What happened to pop-up headlights?

[white_goodman]

I've always thought that these were really cool and have always wanted to own a car with pop-up headlights. Am I alone in this? Back in the 80s and 90s, they were everywhere on Mazdas, Toyotas, Hondas, Ferraris, Porsches, BMW 8-Series, Ford Probes, Volvo 480 etc. So what happened? Is it aerodynamics or safety or just fashion?

So why have they disappeared and just to make it interesting, what car would you most like to own with pop-up headlights?

[Rawwr]

Legislation.

[Gooly]

I think pedestrian crash protection legislation killed it off unfortunatly.

[white_goodman]

Rawwr said:

Legislation.

In what way? Here's another question then. What was the last new car to have pop-up headlamps fitted?

[wackojacko]

Bit of a shame, good job I have a pair attached to an MR2

[anonymous-user]

I think they were killed off by legislation suggesting they were dangerous to pedestrians in the event of accidents - too 'pointy'

Audi Q7s/Cayennes/Touaregs et al are apparently fine though...

[randlemarcus]

white_goodman said:

In what way? Here's another question then. What was the last new car to have pop-up headlamps fitted?

Wiki says 2004, with the demise of the Esprit and the C5 Vette.

[Rollcage]

Esprit and Corvette were last weren't they?

[Chas88]

white_goodman said:

What was the last new car to have pop-up headlamps fitted?

Corvette I believe. Unless some kit cars/small manufacturers continued longer.

[soad]

Disappeared due to safety regulations...EU to blame?
I'll pick a Diablo.

[Rawwr]

soad said:

I'll pick a Diablo.

I'll have that. Nagging voice at the back of my head is telling me that the Diablo VT Roadster was the last.

[ejenner]

Collague of mine has an MX5 and keeps on making noises like 'meeehhh' before describing in excruciating detail the particular failure of his right pop-up headlight on his MX5. I think they were banned because they were making people really bored.

[white_goodman]

Here's some of my favourites!

Honda NSX



Porsche 928 GTS

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BMW 850i

[J4CKO]

yellowbentines said:

I think they were killed off by legislation suggesting they were dangerous to pedestrians in the event of accidents - too 'pointy'

Audi Q7s/Cayennes/Touaregs et al are apparently fine though...

Yep, I have wondered about that, would rather get hit by an MX5 than a Q7, partially die to the size but also I think some Q7 drivers would reverse and have another go if they didnt get you good enough first time.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

I had a 1990 Honda Prelude with them - loved it to bits. Especially as there was a switch to raise the light units without turning them on

[AREA]

Sooooo many years ago when my wife was but a teenage bride and we were all Miami Vice style yuppies with 911s or Testarossas (how else do you think a bloke in his late twenties married an 18 year old???) I bought her a TR7 DHC and the first Motorola 'transportable' mobile phone.

One of the great tricks of the phone and car combination was that you could wire the phone up to the headlights to flash when a call came in.

It became a standard party trick (after people got over the novelty of a school girl actually having a car let alone a mobile phone) to call the car to see the headlamps pop up and down.



(yes, many, many years on we are still married. Cars, pop up headlights and various phones have come and gone but we're still together.)

[Rostfritt]

Too many countries require headlights to be on all the time, which does make them a bit pointless. And they are just another thing to go wrong. Stupid to ban them for safety reasons when being hit by a 4x4 will hurt a lot more. Just put them down as something that has gone out of fashion.

[Mrcarfan832]

I always used to think a car with pop-up headlights was the mark of a car that was far more sporty, glamorous and exotic than other cars (with the obvious exception of the Honda Integra 1986-1989 era).

I miss them.

[carl_w]

Ferrari 456 has to be one of the last -- I think they made them up to '96 or so?

[vsonix]

I always loved the semi-pop up lights on the Isuzu Piazza. Haven't seem one of those on the road in a very long time... wonder if there are (m)any still around in the UK..?

Edited by vsonix on Saturday 11th February 15:01