Aftermarket headlights for Olds 442?

[Fabrux]

I was at a local car show today and saw a '72 Olds 442 with these snazzy headlights. I'm wondering if anyone has seen anything like this before? Is it perhaps a dealer option, aftermarket accessory, or something one-off this owner did? The owner wasn't around for me to ask questions... Also, does anyone know where I'd be able to source lights like these for a Revell 72 442 build?

[Casey]

They look to have been sourced from a European car. Not sure what the Canadian DOT (or Bureau of Vehicles?) laws were in the past, but IIRC '75 was the first year rectangular sealed beam headlamps were legal for use in the U.S.

[Fabrux]

Yeah, these head lights were common on European cars from the '70s that I have seen. I would imagine that the Canadian Motor Vehicle Act closely resembles US laws seeing as we have so much overlap...

[Nick Winter]

Look like Jaguar Headlights.

Nick

[Monty]

Some of the kits AMT released during the '60s had numerous custom options, including rectangular Cibie headlights very similar to the ones shown. We'll have to hope some of the better kit historians see this so they can tell you which ones.

In the meantime, you may also want to look at some of Revell's custom vans from the '70s. Seems like some of them had custom grilles and headlights too.

[Stef]

Hey kataranga

AMT's 70 Impala has a decent set of very similar custom square headlight bezels moulded as part of a chromed headlight/bumper/grille piece. IIRC, it includes clear headlight lenses.

Edited May 26, 2013 by Stef

[Fabrux]

Hey, lookit that! I have one of those Impala kits! The lenses look pretty good but the bezels would be a nightmare to try and fit to the 442. I'll figure something out!

[lordairgtar]

Try the Monkeemobile kit.

[MAGNUM4342]

The Vandal, by Tom Daniel has some similar lights but you would have to cut them out.

[Johan020]

They look like from on old ford taunus / 17M

[blunc]

they look like the cibie lights that Barris put on a few of his 60's / 70's customs.

[Stuntman Mike]

JoHan's '69 Plymouth Roadrunner Oval Track Racer has such lights included in the kit. If you can't find someone in your area who has the parts for you, shoot me a PM. I don't need these parts and could send them to you.

[Luc Janssens]

Could also be from an '66-'71 Opel Rekord/Commodore...

[1972coronet]

It seems apparent that many customs from circa 1969 - 1972 (give a few years ?) were fitted with Cibie headlights . Chrysler's show / customs (1969 Swinger 340 built by the Alexandria Brothers [sp?] , the 1970-1971 RTS Caravan Plymouth customs , etc.) were almost always fitted with the Cibies .

From what I can gather (in my 43 years in this organic host) is that there was serious speculation that the U.S.D.O.T. was going to grant approval of Cibie and Cibie-type headlamps for the 1970 or 1971 model year ; ostensibly , that never materialised (and , no , those gross square quad-lamps of 1975 don't count ... I'll refrain from opining ) .

I really like their appearance ! I've been *toying* with idea of adding a pair to one of the 1969 Darts and-or the 1970 Road Runner I have awaiting in the rafters ...

[LDO]

They look like Marchal lights. The company makes other shapes, but this is the one that made them famous.

[Fabrux]

The set from the 70 Impala are a pretty good fit with the bare lenses. A little BMF on the back of them and black paint in the bezel and they would look good!

[zenrat]

IIRC AMT '66 T'Bird also has a set of something similar.

[Kiazersoza]

I just found this car in a warehouse in Cleveland. The owner has been dead for years and I have been trying to figure out what the deal is with the headlights.

[Bob Ellis]

While 1975 is the first year rectangular headlights showed up on new US cars, I believe the Federal law changed a few times over the years . It dates back to 1940 when a new law stated that only 2 round sealed beam headlights were allowed. In 1957 it was revised to 4 round headlights and again in 1974 to allow square shapes. A lot of the European spec headlights used replaceable bulbs that did not fit the law. Headlight covers were allowed in 1983 with replaceable bulbs. This allowed more aerodynamic car body shapes for efficiency.

Those rectangular shaped bulbs on both Olds were illegal until 1974.

[Ford guy]

The AMT 66 Mustang kit has optional lights that sort of look like these.

[1972coronet]

The AMT 66 Mustang kit has optional lights that sort of look like these.

I *believe* that those lamps date back to the 1966 Sonny & Cher 'His and Hers' kit(s) , which were Barris customs .

Edited August 11, 2015 by 1972coronet

[Can-Con]

I *believe* that those lamps date back to the 1966 Sonny & Cher 'His and Hers' kit(s) , which were Barris customs .

More likely the "Iron Horse" and "Autolite Special" customs. That's where the chrome tree was sourced from in that kit beginning with the "Countdown" series issue from the late '70s.