Yellow headlights.
Discussion
When i was young we used to go to France in the car a lot, my old man would duly paint the front light glass with a clear yellow paint and we would join the throngs of others at the ferryport who had done the same.
Once in France almost every car/van/truck/bike would have yellow lights, It made great sence as the glare was reduced a lot and the visibility in fog seemed to be better.
When did this die out ? Was it an EU induced death ?
Can i paint my lights yellow and not get hassled by the BiB or the dullard PCSOs we seem to breed round here ?
Once in France almost every car/van/truck/bike would have yellow lights, It made great sence as the glare was reduced a lot and the visibility in fog seemed to be better.
When did this die out ? Was it an EU induced death ?
Can i paint my lights yellow and not get hassled by the BiB or the dullard PCSOs we seem to breed round here ?
i always thought it was to kep the french car companies going, eg renault build cars with yellow headlights, anyone else form outside france has to make 2 sets of headlight, one white one yellow
this makes foreign cars more expensive so french cars are "cheaper"
if this is true, then europe robably ended it
this makes foreign cars more expensive so french cars are "cheaper"
if this is true, then europe robably ended it
Yes I believe it may have been an EU induced death, or at least a U.K. induced death because as far as I know they have been illegal in this country for a good few years now, but not sure if they are illegal throughout all of Europe though.
Edited by 109 Bob on Monday 12th October 10:00
The French applied the yellow to their headlights in the 1930s. Fearful of an invasion from Germany, they reasoned that they would be able to spot foreign vehicles more easily as they would have the white lights. It stayed after the war, and was changed to bring France in line with the EU. There are still some old cars with the yellow lights, but not many.
FesterNath said:
The French applied the yellow to their headlights in the 1930s. Fearful of an invasion from Germany, they reasoned that they would be able to spot foreign vehicles more easily as they would have the white lights. It stayed after the war, and was changed to bring France in line with the EU. There are still some old cars with the yellow lights, but not many.
^^^^
Also, they are now able to have white rear numberplates; something introduced in the last couple of years.
I thought yellow had something to do with running and hiding when the Germans turned up... 
Seriously folks, when I was a schoolboy I did a Saturday job in my local Halford's (Ealing Broadway) and they stocked 'cadmium yellow' headlamp bulbs (no halogen lamps then) for continental touring. Only the cheapskates painted their lenses.
Seriously folks, when I was a schoolboy I did a Saturday job in my local Halford's (Ealing Broadway) and they stocked 'cadmium yellow' headlamp bulbs (no halogen lamps then) for continental touring. Only the cheapskates painted their lenses.
triggersbroom said:
FesterNath said:
The French applied the yellow to their headlights in the 1930s. Fearful of an invasion from Germany, they reasoned that they would be able to spot foreign vehicles more easily as they would have the white lights. It stayed after the war, and was changed to bring France in line with the EU. There are still some old cars with the yellow lights, but not many.
^^^^Also, they are now able to have white rear numberplates; something introduced in the last couple of years.
Little known fact that the Battle of France was over so quickly because the Germans cunningly, and somewhat underhandedly, painted the headlights yellow on all their Panzer and Tiger tanks before driving right over the boarder and down the Champs Elysee.
DrTre said:
triggersbroom said:
FesterNath said:
The French applied the yellow to their headlights in the 1930s. Fearful of an invasion from Germany, they reasoned that they would be able to spot foreign vehicles more easily as they would have the white lights. It stayed after the war, and was changed to bring France in line with the EU. There are still some old cars with the yellow lights, but not many.
^^^^Also, they are now able to have white rear numberplates; something introduced in the last couple of years.
Little known fact that the Battle of France was over so quickly because the Germans cunningly, and somewhat underhandedly, painted the headlights yellow on all their Panzer and Tiger tanks before driving right over the boarder and down the Champs Elysee.
Panzer =
Tiger didn't exist in 1940
There are no boarding schools near Sedan.
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