Our 10 favorite hidden headlights
Modern car designers have it easy. They can sculpt jewel-like housings for their headlights and integrate them into the car’s bodylines almost seamlessly. Back in the days of sealed-beam headlamps, however, there were only so many options to choose from. And while many designers got creative, integrating the lamps into the car’s overall design, some of our favorite cars were available with headlights that were virtually invisible until needed.
We know, headlights go up, headlights go down. We love pop-up headlights too, but that’s for another discussion. Pop-up headlights are a form of hidden headlights, but we’re being completely arbitrary and defining those in this list as stationary headlights that are revealed when a panel opens up to reveal them. Here are 10 of our favorites.
1942 Desoto
We didn’t dig deep enough to see if this was the first mass-produced instance of hidden headlights, but it very well could be. The rounded square panels that hide the DeSoto’s headlights give the front a lot of personality, even when closed, and help focus your attention on the toothy chrome grille.
1965 Buick Riviera
When the 1963 Buick Riviera debuted for 1963, it already looked like a concept car. It had gorgeous lines and impressive Nailhead powerplants, although the quad headlights were a bit busy. For 1965, Buick kept the striking sheet metal and cleaned up the front end by hiding the stacked headlamps behind the trim at the leading edge of the fender. The clamshell design is unique among cars on this list. Has there been a more beautiful Buick since?
1967–69 Camaro Rally Sport
The first-gen Camaro’s Rally Sport option came with several appearance modifications, including different backup lights. The most noticeable addition, however, was in the grille. A pair of vacuum-actuated doors hid the lights until they were turned on and the doors pivot inboard. The 1967 and ’68 models look similar, while the 1969 models used three horizontal bars over the headlight doors for a more dramatic look.
1967–68 Mercury Cougar
Mercury had interesting sequential turn signals in the rear of the Cougar, and the headlights didn’t disappoint either. Just like their Camaro rivals, Cougars used vacuum power to lift the covers off their headlights, this time revealing a pair of lights on each side.
1968–70 Dodge Charger
The sleek, Coke-bottle styling of the 1968-1970 Dodge Charger doesn’t need a flashy grille to distract from its elegance. Its slim, full-width grille disguised four headlights, just like the Cougar, and the grille panels opened in a similar fashion. The previous generation Charger also high headlights behind its grille, but it’s this generation that really nailed the muscle car look.
1968–69 Pontiac GTO
Another muscle car with quad headlights, the GTO’s vacuum-operated headlight doors dropped down to let the light shine. The hideaway lights were optional in 1968 and ’69.
1970–71 Ford Torino/Ranchero
It seems like these muscle coupes and utes get overshadowed by the Ford Mustang, yet the stylish mid-sizers have plenty to love. Whether in coupe, Sportsroof, or Ranchero form, they all have great lines. As much as we love them with their headlights on full-time display, the hidden lights make them look that much more sinister.
1968 Ford Galaxie 500
Another criminally overlooked full-size coupe from the muscle car era, the Galaxie 500 featured powerful V-8 engines and amazing looks.
Jaguar XJ220
With its supercar lines and oval headlight covers, you’d be excused to think that the exotic Jaguar XJ220 features pop-up headlights. Instead, those covers drop down to reveal fixed headlamps in the fenders.
1969–75 Iso Grifo Series II
The Iso Grifo, along with its Italian cohorts Alfa Romeo Montreal and Iso Revolta Lele, used partially hidden headlights with “eyelids” that lifted to reveal the full glow of the headlights beneath. Even though they’re only partially hidden, we love the look.
OK, we stopped at 10, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot more out there worth mentioning. Full-size Mopars, K-cars, perhaps some ’80s Japanese models with headlight eyelids like our beloved Iso Grifo. Sound off and list your favorite if we didn’t have room for it.
The ’65 Riviera lights cool looking and the clamshell design looked cool in operation.. The ’67 Riv also very clean. Your choices of Charger Ranchero Camaro are right on hankering me back to my Hot Wheels in ’67. I would add a ’37 Cord for striking early use of hideaways and Jaguar XKE while not hidden were beautifully integrated into the design. I didn’t like the first-gen 300zx and its squinty /drunk/hungover look. I have a soft spot for the Opel GT like my niece owned back in the day for the quirky operation of their headlights. They were manually operated without motors. You’d pull back this console mounted lever the size of a parking brake and the lights would flip over sideways with a satisfying ‘clunk’ . Flip the lever back and forth at stoplights for a headlight dance to startle and confuse pedestrians. Hidden lights need a comeback to put an end to headlight refinishing kits
I agree whole heartedly on the Opel GT. I owned one back in the day and always enjoyed pulling back on the lever and watching the lights roll over. No vacuum, no motors just good old muscle power.
The Opel GT mechanical lights are sure on my list. When I was a youngster I thought those were little Corvettes at the Buick dealer! I got a chance to drive one in the 80’s when I got addicted to Two-Seat sports cars. It’s really too bad more of those GTs didn’t survive to be restored, they were cool.
As I read this I, like you, wondered why there was no mention of the Cord (the first production car to have hidden headlights, I think, and very well done at that).
