Make America Ugly Again

[PaykanHunter]

Can someone please explain the US sealed-beam-headlamp law that made European manufactures to "Federalize" their cars? I understand the US-Bumper, that was done for the low mile impact test, but I can't understand the headlight story. Cheers. 

 

[SiC]

Junkman, formally of this parish, wrote a quite in-depth article on headlamps here:

https://www.thedarkwob.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=54

He covered American headlamps and their rules a few posts on. 

[Wingz123]

Crikey all the old names!

[PaykanHunter]

  On 17/08/2020 at 14:41, SiC said:

Junkman, formally of this parish, wrote a quite in-depth article on headlamps here:

https://www.thedarkwob.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=54

He covered American headlamps and their rules a few posts on. 

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Excellent I figured someone must have done it by now. Thank you! 

[martc]

Just look at these...

And to go round (get it?) in a full circle (get it again?) but not strictly 'fedralised' just fortuitous that it has the correct shaped lights, we have this beauty...

[Volksy]

I'm quite a fan of the lights, apart from the Citroen SM/DS. 

[eddyramrod]

Wait for @danthecapriman!  Here is one of us who deliberately and specifically bought and fitted a set of Federal headlights to his Volvo, and I've seen it; looks good to me!

[danthecapriman]

I got the replacement lights from a guy in San diego, and converted them to RHD spec. The new RHD light units now have seperate bulb holders instead of being old sealed beams.
I prefer the US look tbh! 

 

[Amishtat]

Never seen a Septic-spec 504 before, I quite like that. 

[PaykanHunter]

  On 17/08/2020 at 18:34, martc said:

Just look at these...

 

 

And to go round (get it?) in a full circle (get it again?) but not strictly 'fedralised' just fortuitous that it has the correct shaped lights, we have this beauty...

 

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Great stuff. OMG! That Rover SD1 what a disaster! ?

[PaykanHunter]

  On 17/08/2020 at 20:14, eddyramrod said:

Wait for @danthecapriman!  Here is one of us who deliberately and specifically bought and fitted a set of Federal headlights to his Volvo, and I've seen it; looks good to me!

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Never heard of someone intentionally federalizing their car, everyone is after Euro spec parts! ?

[Mr Laurence]

  On 17/08/2020 at 21:05, PaykanHunter said:

Great stuff. OMG! That Rover SD1 what a disaster! ?

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The euro-spec version is definitely nicer, but I don’t think it looks that bad. It reminds me a bit of early Reliant Scimitars

[PaykanHunter]

  On 17/08/2020 at 21:09, Mr Laurence said:

The euro-spec version is definitely nicer, but I don’t think it looks that bad. It reminds me a bit of early Reliant Scimitars

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I would love to know how many Americans bought the SD1, and why?? ?

[Noel Tidybeard]

to be fair the CX looks ok almost like its got a set of morettis on it

[PhilA]

  On 17/08/2020 at 21:10, PaykanHunter said:

I would love to know how many Americans bought the SD1, and why?? ?

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Never saw one here, but I did see a bunch in Canada.

[danthecapriman]

  On 17/08/2020 at 21:07, PaykanHunter said:

Never heard of someone intentionally federalizing their car, everyone is after Euro spec parts! ?

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Apparently, in the US they like to convert their cars to the Euro style headlights. Over here people have started doing the opposite.

Everything I've done on mine uses Volvo parts or OE spec parts designed for the car so it all fits as it’s supposed to, which also means if you put the original Euro spec bulb holders back onto the wiring the original Euro lights will all go back on with no trouble. I’ve kept all the parts in a box should I ever want to or if I ever sell the car.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

  On 17/08/2020 at 21:17, Noel Tidybeard said:

to be fair the CX looks ok almost like its got a set of morettis on it

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I think they were Morettes.

[Out Run]

  On 17/08/2020 at 22:12, Tadhg Tiogar said:

I think they were Morettes.

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They were. Or you got the masks, if you couldn’t afford them.

[AndyW201]

You think that W123 is bad, look at what they did to the poor 190...

Looks like someone's grafted in a set of headlights and surrounds from a mk1 Metro City.

[PhilA]

Funny thing is, for as lamented as they are, the light they throw into the street is pretty good.

I've driven cars with worse headlights than these old 7" Fed-spec bulbs in.

Phil

 

[Sir Snipes]

  On 17/08/2020 at 23:27, AndyW201 said:

You think that W123 is bad, look at what they did to the poor 190...

Looks like someone's grafted in a set of headlights and surrounds from a mk1 Metro City.

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I like that! 

[MorrisItalSLX]

[inconsistant]

I was indifferent up to the SM. That’s criminal.
Is it Trumps fault too?

[juular]

I must be a psychopath with a little bit missing from my brain, because I prefer the US style lights on every one of these so far, except the Rover.

This almost looks mustang-y to my eyes

[martc]

Incoming

[martc]

  On 17/08/2020 at 21:10, PaykanHunter said:

I would love to know how many Americans bought the SD1, and why?? ?

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According to Wikipedia, so I'm sure it's true, the SD1 was only officially sold in 1980 and 1981, in 1981 480 were sold and in 1981 774 were sold. Some unsold ones carried over into 1982.

[St.Jude]

  On 18/08/2020 at 11:11, martc said:

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Looks like an AMC Pacer from the front. Which isn't surprising given that AMC and Renault were bed fellows at this point in time. 

[Talbot]

Almost without exception, the septic-spec modification of a euro-spec headlamp is a complete dogs breakfast of styling.  Some work a little better than others, but most of them just look exactly like what they are: an afterthought.   The Volvo kinda works, but then that's only because it has square boxy styling in the first place, so the square headlamps fit the overall style.  That Rover looks gopping.

I can see why so many American cars of the 70s used shutters over the headlamps.  Big square heavy barge of a car with silly little round headlamps at the front just doesn't work, so hide them in normal service and only uncover them when it's dark.

[chaseracer]

Yes, well...

[chaseracer]

They did it at the back too!