Buzz
It's a classic scene from any 1980s film montage: a character hops into a sleek sports car, fires up the engine, and flips the pop-up headlights. Speeding follows as a matter of course.
You’ve probably noticed that pop-up headlights are much less common today. Some speculate they’ve been banned or that automakers abandoned them for safety reasons. But what’s the real story?
The Birth of Pop-Up Headlights
Pop-up headlights, or hidden headlamps, were first introduced in 1936 with the Cord 810 automobile. Moving away from the kerosene lamps of early vehicles, designers had the freedom to explore these innovative design choices. However, the hidden lights on the Cord were still quite basic by today’s standards. To conceal the headlights, drivers had to manually crank a handle beneath the dashboard—one for each bulb.
In 1938, GM took the feature a step further with a concept car called the Y-Job. Instead of a manual crank, the headlights were covered with horizontal shutters that resembled eyelids, which ‘blinked’ open when the lights were activated.
This feature continued to appear in cars until production paused during World War II. In the 1950s, new automotive regulations requiring specific beam sizes and shapes led automakers to seek ways to hide the headlights whenever possible.
Later, when automotive standards mandated that headlights be positioned at a certain height, designers used pop-up lights to achieve a sleek, low-profile look. When the lights were lowered, the car retained its stylish appearance, while the raised headlights met the necessary regulations.
In some cases, pop-up headlights served more than just an aesthetic purpose. For instance, Oldsmobile’s Toronado used them to activate when the car sensed the radiator needed cooling, allowing air to circulate more efficiently.
Pop-up headlights became a popular feature in sports and luxury cars from the 1960s onwards. However, not everyone appreciated the design. In 1991, automotive columnist Brooks Peterson praised the 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse for removing the pop-up headlights, stating: “As the sun sets, up go the headlights, obliterating the carefully designed aerodynamics of your vehicle and giving your sleek car the look of having a pair of telephone booths mounted on its front fenders.”
Automakers increasingly embraced this design choice, but by the early 2000s, pop-up headlights had virtually disappeared. One of the last models to feature them was the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette C5. So, what caused their sudden disappearance?
The Fall of Pop-Up Headlights
Several factors contributed to the decline of pop-up headlights. For one, automotive regulations regarding the size and shape of headlights relaxed in the later part of the 20th century, giving designers more freedom to create more visually appealing, unobstructed beams. This reduced the need to conceal them.
When manufacturers did continue to use pop-up headlights, they were often prone to mechanical issues. Picture a car with one headlight functioning and the other stuck, unable to retract back into the body.
Ultimately, car manufacturers have to deal with pedestrian safety laws that restrict protruding parts of vehicles. A 1998 European Union regulation defined the maximum size for such extensions, and pop-up headlights were one of the casualties. With different countries having varying standards, it's tough for automakers to create multiple versions of a car to meet every requirement. This safety issue is also why hood ornaments lost their popularity.
In short, pop-up headlights aren’t banned, and you won’t get fined for driving a classic car with them. However, the regulations make them too expensive to produce. If you miss them, you can always revisit the ‘80s movie montage.
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