Rally Sport: Futuristic Headlights

[Steve Chryssos]

With the headlight doors closed, it's 1968. With the headlight doors open, it's 2008! That way the classic rally sport beauty is maintained, but with the doors open, the look is modern supercar. Every time I see a Porsche Carrera GT, I get re-energized to push this pet project forward. I've been dying to pull this off for a long time. We're close. Not quite there, but close. Adjusters and all hardware will be concealed behind billet trim rings. It's a tight squeeze. We still need to reengineer the over-center spring and bracket. The lights themselves are Hella sealed modules that are DOT legal. These are brand new modules--not junkyard parts. The units pictured are Halogen, not Xenon.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Rick Dorion]

Looks great, Steve. A needed upgrade, too. Will you do 69's?

[Taylor1969]

What is the part number of those lights? I assume the lower one is low beam and the upper is the high beams.

[Steve Chryssos]

Looks great, Steve. A needed upgrade, too. Will you do 69's?

Thanks. We'll try a 69 after my 68 is done. Then a 67. They're all a bit different.


What is the part number of those lights? I assume the lower one is low beam and the upper is the high beams


No, the low beams are on top (the projector lights). Hella part numbers are as follows
68136 High Beam
68137 Low Beam Projector

These are Halogen part numbers. Xenon (True HID) is a whole other ball of wax.

[Jim Nilsen]

Kinda brings a whole new light on the phrase "kicking the bucket":cool:

[class67]

That looks great! what is different about the 67? I want it!!!!!

[bigvegan]

Be careful, those "futuristic" mods can get dated pretty quick.

Remember the square headlights trend of the 1970's customizers?

[zbugger]

Be careful, those "futuristic" mods can get dated pretty quick.

Remember the square headlights trend of the 1970's customizers?

True, but these are hidden by the RS doors. The square headlights weren't. I like these a lot. And it will give better light projection for better visibility at night. That makes things safer. That's something I prefer over something that just "looks cool". I like it a lot, Steve. I can't wait to see shots of them at night.

[Sparky67]

Be careful, those "futuristic" mods can get dated pretty quick.

Remember the square headlights trend of the 1970's customizers?

Here is the new LED headlights that are coming out for Cadillac.
http://w1.siemens.com/innovation/en/news_events/innovationnews/innovationnews_articles/2008/e_21_ino_0802_2.htm

Jeff

http://www.kodakgallery.com/67rscamaro

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

hmmm.. might have to grow on me.

[ill steez]

i think it would look pretty cool if there was a kind of headlight housing with chrome-ish backing thing behind the lights, and a clear glass or lexan cover over the front, like you would see on new cars.

sort of like this (ignore the shape):

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Steve Chryssos]

Thanks. The lamps will float against a black background. I'll cover them will billet aluminum trim rings. Like this....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[WS6]

I know you guys will make it top notch. I'm just worried that the four light set up will just not go with the car correctly so I'll hold off until I see a finished designed

[72NovaSS]

Looks awesome Steve!

[69Nova]

Bad ass. It's gonna look good when done.

[69rs]

Me likey! And, I have doors to hide lights like that!

[formula]

I like where your head's at, sir.

Looking forward to seeing the final product!

[Steve Chryssos]

Thanks guys. More pic today with the full grille in place. For display purposes, we'll bring it to Year One with the only the left headlight area upgraded. Right headlight will remain stock for comparison. That way I can show old vs. new as well as doors open vs closed. I drove it home from the shop last night and the difference is.... umm, night and day.

[Steve Chryssos]

Here you go. Doesn't look nearly as radical as we anticipated. And the improvement in visibility is astounding--even with just one side done.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

And with the doors closed, the look is pure stock.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Damn True]

Super bitchin!

[1968CamaroSS_Sam]

I think it looks great.

[nicks67camaro]

will these be available throught twist machine in the future? :fingersx: or will this be just a one off for you ride.....They look great!

[bigvegan]

You might want to blank out your license plate in those photos. No point in making it easy for unpleasant folks to locate the Twist Machine flagship Camaro.

[Steve Chryssos]

will these be available throught twist machine in the future? :fingersx: or will this be just a one off for you ride.....They look great!

This project definitely started as a one-off. But driving down the road last night, it now seems like a viable product--especially when you see how "at-home" the lights look with the stock grille surround. I'll try to take better detail pix once the trim rings are made. So yes, we will offer these headlight kits. I won't say when or how much yet.
Thank you for your interest and feedback.

[preston]

I still can't believe that with all of the obscure expensive products being produced for old cars these days that there isn't a truly viable 7" round headlight option. IE why can't we get a modern projector style headlight in a 7" round package ? I've looked at the headlights on a Jeep Wrangler for example but haven't measured them.

I know there are HID conversion kits and the like, but from what I've read at Dan Stern lighting anything but OEM HID's aren't really what you want.

I think if someone came up with a 7" round package projector light they could sell quite a few of them.

I'm working on a '67 Mustang myself. I looked at adapting a S197 mustang headlight but it required so much custom metal shaping that it got out prioritized.

[Steve Chryssos]

That's mostly because HID conversions are illegal. And, as you have found out from the Daniel Stern site, HID bulbs (gas discharge) in halogen (filament) housings are useless due to mismatched beam pattern. Bright but scattered.
Your best bet is a 7" halogen lamp with an H9 bulb (filament--not HID). Plenty of power, correct beam pattern, safe for on-coming traffic and legal.

[Scott Parkhurst]

that is SO cool!!