67 Pontiac Grand Prix. Very clean front design with horizontal bar turn/parking lamps on upper front fender corners.
Totally agree! I was expecting to see the Cord listed. And where are the C3 and later Corvettes??
First thought that came to mind on the topic was the Cord. Good call.
I expected the 1936 Cord 810 to be at the top of this list. Absolutely one of the coolest, innovative and forward thinking cars of all time.
I expected the 1936 Cord 810 to be at the top of this list.
One of the coolest, innovative and most forward thinking cars of all time.
I was surprised the side flip Opel lights weren’t mentioned in the article.
Opel GT had flip-over headlights.
My 1986 Celica GT had flip over lights as well
The Celica headlights just popped up. The Opel GT headlights literally rolled over. Check out the difference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_FBx5gnkPI
And the Saab Sonett III had mechanical pop-up headlights. Just give a long pull on the solid metal rod linkage and up they came.
The ’65 Buick Riviera certainly belongs at the top of the list, and yes, it is the most beautiful Buick ever built, as well as one of the most beautiful American cars period. If I could have just one more car, this would be it, preferably a Gran Sport with a dual-quad Nailhead.
But any list of the best hidden headlights would be remiss not to include the NA Miata with its iconic pop ups. Many Miata enthusiasts, myself included, specifically sought out the NA not just because it’s the original Miata, but for the pop ups.
My 1977 Thunderbird was cool looking with the T- bird emblem on each of the covers.
Were they vacuum operated? My 67 Cougar always had one stuck open due to vacuum leaks.
You leave Corvettes out just so I can add your clicks/ eyeball count.
Noooo kidding…. My 01 C5 rocks!
I can’t believe the Corvettes from 1968 to 2004 were not included.
You didn’t read the intro. These are stationary lights with moving covers. Corvettes don’t qualify.
They must have bent the rules to exclude corvettes.
Also my C4
And what about the C2, C3, C4, and C5 Corvettes?
Have to give an Honorable Mention to the Chrysler LeBaron Convertible. Don’t laugh. Still one of the most beautiful convertibles ever built.
Right with you Bill. I have an ’89 GTC, and it is both beautiful and quick with its intercooled turbo and Shelby-inspired internals! It’s a hoot to drive!
CORD 810/812…….1936-1937!
Ned, if you were sorta’ shocked at the disclaimer about research, so was I! How could any automotive scribe gloss over the ‘coffin-nose’ Cord of the mid ‘thirties? Of course, there could be a disclaimer on the ‘mass produced’ aspect, but the Cord — while being an admittedly tough car to build bodies for — was never a ‘custom-built’ or coach-built car. Granted a few special bodies existed (NOT including the Phantom Corsair, which was listed as a Cord in one Brit book, because it utilized a Cord FWD drive train, etc.) but as I understand it case, the 810-812 series were pretty much all factory stock parts, even if ordered from the manufacturer.
Big OOPS for the editors!
And an iconic car all the way around!
Cord; Absolutely. Should be #1
1963-1967 Stingray
Yes, this was a glaring omission!
DITTO…loved my ’65!
Yes! The C2 Corvettes are the first I thought of! A glaring omission, and uniquely designed compared to the many similar “lifting panel” designs (i.e. Camaro, Charger, GTO, Cougar, etc.).
You also could have included the 1969-71 Lincoln Mark III.
And other Marks
You left out some obvious cars. (several amazing Corvettes, of course), Opel GT and Miata (NA). I had an Opel in the 1970’s and several years ago sold my 30-year-old Miata. The lights never failed on either of those cars, but they did receive praise from many onlookers.
Porsche 928 and 968. Cool, functional. 914 aren’t bad either.
And the 911 Flachbau
Back in the ’70s and ’80s, Porsches were rare where I lived. We greeted fellow on-coming Porsches by flashing our headlights. 911 drivers usually would not acknowledge 914s because they considered 914s to not be “real” Porsches. We cured that by doing a little rewiring that added a third setting to the headlights: wink (left light on and right light off, left light off and right light on, rinse and repeat). Always got a smile and friendly wave.
I had a 914 which the “real” Porsche folks considered a VW. Had an E17 BMW and also flashed headlights back in the day and always got a response until the yuppie years.
Had a ’70 Corvette. Great hidden headlights. Vacuum operated. You could wink at somebody without turning on the lights.
Owning a 68 GTO myself with the hideaway headlights I agree with this selection! I do think the 65 Riviera has the coolest with those clamshells.
I agree pop-up is not the same thing as hidden headlights with doors that move to expose the headlights.
There are some very note worthy vehicles on your list. I was hoping to see the Porsche 914 included. The hidden headlights and body design, I feel, give it nice clean aerodynamic lines.
I remember the 66-67 Dodge Charger as nice , having owned ! of each !
Maybe people want to hate C4 Corvettes but when I bought mine, the first, in 1984, it was a big deal. Its rotating bucket headlights make my 1975 Corvette, 1984 Ferrari 308 GTS QV, and 1995 Ferrari 355 Spider’s simple popup headlights seem boring by comparison.