Pop-up headlights were a staggering feature in twentieth-century cars. These headlights could flip up and down and remained under the car's exterior when they were not in use. Playful and remarkable, pop-up headlights enhanced the car's design. First debuting in the 1930s, pop-up headlights were a common feature in the following years.

Yet, in the 1990s, modified regulations changed the process of pop-up headlights manufacturing. Confusion erupted, and companies started new designs that weren't approved. A European study was conducted to examine pop-up headlights. This study, outlining how hard it was to create pop-up headlights that met safety protocols, lead to the demise of this once-celebrated car characteristic.

Here's an overview of pop-up headlights' history and their short-lived success. It's crucial to note that pop-up headlights aren't illegal- It's just hard to design lights that follow the new rules.

Updated May 2021: Additional information detailing why pop-up headlights are no longer used has been added to this article.

The Pop-Up Headlights Feature

A 1973 Saab Sonett II car with pop-up headlights stands parked.
Via: Wikimedia Commons

Pop-up headlights were concealed headlamps. When they weren't in use, the front of the car was flat. Once the headlights opened, they resembled an eyelid: There was a bright light underneath the car's fender.

Pop-up headlights opened and closed. The car appeared more smooth and polished when the pop-up headlights were underneath the fender.

Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

The History

A 1985 Ferrari 3.2 Mondial Cabriolet with pop-up headlights stands parked on a city street.
Via: Flickr

Pop-up headlights debuted in 1936. The function of these first-ever pop-up headlights was to replace round headlamps. Car manufacturers produced round headlamps at that time, but it can be argued that these headlamps weren't a flattering element: They looked unfinished and awkward. Pop-up headlights made a car stylish and ultramodern, proving that owning a car was attributed to both practical and design reasons.

The first car with such a feature was the Cord 810. The car was revealed at the 1935 New York Auto Show, and its popularity skyrocketed. Over 1,000 drivers requested this car, an icon of the American automobile world in the early twentieth century.

Pop-up headlights evolved and played an integral role in American car culture. Demand for them didn't fade and both the 1956 Pontiac Club de Mer and the 1961-62 Plymouth Valiant had the feature. Buick, Dodge, and Ford also installed these lights onto their car models. International approval rose, as Europeans put pop-up headlights on the Ferrari 365 GTB/4.

Safety concerns grew in the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, rules in the United States stated that cars are required to have either round or rectangular scaled-beam headlights. This was a setback for designers, as these updated rules restricted layout choices.

The pop-up headlights craze continued in the 1980s and 1990s. These special headlights were seen on the Honda NSX. It was also seen in the supercars the Ferrari F40, the Porsche 928, and the Lamborghini Countach. Japan began to create low pop-up headlights, as evident on the MK1 Mazda MX-5 and the Honda Accord.

Pop-Up Headlights' Doomed Fate

A 2004 Chevy Corvette C5 with pop-up headlights stands parked.
Via: Flickr

Unease over the future of pop-up headlights started in the 1990s. The rules requiring cars in the U.S. to have scaled-beam headlights were expired. Companies brainstormed substitute designs. Therefore, no one was overseeing what the companies were planning and there was no nationwide mandate that specified how headlights should appear. Companies were now putting lights into the car's body. In response to untrustworthy headlights that companies were designing, the country launched a safety bylaw known as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Standard No. 108. This stated that lights must remain open if there were issues.

According to Slate, Europe was additionally aware of the dangers of pop-up headlights. European laws described how cars should have fronts that can contort. The purpose of having a car front that could twist was to save pedestrians in accidents. Backroads UK reported that a sponge-like front replacing a pointed front could prevent a pedestrian from having life-threatening injuries. The continent took an extra step when the European Commission conducted a review in 2004. The review disclosed that it was a challenging endeavor to produce pop-up headlights that satisfy these regulations.

Car manufacturers have a worldwide impact, so American car companies acknowledged this European review. Drivers said goodbye to pop-up headlights, as the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette C5 was the final prominent car to have this feature.

As a result of these new safety accords, manufacturers brainstormed more ideas. They proposed adaptive headlights, LED lights, and fixed lights.

RELATED: 15 Cars That Remind Us Why We Miss Pop-Up Headlights

The Road Ahead

The pop-up headlight of a red Ares Panther car.
Via: Flickr

Technically, it's not illegal to have pop-up headlights on a car. Pop-up headlights are allowed if they comply with European laws: The Ares Panther has pop-up headlights. It's just incredibly difficult to achieve this.

Pop-up headlights further have a high susceptibility to malfunction problems: They can't open or close if the car gets struck or if water spills into the battery. There's also speculation that a return to pop-up headlights production won't increase a car company's revenue.

Another issue that sent pop-up headlights to the grave was not only the safety issues that they brought. There were also issues with the electrics of the lights. The electrics created issues such as winking headlights. Other issues included the fact that one or both of the headlights would in fact fail to pop up. The electrical fault caused the lids to be shut tight and the driver was not able to use their lights as and when they needed them.

Overall, the future of pop-up headlights remains unclear, as companies are prioritizing design, safety, and successful interior features over these headlights.

NEXT: 14 Coolest Cars With Pop-Up Headlights (1 That’s Hideous)