<VV> - illegal lights in Corvairs

[Tony Underwood]

At 08:43 hours 01/26/2006, James Davis wrote:
>Sealed beans headlights have not been required since 1974 by FHVSS.


Yep...   too bad it hadn't been done in earlier.   Maybe Corvairs 
could have been equipped with better headlights and we'd not be 
having all the sealed-beam vs Eurospec debate.

I just upgraded the lights, went on my way and didn't give it much thought.


>It all seems reasonable to me.  I manage to see quite well with my 
>Sylvania extra vision sealed beams (which are DOT approved)  with 
>all the old guy eye problems. :-)


I figger that if they're on the shelf at Auto Zone or NAPA, they're 
DOT spec and fair game.


>   I have yet to burn one out in five years.  I always operate my 
> Covairs with the headlights on.
>Jim Davis


I run lights when it rains or it's foggy etc, other than that it's 
just business as usual.


I noticed that yesterday while I was being followed by the '67 500 
coupe that its headlights were rather yellowish and not as bright as 
the rest of the  headlights out there.   It still has its original 
headlights which must be getting rather tired by now.   Maybe it's 
time for a bit of upgrading since it's a daily driver and is gonna be 
competing with those rally racer headlights all over the roads.  ;)

That pink and blue Fiat Multipla also has original headlights, some 
sort of strange things that resemble seal beams with bulbs in them 
and a metal "glare guard" attached with three slender "arms" in front 
of the interior bulb that hides the filament from direct viewing, 
casts a slight "shadow" in the lens when the lights are on, kinda 
reminiscent of the Martian triplet eyes in the 1953 film "The War Of 
The Worlds".

One of them (driver side) has become intermittent...  sometimes the 
low beam won't work when first switched on unless you reach around 
and thump it with your hand.


...how many cars will allow you to do this from the driver seat, 
while driving the car?

And where might I turn up another headlight like this?   (I wanna 
keep a pair so they "match"...)


tony..