Rising car lights became widespread due to American standards, and many years later they went down in history due to new requirements for automotive safety.
Hidden headlights are believed to have been used on cars for the first time Alfa romeo The 8C 2900A Pininfarina Berlinetta and the Cord 810 both appeared in 1936. Later, such a decision could be found on several more serial models and concept cars, but opening headlights began to gain popularity in the late sixties.
Automotive lighting standards in force at the time in the United States established minimum height headlights above road level and prohibited the use of inclined aerodynamic headlights. Because of this, sports coupe and other cars with a low bonnet were equipped with lifting headlights of various designs. Variety of solutions used by different manufacturers, can be seen in the video below.
It is noteworthy that some american models (Buick Riviera, Dodge Charger, Chevrolet camaro) hidden headlights were not due to strict standards. These cars received a striking wide radiator grille across the entire width of the front end. The headlights hid behind it and appeared, if necessary, in the opening niches.
Later, American law allowed the use of aerodynamic headlights, and new international standards required the removal of any protruding elements from the hood of cars - in order to improve safety to protect pedestrians in case of collisions. And so the era of rising headlights ended. Latest models with them, and
We continue to miss cars from the 80s and 90s with headlights that rise. This was a really cool option for real car fans. Let's remember some of these patterns that we will yearn for.
Alpine A610
The Alpine A610 Coupé received pop-up headlights in 1991. Their release was completed four years later, after which cars of this brand with such headlights were never made again.
Aston martin lagonda
In the late 70s, the wedge-shaped front part came into vogue, which did not allow to accommodate standard lighting equipment. In 1977 Aston martin showed gorgeous sedan Lagonda equipped with lifting headlights. The designers felt that for this type of body, mechanical front optics would make the car more exclusive.
Alfa romeo montreal
The Alfa Romeo Montreal's headlights were locked in place, but special aerodynamic shrouds at the top could slide into the bonnet when the headlights were turned on. An interesting solution from Italian designers.
Bmw m1
Even conservative bMW company the mainstream and developed the mid-engined BMW M1 supercar with a wedge-shaped front section and rising rectangular headlights.
BMW 8-series
Another German model bMW brands - coupe 8-series. This car can be considered a style icon, one of the most beautiful cars Bavarian brand. The headlights were made to rise, however, some owners were annoyed by their inhibition: after turning off the headlights, they had to wait for some time until they disappeared into the hood.
Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray
The second generation Corvette Stingray was one of the first cars to feature lifting headlights. It was back in 1959 when their release began. Under the sharp edge of the hood hid two pairs of round headlights, which, however, looked better when retracted.
Chevrolet Corvette C5
Fifth generation muscle car Chevrolet corvette was the last to use lifting headlights. Fans of the brand were worried for a long time when the Corvette C6 lost them. But it seems that now everyone is used to it.
Cord 810/812
Surprisingly, mechanically lifting headlights first appeared in 1935 on the Cord 810. The designers used this solution to achieve a memorable appearance car. By the way, such solutions were previously used only in aviation.
Ferrari 365 GTB / 4
Ferrari was the leader in the number of models with lifting headlights. The first supercar with this option was the 365 GTB / 4, one of the most beautiful cars of all time. Now this model is being sold at auctions for insane money.
Ferrari 308/328
The most popular "big-eyed" Ferrari were the 308 and 328 models, which were built according to the supercar building canons of that time: wedge-shaped front, central location power unit and lifting headlights.
Ferrari f40
Legend. One of the best Ferraris of all time. The supercar had a rather interesting headlight architecture with a pair of standard lighting units and a pair of rising low and high beam headlights.
Ferrari testarossa
Designed by Pininfarina, the Ferrari Testarossa is undoubtedly an 80s star and style icon. Many boys around the world had posters of this car over their bed in their room.
Ferrari 456 GT
The last Ferrari model with retractable headlights was the 456 GT. It was produced from 1992 to 2003. The only drawback of this twelve-cylinder car was not very ideal aerodynamics, with open front optics.
Fiat X1 / 9
The small and inexpensive Fiat X1 / 9 coupe was developed by Bertone and produced in 1972-1988. Despite the simplicity of the design, the designers nevertheless decided to use the front lifting headlights.
Ford Probe
Back in 1988 year Ford showed the first generation of the Probe coupe, which had angular contours and lifting headlights. In 1992, it was replaced by the second generation model, which retained this option.
Honda prelude
Even the Honda company did not stay away from world trends and equipped the Prelude with sleepy headlights. The car was released in 1984. A little later, the Japanese automaker also released the three-door Accord Aero, also equipped with rising headlights.
