Born in the '60s as a clever way to conceal the headlights when they're not needed, pop-up headlights persisted all the way until the early 2000s when they were sadly outlawed. In that time, this feature became iconic, thanks to cool sports cars such as the Lamborghini Diablo and Ferrari F40. And with this feature being associated with such desirable, high-performance models, any car that offers them tends to come with a steep price tag.
In this list, however, we reveal 10 of the coolest cars featuring pop-up headlights that won't cost you a fortune. These cars may not be as popular, but they are fantastic to drive and look extremely cool. The best thing is, is that they are available for under $15,000, so enthusiasts don't need to break the bank to buy one.
8 Mercury Capri Third Generation ($8,000)
The third generation of the Mercury Capri was released in 1991. It was launched as a competitor to the Mazda Miata and came as a two-door roadster. It allowed more interior room than the Miata and more trunk room. The Capri also came with good handling and it was a fast car thanks to a turbocharger.
It may not be the biggest head-turner, but the pop-up headlights still make it stand far apart from any similarly-priced classic. Nowadays, the Capri can be bought for around $8,000 if prospective buyers are looking for one that is in good condition. Parts can be difficult to find, however, which is something buyers should bear in mind.
7 Porsche 924 ($9,000)
The Porsche 924 is definitely an underrated classic car. Many Porsche enthusiasts today aren't interested in the 924, which is confusing considering that it garnered a lot of interest upon its launch. The car was originally a joint project between VW and Porsche, and this idea received mixed reviews.
The car is great and even the standard version of the 924 is still impressive nowadays. The pop-up headlamps enhance the car's looks and reflect its status at the time of its release. Prospective buyers can expect to spend around $9,000 for a decent-condition example.
6 Chevrolet Corvette C4 ($13,500)
The Chevrolet Corvette C4 is an amazing car. Launched in 1983, many were impressed with its engine. The L98 5.7-liter V8 engine was definitely brilliant and came with 238 hp, though power was boosted for the next generation to 300 hp.
Not only did the car have great statistics, it was also a good-looking car with pop-up headlamps, and many loved it for its appearance and general appeal. The price of a C4 is amazing at the moment, with great-condition examples costing $13,500 - making it one of the more expensive cars on the list, but is definitely worthy of attention.
5 Opel GT ($10,000)
The Opel GT was launched in 1968 and was a small roadster. It was definitely a stylish vehicle and many loved its design, even though it was hugely impractical, it was fun and made for some great drives. Its engine outputted 67 hp, which isn't the best figure, but there was a 102 hp version.
Both engines were great and the car was enjoyable to drive. Its rotating pop-up headlamps were manually operated and were a cool addition to the GT. The car could handle brilliantly and it is still a worthy purchase among enthusiasts. The Opel can be bought for around $10,000 in good condition. However, buyers should look out for rust.
4 Nissan Pulsar NX Sportbak ($7,000)
The Nissan Pulsar NX was launched in 1986 and the shooting brake style canopy was marketed as the Sportback. The roof could be removed and the car would be turned into a coupe making it a great configurable JDM car.
The pop-up headlamps were very '80s, and so were the backlights. It was appealing through its styling but also the engine was great and it was a reflection of the engineering of JDM cars in the 1980s. However, they are quite rare to find nowadays, with them being an unusual JDM choice nowadays (despite being popular previously). Still, buyers can find the car for around the $7,000 to $8,000 asking price, some of which have been restored.
3 Lincoln Continental Mk V ($10,000)
The Lincoln Continental Mk VI was a luxury car launched in 1970. It was the fifth generation of the series and there were plenty of updates to the car. It came with either a 6.6-liter or 7.5-liter V8 engine and was the ultimate expression of status when it was new, especially in coupe form. The car was aesthetically pleasing and very comfortable.
The pop-up headlamps (more flip-up) set the car apart from the Lincoln Town Car and made it look more luxurious. It is a cracking classic to buy nowadays even if it will be ruinously expensive to fuel.
2 Nissan 300ZX ($6,500)
The Z31 Nissan 300ZX was a great car even if it was overshadowed by the later Z32. It may not be as iconic as the Datsun 240Z but it was still a good car. It was reliable and it had great performance from a 3.0-liter V6 and was a decent car in its own right. Quite popular in the US at the time of its release, the car was a sales success.
Despite not being as stylistically cool as the 240Z, the pop-up headlamps were a great addition to the 300ZX and the car was still pretty stylish. It can be bought for a low price of $6,500, which is considerable when the car is perfectly useable and remains very reliable.
1 Honda Prelude 4WS Third Generation ($7,000)
The third generation of the Honda Prelude was launched in 1987. Famed car writer L.J.K. Setright declared this generation Honda Prelude to be one of the finest cars ever made. It was a massively successful car too, with the car outperforming cars such as the Corvette C4 in terms of handling thanks to clever passive rear steering.
Its appearance lived up to the standards too. It looked quite sporty and the pop-up headlamps secured the car's '80s appeal. Versions of the Prelude can be bought for around the $7,000 asking price, with some asking for more depending on condition.