a lot of light due to reflection / refraction. These days this has largely been dealt with by advances in materials and design, so one of the main advantages of pop-ups is lost and the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
Besides, they look so dated these days, and make the cars pretty ugly when they're popped up too (in my opinion, of course).
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it would drive me insane if I owned it - in fact Iwouldn't be able to drive it until it was fixed!
I had a Fiat X1/9 for a couple of years back in the early 90's. Imagine Fiat electricals and pop-up headlights....
I spent several weekends replacing motors, burned out wiring, fuses etc. etc. Used to annoy the $hit out of me driving around with one light ahowing at the end of the bonnet. One of the lights broke at night, so I put the fron fogs (fitted by the previous owner) on to limp home, after about 10 minutes the smell of burning electrics was unbearable and I had a warm feeling on my right leg. The switch for the fogs had melted all over my trousers.
Shocking, shocking quality. Fun to drive when it went though.
I think it all depends on the vehicle. For instance the Saleen S7, in another era, would surely been fitted with pop ups. Today, however: 
I think that there is also quite a weight savings when the motors for the popups are removed. Don't get me wrong, love my '98 Esprit, but enjoy it much more during the day without the "speed brakes" deployed (looking forward to the Lotus replacement when they get thier finger out...)
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM on Thursday 21st March 16:48
They tended to knock about 8 mph off the top end of my old Starion turbo but then one night I discovered a well lit lengthy dual carriageway.
I think the first indication of the pop up's demise came in 1986/87 with the launch of the König Specials Testarossa. Nevertheless an amazing vehicle with its 710bhp and 345/35 section rear tyres.
I think the first indication of the pop up's demise came in 1986/87 with the launch of the König Specials Testarossa. Nevertheless an amazing vehicle with its 710bhp and 345/35 section rear tyres.
, just like pop-ups on the internet... 
The older MR2s have Pop up and they are quite nice, and the Wedge did of course.
They are fantastic for when you flash someone out at a junction, they whizz up, and then retract again.. I used to love it, and became the nicest driver on the roads letting people out all over the shop just to get the lights to pop up
On the wedge I used to wait and see if one or both would appear, and sometimes they would take turns, as one went back down the other one raised, in a mexican wave headlight kinda way !
They are fantastic for when you flash someone out at a junction, they whizz up, and then retract again.. I used to love it, and became the nicest driver on the roads letting people out all over the shop just to get the lights to pop up
On the wedge I used to wait and see if one or both would appear, and sometimes they would take turns, as one went back down the other one raised, in a mexican wave headlight kinda way !
I must agree on teh flasing some oen side - still brings a grin to my face when I flash some one in my mx-5 (unless it's a get-out-of-my-way type of flash).
Not found the breaking effect that noticable, but they certainly reduce the car's accelerative power (only on the track honest).
I seem to remmeber they've been killed off by legislation as vertical surfaces are not particularly friendly to anyone you might clip.
Not found the breaking effect that noticable, but they certainly reduce the car's accelerative power (only on the track honest).
I seem to remmeber they've been killed off by legislation as vertical surfaces are not particularly friendly to anyone you might clip.
Lotus Elite's and Eclat's have pop up head lights that are opperated by a vacuum system, the suction is supplied by the engine's inlet manifold. The lamp pods are held down by this vacuum and when the lights are switched on the vacuum is released. The lamp pods then rise with a spring action.The trouble is that over the years, the vacuum system develops leaks. Not so large that you notice anything too major, but leave the car with the lamp pods down for around half an hour and, the headlights slowly begin to creep up. On my car it's the left hand side pod first, then soon after, the right.Spooky! It's funny parking in a public carpark and waiting to see peoples reaction. Unfortunatly the asthetics of what is a rather stunning vehicle are ruined with the lamp pods up.
I was out at the weekend and one of my popup lights started hunting. Sometimes it liked the road, sometimes it liked flashing other drivers and sometimes it tried to locate aircraft WW2 style. It was misty foggy and Light-Sabre battles with Darth Vader sprang to my mind.
It eventually decided to sulk and stay out of sight (much to everyone else's relief)
It eventually decided to sulk and stay out of sight (much to everyone else's relief)
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Best lights ever? Porsche 928. I was really excited about those in 1978!
Yes! I actually quite like the look of my s4, with the 'pods' up.
Not only that, but they are terrific driving lights.
They don't seem to affect top speed noticeably at all.
There's something satisfying about popping them, whilst making all the other preparations to drive off.
I say hurrah for pop-up lights! - screw the pedestrians - aren't they more at risk from bull-bars?
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