Honda nsx
In 1990 year Honda impressed the global auto community with the new NSX supercar. In its example, a company from Japan has shown that it is ready to fight back Italian Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Jaguar XJ220
Among european cars There was one very special supercar in the 90s - the Jaguar XJ220. Stunningly beautiful, it was equipped with mechanical shrouds on the headlights that dropped down when they were turned on.
Lamborghini Miura
In 1966, Lamborghini showed the first prototype Miura supercar with reclining headlights. Serial production began two years later. Miura is considered one of the most beautiful cars of the last century.
Lamborghini countach
One of the most famous supercars of the Italian company Lamborghini also received lifting headlights. Few cars look cool with their headlights up or down. The Countach is definitely one of them.
Lamborghini Diablo
The Diablo ends the era of lifting headlights at the Italian company Lamborghini. Still, this is one of the coolest cars of the early 90s, largely due to the headlights of this particular design.
Lancia stratos
In 1972 Lancia created one of the most successful rally cars of all time. It had a wedge-shaped body and raised headlights that looked amazing with a garland of foglights in front.
Lincoln continental
In the US, at the legislative level in 1968, retractable headlights were banned for safety reasons. The ban was in effect until 1983. However, in 1977, Lincoln released the Continental, which had special headlamp covers that could automatically retract when the lights were turned on.
Lotus esprit
Lotus Esprit became famous after filming the movie about Agent 007. Remember his white coupe that turned into a submarine? Another supercar with a wedge-shaped front section and rising headlights.
Lotus elite
One of the most unusual cars Lotus brands. Three-door shooter break with a wedge-shaped front end and rising headlights. It wouldn't work now, but in the 70s, no problem.
Lotus elan
The small British roadster (pictured as a coupe and long wheelbase) has inspired some japanese modelssuch as the first generation Mazda MX-5.
Mazda RX-7
The rotary Wankel engine on the first generation Mazda RX-7 did not require much space under the hood, so there was no difficulty in equipping this model with rising headlights. The next two generations of the RX-7 also retained this feature.
Mazda MX-5
The first generation of the most massive roadster in the world was equipped with mechanically lifting headlights. We are ready to admit that the little car looks awkward, but very cute.
Mazda 323 F
Almost all cars with lifting headlights are supercars or just coupes. But Mazda decided to equip them with the regular 5-door family hatchback 323 F, which appeared in 1989.
Mercedes-Benz C111
Mercedes-Benz decided not to follow the lead of fashion trends and not create models with rising headlights. Nevertheless, there was a "sin" behind them - the conceptual sports car C111 with gullwing doors.
Nissan 300ZX
In 1983 nissan launched the 300ZX coupe, which has become one of the brand's most popular models. Only cars of the first generation could boast of rising headlights, the more massive second-generation 300ZX was equipped with the most common headlights.
Oldsmobile toronado
After the front-wheel drive Cord 810/812, the Oldsmobile Toronado became the first model with a similar layout in the last 30 years. To emphasize the technical innovation, the model also received lifting headlights.
Opel GT
The headlights on this tiny targa Opel GT, which appeared in 1969, were raised mechanically by pressing a handle next to the gear lever.
Porsche 914
Volkswagen and Porsche have teamed up to create one of the ugliest Porsches of all time, the 914. And in this case, the rising headlights only make it worse.
Porsche 924/944
Porsche's attempt to release a supercar by volkswagen price and Audi. Many fans of the brand took this fact as a personal insult. Naturally, such frivolity as the rising headlights was also not to your taste.
Saab Sonett III
From 1970 to 1974, Saab produced the Sonett III coupe with rising headlights. The model did not become popular due to its scary appearance and not best quality assembly.
Subaru XT
From 1984 to 1990, Subaru sold in Europe the XT (locally called the "Alcyone"), which had retractable headlights and an angular appearance.
Triumph TR7
In 1974, the Triump TR7 coupe entered the British market, which took over the fashion trends in world automotive design. The model had a wedge-shaped front end with a pair of lifting headlights.
Toyota Celica
Japanese cars Toyota Celica the third, fourth and fifth generations were equipped with lifting headlights. In our country, the most popular model has become last generationprimarily due to her success in the rally.
Toyota Supra
The older brother of the Toyota Celica was produced with rising headlights from 1982 to 1993 in the A60 and A70 generations. Subsequently, the model lost this feature.
Toyota MR2
The tiny two-seater Toyota MR2 coupe featured a central location of the power unit, as well as rising headlights. The model quickly became popular.
