Question: Headlight conversion from flipup to racing style

[Laurence Opel GT]

I am seriously thinking of doing a conversion of the headlights on my Opel GT where I would do away with the rotating headlights and fitting more modern smaller lights under a plastic cover like many of the Le Mans style racing cars, e.g. GT40, Chevron and the likes.

I have searched the Internet for photos but not come up with anything.

Does anyone have any information, tips, pictures, links or otherwise helpful contributions I would be very grateful.


Laurence

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by Laurence Opel GT I am seriously thinking of doing a conversion of the headlights on my Opel GT where I would do away with the rotating headlights and fitting more modern smaller lights under a plastic cover like many of the Le Mans style racing cars, e.g. GT40, Chevron and the likes. I have searched the Internet for photos but not come up with anything. Does anyone have any information, tips, pictures, links or otherwise helpful contributions I would be very grateful. Laurence

You mean like this:

Custom headlights - Opel Photo Gallery

[Laurence Opel GT]

Originally Posted by BQS4 You mean like this: Custom headlights - Opel Photo Gallery

Yeah! But I'm unsure about the shape on that one, one needs to experiemnt.

Have you got any close-up photos ???

If anyone knows of any more pictures that would be great!


Laurence

[BDD]

I just saw one posted here somewhere with 2 small headlights on each side buried in fairings and staggered something like a later Tiburon. It actually looked pretty good. If you do something like this it should look as if it were meant to be designed that way in the first place. Many add-on tuning kits and spoilers actually seem to detract from the design or be in contradiction to it.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by Laurence Opel GT Yeah! But I'm unsure about the shape on that one, one needs to experiemnt. Have you got any close-up photos ??? If anyone knows of any more pictures that would be great! Laurence

The owner of the one in the link is in Sweden also, you might be near him. PM him and find out.

[opeletti75]

in my opinion keep it original and save the money and trouble of al that extra work

[Laurence Opel GT]

Originally Posted by opeletti75 in my opinion keep it original and save the money and trouble of al that extra work

You sound like a true enthusiast...

[Laurence Opel GT]

Originally Posted by BQS4 The owner of the one in the link is in Sweden also, you might be near him. PM him and find out.

So he is...

However, how do I contact him ?

His Profile is empty...

[newman27]

Originally Posted by Laurence Opel GT So he is... However, how do I contact him ? His Profile is empty...

Use the Private Message (PM) feature to send a message directly to his account here on the forum. You'll have to wait until the next time he logs on before he will see it though...

[Laurence Opel GT]

Originally Posted by newman27 Use the Private Message (PM) feature to send a message directly to his account here on the forum. You'll have to wait until the next time he logs on before he will see it though...

Maybe I'm a bit thick, but I can't find anywhere to PM him...

I'm used to other forum layouts and I haven't found a post from him.

Any help would be appreciated, as well as links to pictures of other Opel GTs that have been converted.

Blasphemous I know but I am a little inspired by the <wisper>Ford</wisper> GT40 and Ferrari 250 LM etc. etc.

I will play a little in Photoshop and see what the car looks like without the Daytona style indicators too...

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by Laurence Opel GT Maybe I'm a bit thick, but I can't find anywhere to PM him... I'm used to other forum layouts and I haven't found a post from him. Any help would be appreciated, as well as links to pictures of other Opel GTs that have been converted. Blasphemous I know but I am a little inspired by the <wisper>Ford</wisper> GT40 and Ferrari 250 LM etc. etc. I will play a little in Photoshop and see what the car looks like without the Daytona style indicators too...

I sent you a quick short lesson on PMing.

GT40 - I don't care for Fords BUT I'd trade at least one of my Dodge trucks, my Buick (gladly), old BMW, and my Opels(owned at least 1 or more since '82) for a GT40.

Harold

[Laurence Opel GT]

[/quote]I'd be interested if you came up with a really neat way to incorporate the headlights into a non rotating set up.

