Hidden headlights

Hidden headlights are an automotive styling feature that conceals an automobile’s headlights when not in use. Depending on the design, the headlights may rotate to sit flush with the front end (as with the Porsche 928), may retract into the hood and/or fenders (as with the Chevrolet Corvette from 1963 to 2004), or may be concealed behind retractable or rotating grille panels (as on the 1966 Dodge Charger or 1967 Mercury Cougar).

Hidden headlights first appeared on the Cord 810 in 1936. These units had to be manually opened when the headlights needed to be used.

Powered hidden headlights were pioneered in GM’s Buick Y-Job concept car of 1938 and were used briefly on the 1942 production DeSoto, but their popularity has waxed and waned during the ensuing decades. While the arrangement was again popular in the 1980s, in large part because the retracted headlamps had less aerodynamic drag, it has fallen out of favor, owing in large part to the added cost, weight, and complexity, and the dubious reliability of the mechanisms in older cars.

Partial list of cars with hidden headlights

1985-1989 Acura/Honda Integra
1990-2002 Acura/Honda NSX
1976-1989 Aston Martin Lagonda
1989-1999 BMW 8 Series
1978-1981 BMW M1
1988-1991 Buick Reatta
1965-1969 Buick Riviera
1967-1968 Cadillac Eldorado
1967-1969 Chevrolet Camaro (optional)
1968-1969 Chevrolet Caprice (optional and very rare)
1963-2004 Chevrolet Corvette
1968-1971 Chrysler 300
1990-1993 Chrysler Imperial
1987-1992 Chrysler LeBaron (coupe & converible only)
1976-1981, 1988-1993 Chrysler New Yorker
1990-1993 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue
1942 DeSoto
1966-1970 Dodge Charger (optional from 1971 to 1972)
1987-1991 Dodge Daytona
1978-1979 Dodge Magnum (clear covers)
1972-1973 Dodge Monaco
1976-1978 Dodge Royal Monaco
1979-1981 Dodge St. Regis (clear covers)
1973-1988 Fiat X1/9
1968-1970 Ford LTD (including Country Squire wagon)
1975-1978 Ford LTD Landau (including Country Squire wagon)
1989-1997 Ford Probe
1970 Ford Ranchero (GT only)
1967-1969 and 1977-1982 Ford Thunderbird
1970 Ford Torino Brougham
1986-1989 Honda Accord
1982-1991 Honda Prelude
1969-1975, 1981-1983 Imperial
1975-1979 Lancia Montecarlo
1970-1979 Lincoln Continental
1968-1983 Lincoln Mark series
1962-1975 Lotus Elan 2+2
1978-2004 Lotus Esprit
1989-1995 Lotus Elan
1989-1997 Mazda MX-5
1978-2002 Mazda RX-7
1967-1970 Mercury Cougar
1969-1978 Mercury Marquis
1970 Mercury Montego (some models)
1991-1993 Mitsubishi 3000GT
1990-1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse
1989-1998 Nissan 180SX
1989-1994 Nissan 240SX/Silvia
1966-1969 and 1986-1992 Oldsmobile Toronado
1968-1973 Opel GT
1970-1971 Plymouth Fury (Gran Coupe & Sport Fury, Sport Suburban wagon for 1971)
1972 Plymouth Fury III (optional)
1984-1988 Pontiac Fiero
1982-2002 Pontiac Firebird
1968-1969 Pontiac GTO
1967-1968 Pontiac Grand Prix
1976-1988 Porsche 924
1982-1991 Porsche 944
1991-1994 Porsche 968
1985-1989 Porsche 911 Turbo SE ‘Slantnose’
1994 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6S ‘Flatnose’
1967-1970 Toyota 2000GT
1986-1993 Toyota Celica
1983-1987 Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno/Toyota Corolla GT-S
1987-1991 Toyota Corolla AE92 SR5/GT-S coupe’s
1984-1999 Toyota MR2
1982-1992 Toyota Supra
1975-1982 Triumph TR7 & TR8