Volvo 480
The extravagant 480 was developed by Volvo specifically for the North American market. The rising headlights here were not made for style, but because of the need to meet local government standards for the height of the rays of light above the road surface.
Pangolina
Auto industry Soviet Union did not produce cars with rising headlights, but designers homemade cars did not lag behind the West in this. In the photo - Pangolin's car.
The first model of a car with retractable headlights appeared in 1936. It was Cord-810 - american carreleased by the company of the same name. Closer to 1970 vehicles with retractable headlights have become quite common. And they managed to exist long enough - until 2004. Although the popularity and consumer demand for them began to fall somewhat earlier, closer to the mid-1990s. It was then that the last model with hidden optics was released.
Today, such a spectacular car exterior detail is prohibited by law. This rule is governed by modern pedestrian safety standards - the front of the car should not have protruding elements so that accident case do not hurt the person more.
Pros and cons of retractable headlights
This design was used mainly in the production of sports cars or convertibles, but it can be seen in other body types, but much less often. These are sedans and hatchbacks of the brands "Aston-Martin", "Volvo", "Honda" and "Mazda". Retractable headlights at one time made a splash in the automotive industry. There were few cars with folding optics, and, of course, everyone dreamed of becoming the owner of such a "crumb". However, the last car with this design was released in 1995, after which the "sleeping eyes" never opened again.
These cars look futuristic. Even now, looking at the photos, one can appreciate all their singularity. They stood out from the stream. But the folding headlights failed to survive for a long time. Obviously, the reason for this was the unreliability of the design. Electrical and pneumatic mechanisms were regularly damaged. In addition, they cost much more than traditional optics. Cars with retractable headlights were not only beautiful - thanks to this feature, the optics were always protected from aggressive influences environment.
Mazda RX-7, MX-5, 323 F
The Japanese automaker has applied the design to several models. The Mazda RX-7 received retractable optics in 1978. Since the model was completed rotary piston engine Wankel, which did not take up much space, there were no technical difficulties with equipping a car with such a design. With retractable optics, three generations of the RX-7 were released.
The car with retractable headlights Mazda MX-5 actually became the prototype of the Lotus Elan - it was equipped with mechanical headlights. And the 323 F is one of the sports cars lineup "Mazda", which was equipped with a similar design in 1989.
Another Japanese brand for which retractable optics have become a landmark event. The design was applied to the first sports model Nissan, which appeared on automotive market in 1983. Not surprisingly, the 300 ZX was named the most successful car nissan brand of all available.
BMW M1 and 8 series
As mentioned earlier, almost all sports cars produced in the 1970s were equipped with a retractable headlight mechanism. They were also very similar to each other in that they had a wedge-shaped body. The BMW M1 is no exception to this rule. But it will be fair to say that this design looked better on the G8. It was released a little later, in 1989. In the BMW 8 Series, retractable optics looked more stylish. Probably, this was facilitated by the soft lines of the model, smooth transitions from one detail to another. However, not all owners liked this car with retractable headlights, because the design had a significant disadvantage: after turning off the optics, it had to take some time for the "eyes" to close.
Chevrolet Corvette C2 Sting Ray and C5
The second generation Corvette is the first Chevrolet model to be equipped with retractable optics. But she looked unaesthetic because of the sharp front part: too aggressive, pretentious. Whether it's the fifth generation of the model. On the Chevrolet Corvette C5, retractable front optics formed neat cute eyes. However, the company decided to abandon this idea anyway. The fifth generation Corvette became latest model A Chevrolet that had this option.
Toyota Celica, Supra, MR2
Many models of this brand, produced from 1983 to 1994, were equipped with retractable headlights. The Celica car was one of the first to acquire hidden optics. It is impossible not to mention her "older brother" - Supra. On this model, the retractable optics looked even more attractive. They were produced between 1986 and 1992. The design also looked interesting on the MR2 model, which existed from 1984 to 1999.
To many, this model will seem strange and scary. But at one time the Volvo 480 was considered “extravagant”. In this case, the manufacturer was not chasing fashion. The retractable optics have been designed to meet American standards for the height of the light beams above the road.
"Pangolina"
The domestic auto industry has never been engaged in the production of cars with retractable optics. But the designers succeeded in this. homemade cars... There are a lot of interesting copies, for example, what is only one "Laura". But today all the attention is on the Pangolin models. It was collected in 1980 in Ukhta. Her "father" is a certified engineer and electrician by vocation, Alexander Kulygin.
