Did LHD European Facelift cars have glass or plastic headlight lenses? I would sure like to have a set of glass lenses for my car if they exist.

 

The light units are standard size, in Europe they are available with glass lenses.

 

Rick,

Finding a pair of glass lenses won't be easy. Even before the lights went NLA over 20 years ago, I'm not sure the lenses were sold separately. So, finding good quality LHD European lights will not be easy, or cheap!

There is a project being run by SNG Barratt in conjunction with the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club to reproduce the glass lenses (in the first instance). They are currently trying to secure deposits from owners to move to the next stage of the project. I will keep everyone advised when we next get an update.

As a complete aside, although living in the UK, I own a brand new pair of US facelift headlights. I'm finally thinking that I should put them up for sale! Just to need think about the price and shipping costs.

Paul

 

Thanks Greg and Paul. I know that Leroy Sorrell was trying to get some made but was not successful. I had even given him a deposit as seed money for the venture. He realized that he would not be successful and returned everyone's money before he passed away. I do have a spare pair with the plastic lenses that just need to be polished a little.

 

Rick
I was thinking you meant the 4 light headlights, not the one piece, sorry.

 

The older headlights with glass lenses, if you can find them, do not fit the newer lights buckets with plastic lenses.
Buckets are a completely different shape.
And if you are thinking of swapping those buckets the won't fit the headlight openings in the bodywork.

 

equiprx,

I think RickE is looking for LHD glass headlights of the same era as the US LHD plastic lights. IE the ones that were fitted to late LHD cars for markets such as LHD european countries. I assume they are a straight replacement into US cars?

Paul

 

Paul. Did you get my message ?

 

Yes, sorry Malc, I'll reply to that!

Paul

 

As far as I know, all the facelift cars had plastic lenses. The earlier cars had glass lenses.

 

Jagboi64,

I THINK that only US (maybe also Canadian?) facelift cars have plastic lenses. Other facelift markets all had glass lenses, I think.

Paul

 

It does appear that for LHD cars there is one part number for North America, one for Japan, and another for markets other than Canada, USA, Germany and Japan. The listings are not very clear to me. No idea what those differences are, but perhaps headlight leveling? That's on European cars and not North American.

 

Canada(after 1986 or so)and USA spec cars use DOT spec LHD lights, DOT spec are not very bright.

Japanese spec cars have RHD lights but also not overly bright.

UK cars RHD and Euro LHD but E Code spec, much brighter than the others.

 

My Canadian facelift (build 6/91) has plastic.