Harold[/quote]

I love the car with the lights down, would love to weld them shut and fill them in but I'd have problems with the test and cops...

One alternative is Corvette style lifting, but the eyelids have the wrong shape, the other other alternative is the Le Mans style covers.

My problem (if it is a problem) is that the car doesn't need to be resprayed so I don't want to mess with the bodywork.

I will most certainly post pictures, but it'll take a while. I am currently in the research stage, then planning, then doing...

[namba209]

Here's a pic of Manny Wong's Targa GT with some custom headlights, I took at the OMC picnic a couple of years ago.

Dsc03034-1 - Opel Photo Gallery

[Laurence Opel GT]

Originally Posted by namba209 Here's a pic of Manny Wong's Targa GT with some custom headlights, I took at the OMC picnic a couple of years ago. Dsc03034-1 - Opel Photo Gallery

Really cool idea, I never even thought along those lines.

Very similar to mine: http://www.opelgt.com/photopost/show...9/ppuser/12649

[Laurence Opel GT]

Originally Posted by BQS4 The owner of the one in the link is in Sweden also, you might be near him. PM him and find out.

Would you believe, we live about 25 miles from each other!!!

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by Laurence Opel GT Would you believe, we live about 25 miles from each other!!!

Well there you go, arrange a visit and you can get all the close up pictures you want

[Laurence Opel GT]

I just thought of something...

What if one modified the underside of the frogeyes so that one still has the flat light-less tops.

Instead of the most stoopid looking headlight in motoring history (makes the Austin Healey Sprite look good!) one fits a couple of smaller modern lights at a lower profile.

1. There should be a less brutal operation of turning the lights on
2. More freedom while designing the headlight layout

Cool! A project for the Swedish winter...

[neuropel]

Originally Posted by Laurence Opel GT Instead of the most stoopid looking headlight in motoring history (makes the Austin Healey Sprite look good!) one fits a couple of smaller modern lights at a lower profile.

Whoa Partner! There are a LOT of people that LOVE the look of the GT headlights. I think if you took a poll you'd find that most people like the look of the original headlights FAR better than any of the modified headlights out there, no matter how great the workmanship. Still, to each his own - variety is part of what makes this hobby interesting, so make it the way you like it - just be ready for similar criticism when/if others think your way looks stupid too!

Todd K.

[Laurence Opel GT]

Originally Posted by neuropel Whoa Partner! There are a LOT of people that LOVE the look of the GT headlights. I think if you took a poll you'd find that most people like the look of the original headlights FAR better than any of the modified headlights out there, no matter how great the workmanship. Still, to each his own - variety is part of what makes this hobby interesting, so make it the way you like it - just be ready for similar criticism when/if others think your way looks stupid too! Todd K.

You're quite right of course, but the funny thing is that I have never met anyone in Sweden or England that likes the lights on the GT, but it may have a lot to do with my background in the US-cars. I'm a Pontiac man myself, with a lot of interest in the Corvette and my best friend within cars is a high profile within CCC UK (Classic Corvette Club). I'm half English and I hate most English small sportscars and the GT (to me) looks like a bad copy...

Of course I don't mean to offend anyone and most, if not all of the modifications that I have seen on the Opel GT do not look good at all, but my idea has more to do with the WAY in which one can make the modification without spoiling the original look of the car with it's eyes shut.

One other issue here is that here in Sweden it's law to have the lights on ALL THE TIME, even in the brightest sunlight.

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by Laurence Opel GT I just thought of something... What if one modified the underside of the frogeyes so that one still has the flat light-less tops. ...one fits a couple of smaller modern lights at a lower profile. 1. There should be a less brutal operation of turning the lights on 2. More freedom while designing the headlight layout

Look at the link Namba posted I believe Manny Wong's lights are what you are talking about. If I understand correctly his lights are UP, and can be easily returned to the original configuration with little effort. Notice the three screws holding the cover on. When the headlights are in the off position it will look like any other Targa GT.

Harold

[Laurence Opel GT]

Separated at birth ?!