Stickers with this car were often found in their favorite Turbo chewing gum, which were sold in stores for 50 kopecks. Ford retractable headlights are typical american sports car... The car was produced in the period from 1988 to 1997.
What will the owners of cars with retractable headlights say?
Now, if you come across such cars on the road, it will be an event of a lifetime. As already mentioned at the beginning of the article, machines with a retractable optics design were produced until 1995. In 2004, they were completely banned in order to improve the safety of pedestrians.
In some sources, you can find the statement that "sleeping" optics is inappropriate to use in the complete set of a car, since it is expensive, breaks down often, freezes in cold weather and does not open, and wiring is often damaged due to location in the wrong place. But many car owners disagree with this statement. They believe that the retractable design has several advantages over modern optics. For example, headlights are protected from negative environmental influences, and modern plastic ones are constantly breaking. But here, too, there is a nuance - today, even during the day, the driver is obliged to drive with light. Consequently, the "eyes" will be open anyway.
As for the machines themselves, it is important to understand that their specifications largely inferior modern cars... The former are weaker than the latter in all respects, even if it is Ferrari, Lamborghini or Aston Martin.
Today, only collectors have such cars. In Russia, it is not possible to find and purchase a car with hidden headlights. However, they are still marketed in some countries, such as the United States. But before buying, you should think carefully about whether it is worth investing in such a car. Since retractable optics are today called traumatic, it is undesirable to appear on the roads on such a car.
Blind, or retractable headlights, are a cool feature that gives the vehicle a touch of exclusivity. The first car to have such headlights was the 1935 Cord 810. The headlights were lowered using a manual mechanism. On the first prototype, the handles were on opposite sides of the cabin (it was inconvenient), and later everything was improved.
Over time, blind headlights began to be used on many legendary cars... From 1975 to 1995, sports cars were most often equipped with retractable headlights. Here is some of them:
Toyota AE86 with blind optics
Suzuki Katana motorcycle with retractable headlights
Lamborghini Countach LP400 with retractable headlights
Honda Accord sedan with rising headlights
Aston Martin Lagonda with blind headlights
Pre-styling Mitsubishi 3000GT with retractable headlights
Mazda 323F with rising headlights
Legendary Toyota Celica
However, these days car companies they forgot about this option, which not only adorned cars, but also protected the optics from the aggressive external environment. In 2004, retractable headlights became history as unsafe. They severely injured people in road accidents. Today I propose to recall the 10 most latest cars, which were equipped with just such headlights.
Chevrolet Corvette 2004
Lotus Esprit 2004
Acura NSX... Retractable headlights are not the best solution from an aerodynamic point of view, but from a design point of view they are. This car looks equally elegant with its headlights down and down.
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish... The headlights of this model could be called uncomplicated, but they, like the car in general, exude style. More sophisticated headlights would simply be redundant, distracting from the delightful body design.
Audi r8... R8 was not the first audi modelequipped with daytime running lights, but has become one of the most recognizable. Nowadays, even crossovers and sedans wear them, but we must not forget which car gave rise to the trend.
Bmw 5... If Audi did daytime running lights with its chip in the mid-2000s, BMW created its own distinctive feature a few years earlier - "angel eyes". The E39 underwent a restyling in 2001 with headlights with well-recognized "halos".
Chevrolet corvette stingray... The shape of this model, the shape of the windows and other design elements - including hidden headlights - became a hallmark of the Corvette for many years, until 2005.
Citroen DS... Many features of the Citroen DS were snapped up with a bang by the models that followed it - front-wheel drive, multi-disc brakes and shock-absorbing suspension. But most of all, the attention is drawn to the double headlights, which create an unforgettable image of the car.
Pontiac GTO... It was this model that started the trend of American muscle cars. The twin vertical headlights have become a Pontiac signature, looking incredibly cool.
Porsche 718... Daytime running lights have come a long way in terms of BMW angel eyes. Porsche has made one of the most recent contributions to the cause with its 718, equipped with stylish headlights and a shining sea of \u200b\u200bdaytime running lights.
Tucker 48... Once upon a time, headlights on cars were nothing more than lamps that illuminate the road at night, and not a cool design element. Preston Tucker wanted to make his car as safe as possible and added a third headlight to it to facilitate cornering lighting. But it turned out that it was she who became the main hallmark in Tucker 48 design.
Volvo XC90... Volvo has gone to great lengths to redesign the XC90 and the upcoming S90. Both cars are equipped with Thor's Hammer headlights, which look as cool as the name sounds.
