Upgraded Scorpion headlights to French Spec

[77_scorp]

US Legal? Not so much. I thought these really looked nice so I bought them.
I'm using the Hella driving lights as headlights in case the HWY patrol says something to me about it, I'll just say "uh these were like that when I bought it"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vigilantefilm/4434690790/


As for the rest of the car's progress, it's in the suspension shop for a full overhaul on that end. More updates to come...

[1,6 HF]

Back in the mid-70s, when halogens were completely illegal in the US, I ran Cibies 7" "Z-beam" headlights on my X1/9 and Cibie quads on my Beta Coupé. But those were properly designed as both low beams and high beam, and the low beam lenses had sharp cut-offs to control glare--in fact, they controlled glare far better than conventional sealed beams. So it may not have been legal, but it was actually safer than the equivalent legal sealed beam set-ups.

But running driving lights as headlights is both illegal and dangerous. It's the equivalent of running high beams all the time, and that's just wrong, IMO. If those are actually correct French 7" H4 headlights with yellow lenses, I say run them as your headlights; that's not unsafe. Otherwise, forget it.

[davidb]

My sealed beams went bye-bye long ago. Both the Zag & Scorp.
got halogen Hellas from Susquehana Motors. TMK "legal" hi-
beam lenses for quad lights are NLA. Low beams came w/o
stickers, highs came w/"Not DOT approved for road use. Off
road use only" stickers so I guess the lows are "legal", highs no.
I can see why as the high lenses are almost clear. I think anyone
using 55W bulbs is okay. 100W bulbs ... you've crossed the line.

[1,6 HF]

David,
My Fulvia 1.6HF was designed with conventional 5-3/4" low beams, but with 7" Carello Megalux driving lights as main beams–those are the "big headlights" that earned the car the nickname "Fanalone". And I run 100W lamps in the mains (and in the extra set of Megalux that I have mounted as driving lights).

But before anyone screams "hypocrisy," my position is this: as long as the low beams aren’t a menace, I don’t care what lights/lamps anyone runs for high beams–that’s why dip switches were invented. What I’m objecting to is a street car running driving lamps as low beams and/or high wattage lamps for low beams–that’s simply dangerous for everyone else on the road.

[SubGothius]

As long as the headlights were designed as proper hi-lo combo units, I'd say use them as your primary headlights. The yellow lens/bulb is actually superior to white or blue, as the longer yellow wavelength will cast farther without scattering (whereas shorter, bluer wavelengths are extremely scatter-prone, same reason the sky is blue).

European LHD headlights properly aimed actually have less oncoming-traffic glare and a sharper cutoff than US-spec, which latter were actually required to cast some amount of light above the cutoff in order to improve visibility of nonilluminated highway signs at night.

You definitely don't want to run plain driving lights if there's any oncoming traffic at all, and they should ideally be wired so that they can only come on when your main high-beams are already on -- that way, dipping your highs should also cut the driving lamps as well.

[redline2k]

I had those lights on my BMW 315 that I brought from France in 84. They were great at night. That scorp interior looks superb as well as the rest of it! Did you use Alcantara on the instrument binnacle?

[prorallycodriver]

Probably not a good idea to be driving just w/ those Hellas on. Because they are mounted close together, it gives illusion to anyone in front of you that you are further away. So, someone may pull out in front of you thinking there is more time.

There is film/tint available just for headlights. Rallydrivers sometimes do windshield in yellow/amber for snow rallies vs. wearing amber sunglasses. better definition of shadows and why ski goggles are often amber.

Instant daytime.

http://www.onalimbracing.com/gallery/2004_susquehannock_trail_rally/images/IMG_3590.jpg

[77_scorp]

I had those lights on my BMW 315 that I brought from France in 84. They were great at night. That scorp interior looks superb as well as the rest of it! Did you use Alcantara on the instrument binnacle?

That's definitely alcantara material on the gauge pod. Right now it's sitting on a lift waiting for parts that don't exist.. Rear sway bushes are the issue, and I can't find a kit to rebuild the rear calipers right now, so it may get 131 calipers in the rear, which I am told are the same, but do cost a bit to purchase new. Thanks for the compliments on everything, I'm really anxious to get the car back and drive it some day, this restore started in 2008. Haven't seen it since it left for the shop.. So close now, all I need to do is put on the hard top, and the headers with a new exhaust system and I'm there.