Volvo 740 USA headlights to UK legal?

[Inspector Morose]

These were also used on many east lancs bus bodies from 1999 onwards.

 

I have a couple spare that could be exchanged with yours Dan (I can use the LHD ones in the inner pair on the bus).

[AMC Rebel]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is that for most of the period in question, at least on dipped beam, the yank lights were as dim as dim very dim thing. A Volvo of that vintage that's not hobbled by the Feds (i.e. a Euro one) has a bigger reflector and more powerful halogen bulbs.

 

Driving around in the US in those days (I first went in in 1986) was funny - although at least everyone was in the same boat - now they have caught the Barryboys OMG 2trillionK LED CANBUS SAFE BRUV disease too.

[AMC Rebel]

On a point of order I am fairly sure the 7" units are just that - 7" and not 7.25 as Mr Junk asserted earlier. 

[danthecapriman]

These were also used on many east lancs bus bodies from 1999 onwards.

I have a couple spare that could be exchanged with yours Dan (I can use the LHD ones in the inner pair on the bus).

That'd be good. I've no use for LHD style lights so if I do manage to get a set we can either exchange or your welcome to have my unwanted ones.

 

You don't need any LHD yank round sealed beams do you? I've got a pair somewhere off the Mercury that it came over here with that are now useless to me.

 

 

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is that for most of the period in question, at least on dipped beam, the yank lights were as dim as dim very dim thing. A Volvo of that vintage that's not hobbled by the Feds (i.e. a Euro one) has a bigger reflector and more powerful halogen bulbs.

 

Driving around in the US in those days (I first went in in 1986) was funny - although at least everyone was in the same boat - now they have caught the Barryboys OMG 2trillionK LED CANBUS SAFE BRUV disease too.

I'm not bothered about brightness really, far more interested in the cars looks! I'm well used to shitty old car lighting and I don't tend to drive the cars much at night anyway.

Many might disagree but I think the US front end looks better than the Euro front so it's a price I'm happy to pay!

[Lacquer Peel]

Not sure if 'better' is the right word but I support your quest for a federalised front end.

[Spottedlaurel]

I know it’s essentially what some of the American makers were doing in the ‘70s, but I love the stacked rectangular lights on this 929. Might be a tad hard finding one of them still left in the UK as a donor, however…..

 

1979 Mazda 929 Estate c.1998/99 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

[AMC Rebel]

Wow! Don't think I've ever seen one of that style of 929 (and it's not cos I'm not old enough!).

 

I remember noticing in scrapyards how much the Japanese cars of the 70s aped US styling (or tried to).  I remember a big Datsun that had a setting for "room" on the heater controls

[Junkman]

On a point of order I am fairly sure the 7" units are just that - 7" and not 7.25 as Mr Junk asserted earlier. 

 

The light emitting aperture is 7", the overall diameter 7 1/4".

[Junkman]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is that for most of the period in question, at least on dipped beam, the yank lights were as dim as dim very dim thing.

 

Not the Halogen ones. The pre Halogen ones were woeful indeed, comparable with the European Bilux.

[danthecapriman]

Wow! Don't think I've ever seen one of that style of 929 (and it's not cos I'm not old enough!).

 

I remember noticing in scrapyards how much the Japanese cars of the 70s aped US styling (or tried to).  I remember a big Datsun that had a setting for "room" on the heater controls

Last one of those 929's I saw was about 10 years ago in a colleagues banger yard...

 

That's why I love the old big Jap cars, the styling is designed to appeal to US markets so they look American and that's always good! It's why I prefer the US Volvo lights, most people would probably think they're typically American and a bit fussy or tasteless with the extra lighting and chrome surrounds but I really like them.