Lucas P700 headlights

[xb-60]

Were Lucas P700's fitted as OE on early 260/289 Cobras?

Cheers,
Glen

[ALF]

Lucas Sealed Beam would be correct
Period correct headlamps

[Alfa02]

Glen. in those day's only sealed beams, were legal in the US. That didn't stop many, many sports car guy's putting P-700, Hella, Marchal, etc. My father had those P-700, and Flamethrower's on the Volvo P-1800, I think I mention that to you before. We were Outlaw's back then

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Were Lucas P700's fitted as OE on early 260/289 Cobras?

Cheers,
Glen

Shelby American sometimes used Lucas® P700 lamp assemblies in roadsters and coupes in long distance endurance races that ran through nights.

I have never come across any documentation that new street cars were "factory" fitted with P700 models but it was not a rare owner modification in states that didn't do motor vehicle inspections. Installing Lucas PL700 assemblies was also an owner modification and more common than P700 installations.

If you go looking for P700 assemblies be aware that Lucas-England made multiple slightly different versions over about a twenty year period and then Lucas-India made at least one version for about ten years, and at least two companies have made versions a reproductions. Only one easy to detect version has been found that was new and current in the 1963-65 time frame Cobras were new. It just happens to be the hardest version to locate, at least in great condition.




See Post 19 for head lamp stone guards.

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by ALF

Lucas Sealed Beam would be correct
Period correct headlamps

From AC Cars, left hand drive* CSXxxxx chassis, a model of Lucas® sealed beam. Multiple versions from the mid 1960s look the same installed in the car but numbers and marking wise on the back there are variations.

From Shelby American, it was not uncommon for cars loaned out and or used in magazine road test to have American GE® sealed beam lamps installed.

For those that might not know, lamps made for left hand drive cars have light patterns aimed the opposite way as lamps for right hand drive. In the 1980s-1990s some of the "cheap" new old stock Lucas lamps of all designs were ones for right hand drive cars, which are of little use at night in North America.;

[xb-60]

Good information, as always.
Thanks all.

Cheers,
Glen

[patrickt]

Unless you have an original car, go with what looks "cooler" to your eye. To me, nothing looks as cool as my Lucas lights.

[Alfa02]

Those are what I have on my car too (Pl-700). Look's spot on. Does anybody have Flamethrower's on their Cobra's? (series 576) 7" driving lights. I have one, and looking for another (org). I've seen a pair of series 45's, Cibie, before, but nothing in round driving lights. Thank you Tom

[CompClassics]

The original P700 lights will be marked for left or right hand driving.

The LUCAS 576 flame thrower lights are available as reproductions. Actually both the spot light and the fOG light lenses are available.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Dan Case

From AC Cars, left hand drive* CSXxxxx chassis, a model of Lucas® sealed beam. Multiple versions from the mid 1960s look the same installed in the car but numbers and marking wise on the back there are variations.

From Shelby American, it was not uncommon for cars loaned out and or used in magazine road test to have American GE® sealed beam lamps installed.

For those that might not know, lamps made for left hand drive cars have light patterns aimed the opposite way as lamps for right hand drive. In the 1980s-1990s some of the "cheap" new old stock Lucas lamps of all designs were ones for right hand drive cars, which are of little use at night in North America.;

This provides some idea of the different patterns:

[ALF]

Out of my archive




And the SL576 as mentioned by John

[Alfa02]

@ ALF, Thank you for clearing this up, when I put down a PL-576 was 7" I knew that didn't look right, that was back in 1962 when my Father put those on, guess the ol'brain isn't what it used to be @CompClassics, I've seen the reproduction on line, I would like to find one more org. to go with the one I have, before I go that route. Tom.

[xb-60]

It seems sensible that '700' refers to 7" units and '576' is a 5¾"

I would like to (eventually) fit driving lights as well, and I'm torn between a pair of period correct 576's and a pair of Cibie Oscars that I've used on most of my cars since around '75 ,
so while not quite period correct, the Oscars have 'history' and have survived remarkable well.


Cheers,
Glen

[Alfa02]

Glen, I remember 64 Sebring the roadster's having driving lights, looking back at pictures (don't how to upload pictures). They do look like Flamethrowers. The bars on the front, look like they protect the lights, and not mounted to them. What do you think? Anybody else know what lights they used? Thank you, Tom.

[xb-60]

'64 Sebring? Can't remember where I sourced this pic, so don't know if it's an original car or one of the Sebring replicas.....



Cheers,
Glen

[Alfa02]

Glen, this is the one's I was talking about. In fact I found a couple more pictures that have the org. wire mesh still on the front bars. Look's like they didn't last long in the race (the mesh). Yeah, I'm pretty sure those are Flamethrower's. It look's like the mesh was there protect the rad. and lights. https://www.flickr.com/photos/7548815@N08/435662113/

[Alfa02]

Ok, if you scroll down, to Sebring 63, Phil's car #12 show's a full screen, where Dave's car# 15 is just covering the driving lights. Now I can rest Thanks Glen, for your help. Tom. Les Voitures de Carroll Shelby | L'actu de la voiture américaine

[ALF]

Contact Nick Acton about his outstanding work seen on FB
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi...1941&source=54

[Dan Case]

Since this thread left the original question and moved to devices used to protect headlamps I created a folder with some images illustrating the wire mesh stone guards that Shelby American used on Cobras themselves and offered in their parts and accessories catalogs. Shelby American sourced them through an accessory specialist company.

Included is a clip showing a No. 106 assembly on CSX2431, the No. 106 set listed in the 1965 Haan catalog, the set listed in the 1965 Shelby catalog, a new old stock package showing maker information, and a picture of provided components.

The mounting tabs were brazed to the round rims before plating and were straight. To make them fit a Cobra's trim ring the tabs must be bent slightly. I added images of a tab as purchased and tabs as bent to work.

I have a set installed on our red car CSX2551, shown here Sept 2017.




No. 106 Stoneguards - Club Cobra Photo Gallery

[1985 CCX]

Note the originals wrap the metal ring and the repos today supplied above do not.
Modern version are tack to rim and look different.