Driving/spot lights for 289 Cobra

[xb-60_Cobra]

First, an explanation. I'm somewhat tired of not being able to login lately. Some days it's fine, and others I can't get in at all. So, OK, I am now also xb-60_Cobra when I can't login as xb-60

So, I've got a question on driving lights that would be period correct for a 289 Cobra.....

I would like to fit a pair of driving lights to my 289FIA Cobra replica.
What lights were state-of-the-art in 1965? I have a pair of Cibie Oscars that I’ve had since around 1975, so they have quite a bit of sentimental value….but is their design too modern for a ’65 vintage Cobra?
If so, as mentioned….which driving lights were the lights to have back in the mid-sixties?

Stay safe at night in your Cobra!
Cheers,
Glen


....and a question ....why can I get in as xb-60_Cobra....but not as xb-60 ???

[Alfa02]

Funny I used to know this guy xb-60, you any relation to this Glen guy But seriously Glen, I think the (Lucas Flame Thrower) cira 60's, will be what I'll be installing on my 289, maybe even the 427 car, if I can find enough of them, right now I have one. Here's perfect example: with clear & Fog lenses The true Flamethrower's have the metal tabs at the top of the light that say's "Lucas" Cheers there Brother Glen Tom. https://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-VINTAG...p2047675.l2557

[Riverside racer]

Look at SLR 576 LUCAS Flamethrowers.
available from NOS Locators and Rogers Motors
Ross

[t walgamuth]

Cibies?

Another possible alternative is a bar of the new tiny lights mounted inside the grill opening discreetly.

[Alfa02]

I think what Glen meant, Period correct or Period correct (Looking) lights (cira 63-65) those again would be the Lucas Flamethrower. The Clbie's would be late 60's-early 70's (ie) Series 35-45, which are square (As in the 427 Cobra seen in the Movie Gumball Rallye). Glen, I'm sure you have MANY photo's from Sebring, Daytona, LeMans, etc. showing the Flamethrower's. Cheers Tom. P.S. We had them on my Dad's 62 Volvo P-1800, to make it more Ferrari like, as in a Lusso , 250GTO, 250 GTE

[6TNCRZY]

Something modern could be mounted discreetly in the oil cooler opening, perhaps even behind a screen.

[patrickt]

If you had dual roll bars you could mount one to each. Put them on a rotating hinge so you could flip them down and shoot out the back from time to time. You know, for that guy that is tailgating you on the highway? Just flip the lights on and blind 'em.

[Alfa02]

Patrickt, Always the troublemaker in the bunch When we Pro-Rallyed back in the mid-70's my Dad had a Cibie Super Oscar for a back-up light !!!! You better believe they dip their lights when we flashed that We had a Policeman ask him about that light, Dad just told him "I have trouble backing-up at night". Cheers TommRot.

[desgros@vtlink.]

Lucas Flamethrowers. I still have the original I bought in 1963 from Baker & Heijn, Alfa dealer and GTA Trans Am racers of White river Jct., VT. Amazing driving light then and now.

John
ERA #3010 Slabside 289 BRG

[xb-60]

Thanks Tom and John and Ross. Lucas flamethrowers it is then!

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by patrickt

If you had dual roll bars you could mount one to each. Put them on a rotating hinge so you could flip them down and shoot out the back from time to time. You know, for that guy that is tailgating you on the highway? Just flip the lights on and blind 'em.

Ah, Patrick! Several points here.
1. If I had dual roll bars, I could be in danger of being called a bogan (aka hooligan, idiot, half-wit).
2. If I then proceeded to mounting extra lights onto those two roll bars, the bogan impression would be reinforced ten-fold.
3. If I had then mounted the lights on a rotating hinge.... you're getting my drift....?

In your defence, a bogan would not have a little fluffy dog named "Ellie". More likely some savage beast that would bite your hand off rather than yap at you.

Stay safe, and watch out for mad dogs!
Cheers,
Glen

edit: nice to be able to logon as myself rather than my alter-ego

[Karl Bebout]

"When we Pro-Rallyed back in the mid-70's my Dad had a Cibie Super Oscar for a back-up light !!!! You better believe they dip their lights when we flashed that We had a Policeman ask him about that light, Dad just told him "I have trouble backing-up at night". Cheers TommRot. "

Boy, that apple didn't fall far from the tree.

[Alfa02]

Spot-on Karlos, two peas in a pod . Dad & I spent many a night working on cars, and Racing (Sometimes against each other ) in as many weekends as we could fit in. I can honestly say, he was my Pal too. TommyRot.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

....When we Pro-Rallyed back in the mid-70's my Dad had a Cibie Super Oscar for a back-up light !!!! You better believe they dip their lights when we flashed that We had a Policeman ask him about that light, Dad just told him "I have trouble backing-up at night". Cheers TommRot.

Tom, I had a pair of Super Oscars on a small Vauxhall sedan, umm, a number of years ago, which did look really ridiculous. Did a couple of all-nighters in that car from Adelaide to Bathurst for the 1000km race, but eventually sold the lights to a rallying friend who fitted them onto a Datsun 240Z. Replaced those lights with my two Oscars that I still have. Strange, not many people think it's much fun to drive through the night on deserted roads, but I always liked it. Still do. Anyway, those are the lights I still have, and they are sometimes fitted to the Alfa....but mainly for show

So, if anyone has a lead on some Lucas Flamethrowers.....

Cheers!
Glen

[HealeyRick]

Lucas had two series of driving lights, the 500 and 700 series, being 5" and 7" in diameter respectively. Only the 7" ones properly are called "Flamethrowers" Standard sports car practice was to fit one fog light, the SFT prefix, and one pencil beam driving light, the SLR for long range" light, but some fit two of the same type depending on their driving needs. I can't tell from a quick look whether the FIA cars were using 5" or 7" inch. If you can find a really good picture, post it and I can probably tell. Depending on how big a stickler for accuracy you are, you'd want to get originals with "LUCAS" on the top tab. Be careful, though, repros and fakes abound of lesser quality. Moss Motors used to sell some with MOSS on the tab.

[ALF]

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