RE: [DML] Re: Euro Headlights

["jdub" <doki_pen@xxxx>]

This is my understanding.

Europe started using the H1 and H4 bulbs way before the US did. This
allowed auto manufacturers to design headlight enclosures that followed the
lines of the car, while using a european standar replacement filament. Cars
shipped to the US used standard sealed beam lamps based on the availability
of replacements in the US.

Take a look at the front facia of the 450sl mercedes for example:

http://website.lineone.net/~vhvc/1980%20Mecedes%20350%20Convertable.1981%20D
aimler%20VandenPlas.htm

Notice the originally designed "Euro" enclosures. When cars were imported
the solution was to use a plastic housings that mounts two 5" sealed beam
headlamps in the stock location.

http://www.miloeuropeancars.com/450sl.jpg

This saved manufacturing costs because the body's mounting location
doesn't need modification. It was an easy and cheap bolt on solution. This
design also allowed the use of headlight wipers because of the flat surface.
The same goes for the Nissan Maxima lamps. They follow the lines of the
car, while still using standard H4 (i think) filaments. Just like europe has
been doing for a long time. Maybe a more proper name for the headlamps
would be "import".
One of the most tragic victims of the conversion (IMHO) was the 230sl
couple. I love the way the european enclosures looked:

http://www.ifrance.com/3AClub/230SL.JPG

Tragicly thousands of the originals were smashed and broken up when the
cars were imported and affixed with this "lovely" solution:

http://www.classicsandcustoms.com/list/images/6563_5292002174647.JPG

Notice how now you can use a simple 7" sealed bulb available at any parts
store.

Sorry for the rambling

Jon

-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Gutkowski [mailto:webmaster@xxxx]
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 8:47 AM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [DML] Re: Euro Headlights


Why are they called "Euro" headlights? Esp since they come from a Nissan...

The DeLorean headlights were used on the Audi coup and early quattro's,
europen cars. They're rare though.

Martin
(UK)

Steve Stankiewicz wrote:

>When I first saw the Nissan conversion, I did think it
>was a good choice of lights,
>




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