Lighting

Flashback: Hidden headlamps, the ‘sunglasses’ of car design

By 2023-11-27T14:24:00

P90152307_highRes_bmw-850i-e31-1989-06

Once considered the ‘sunglasses’ of the automotive world, this seemingly forgotten technology faces an uncertain future

There is nothing like a pair of sunglasses to sharpen or even change your image and, if you think about it, concealed headlights are the sunglasses of the automotive world. 

The first concealed headlights emerged in the 1930s: the Cord 810 pioneered them, with Chrysler and others following closely behind. The concealed lights fitted in perfectly with the streamlined modern style, which sought to smooth everything into aerodynamic shapes, accentuated by chrome strakes and other, carefully curated accents.

The concealed headlight emerged again in…

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