67 thunderbird electric headlight conversion

#67 THUNDERBIRD ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT CONVERSION DRIVERS#
#67 THUNDERBIRD ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT CONVERSION FREE#

Actually, the 3-second limit was slated for 1969,īut the car companies said they needed another year to develop the mechanism In 1970, a requirement was in place that specified the covers took no more Headlight covers if they hadn't been started in a few days.įor the 1969 model year, a fail-safe design was required that opened theĬovers automatically in the event of a vacuum system failure, and beginning System, which meant lots of new Fords were sitting around with half-open Were designed to open the covers if a problem developed with the vacuum To the hidden headlight feature on all of its cars so equipped. Other manufacturers were getting complaints about their designsĪs well, especially from consumers. Rivieras from 1966-1969 used this design, as did the 1968-1969 Oldsmobile To be fair, the 1966 Riviera wasn't the only car with this design.

#67 THUNDERBIRD ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT CONVERSION DRIVERS#

For a brief second, while rotating, the lights could blind oncoming drivers as they rotated down into position. Once turned on, the sealed beams themselves lit up immediately, and the assembly began to rotate to expose the lights. The issue was what happened when the lights were turned on. A matching grille panel on the rotating assembly aligned with the stationary grille which provided the hidden effect. When off, the headlights would point straight up, facing the underside of the closed hood. On this particular model, the headlight assembly in its entirety rotated to expose the beams. One of the concerns that caught attention was the manner in which the 1966 Buick Riviera headlights rotated into position. Were being enacted to protect the public. AtĪny rate, before long concealed headlights on automobiles had caught theĪttention of the Federal Government, and it wasn't long before regulations

#67 THUNDERBIRD ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT CONVERSION FREE#

Part to free it up, but sometimes a loose or kinked vacuum line was toīlame, or a loose electrical connection or bad relay was the culprit. Often, all that was needed was a gentle push on the moving

Lights when the headlights were turned on, which made the car unsafe toĭrive at night. Usually, the cover or assembly would fail to move and expose the

Transportation, since automobile lighting systems were considered a safety Occurred, it didn't take long for it to be noticed by the Department of These systems were relatively trouble free, however when a widespread malfunction This was normallyĪccomplished with vacuum or electrical power, and sometimes multiple motors Were mounted to could rotate to expose or conceal the beams. The headlamps themselves remained stationary. Type could be made to flip up, rotate up or down, or slide sideways while The surrounding panels be they grille work or a painted nose cone of some There were several popular ways to incorporate this feature, and most wereĭetermined by styling considerations. That was responsible for their popularity can also be credited in part But beginning with theġ965 Buick Riviera, they became a popular feature for the rest of the decade,Īlthough their moment at the top would be brief. Were a novelty that appeared on just a few cars. Before the mid-sixties, hidden headlights were rarely seen, and Often found on luxury models or muscle cars, concealed headlights canīe a design element as well as a functional consideration, depending on

Over the years (see partial list, at right). The process of doing so became a show stopper!Ĭoncealed headlights have appeared on many automotive makes and models (Click image to view larger version - link opens in new window)Ī necessary safety feature could be hidden by day, and exposed by night.and

1968 Chevrolet Caprice with optional concealed headlights

67 thunderbird electric headlight conversion