[Danny Thomas]

Love the lights on my 05 Vet and having that on my 67 would be awesome. Like knowing where I'm going at nite. How hard would the install be? Keep us updated.

[ZoomieFoosh]

Not to jack the thread or anything, but as far as the 7" lights go...has anyone tried these (http://www.xesighting.com/hotrod1.html)?? they are the only ones I have come across that look somewhat legit.

-Ryan

[streetk14]

Steve,
What bulb would the low beam use? I'm assuming that it could be changed to HID with one of those retrofit kits on the market, correct? It looks like a true projector, which should produce a nice cut-off pattern for use with Xenon/HID systems.

Andy

[Steve Chryssos]

They are Halogen H9's The latest greatest filament bulb. HID conversions (gas discharge as opposed to filament) are illegal, so we won't be selling them. And no, you cannot mix gas discharge bulbs with halogen lamps. The beam patterns are completely different. So when you put a gas discharge (HID) in a (filament) Halogen lamp, you get severely scattered light. The jerks selling $1.98 HID bulb to Halogen lamp conversions on ebay are doing people a huge disservice. You install them, stand in front of the car and go "Wow...., so bright!" But from the driver's seat the beam patterns are a mess. Very short, and scattered. Oncoming traffic gets blinded.

So don't do it. Don't mix. Bulbs MUST be matched to lamps. As a comparison, 2100 lumens H9 halogen lamp assemblies run about $55 per lamp. Real HID's? about $600 per lamp. So for this kit, the distinction for proper HID (still illegal on the street, but proper function), $2400.

That's probably not what people want to hear, but we will not sell something that is illegal or non-functioning. 2100 lumens and the correct beam pattern is plenty of power.

[Steve Chryssos]

My apologies to Larry and the moderators. This thread was started as "Hey, look what I made". If you guys wanna get technical, let's move the thread to the appropriate section or start a new thread as a sticky. There is so much B.S. regarding headlights that a sticky thread on the subject will save people a ton of money and grief. I'll post up an accurate glossary of terms as well. (i.e. difference between a bulb and a lamp) Here's the top two rules of lighting upgrades:

1) Don't mix bulbs and lamps.
2) HID conversions are illegal.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

when i saw it personally i like it alot more..

if you showed a photo of both sides on it then it would be a wrap..

i like em.

[TonyL]

if you showed a photo of both sides on it then it would be a wrap..

Here's a quick chop.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

see.. im down for that.

[DonTalarico]

I still can't believe that with all of the obscure expensive products being produced for old cars these days that there isn't a truly viable 7" round headlight option. IE why can't we get a modern projector style headlight in a 7" round package ? I've looked at the headlights on a Jeep Wrangler for example but haven't measured them.

I know there are HID conversion kits and the like, but from what I've read at Dan Stern lighting anything but OEM HID's aren't really what you want.

I think if someone came up with a 7" round package projector light they could sell quite a few of them.

I'm working on a '67 Mustang myself. I looked at adapting a S197 mustang headlight but it required so much custom metal shaping that it got out prioritized.

I agree, a 7" round HID projector headlight would sell. I'd buy a set today.

[impalatpi66]

any night time pics?

[NorwayCharger]

I agree, a 7" round HID projector headlight would sell. I'd buy a set today.


http://www.kbcarstuff.com/Acura_Projector_Headlights_Angel_Eye_Halo_Head_Lig hts_s/200.htm

[NorwayCharger]

I agree, a 7" round HID projector headlight would sell. I'd buy a set today.


http://www.kbcarstuff.com/Acura_Projector_Headlights_Angel_Eye_Halo_Head_Lig hts_s/200.htm

or

http://www.brightheadlights-hid.com/coming/XP6024-8.jpg

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

ooh those are nice!

[BMF Machine]

Now that is frigg'n killer!:jawdrop:

[zerotofear]

We built these for the SmokinSS build, they came from a crashed 2008 Mazda.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

http:www.smokinss.info (http://www.smokinss.info)

[preston]

That SS looks nice and a good idea forsome but that won't work so well on classic roundheadlight cars.

I like those 7" universal lights you posted, what I worry about is if they are actually correct lights. As discussed, all aftermarket HID conversions are sub-par and even dangerous due to incompatible lenses and lack of OEM engineering. The fact that the site selling those lights hawks an HID conversion for them doesn't fill me with confidence. I'd sure like to get alighting expert's opinion on them.

Maybe I'll email Dan Stern and ask !

[halfast]

Ok I installed chev truck square headlights and buckets on my rs nose,cutout the doors and put light smoke plexiglass in place of the covers. got rid of expensive mechinery and a buncka mooving parts, nehx an upgrade with higher intensity lighting. this is a streetrod with an all fiberglass nose so the core support is the only metal part! see at http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/journal.php?action=view&journalid=8958&page=1&perpage=5&reverse=1

[jknight16]

Daaaang...

[chicane67]

Seeming... that I do own a 67RS... I'd be down for the upgrade Steve-o.

That just makes too much sense... even without the trim or blackout... it wouldnt make a difference to me. The light upgrade alone is worth the effort.

[EL T1]

[quote=NorwayCharger;460165]http://www.kbcarstuff.com/Acura_Projector_Headlights_Angel_Eye_Halo_Head_Lig hts_s/200.htm

That is too cheap! But the only thing I worry about is that from the picture. It looks as though there is no cut off in the projector lense. You can see the bulb right through it. That will do nothing for light output. I would have to see an actual photo. Not some touched up job with theyre logo across it.