Our 10 favorite hidden headlights
Modern car designers have it easy. They can sculpt jewel-like housings for their headlights and integrate them into the car’s bodylines almost seamlessly. Back in the days of sealed-beam headlamps, however, there were only so many options to choose from. And while many designers got creative, integrating the lamps into the car’s overall design, some of our favorite cars were available with headlights that were virtually invisible until needed.
We know, headlights go up, headlights go down. We love pop-up headlights too, but that’s for another discussion. Pop-up headlights are a form of hidden headlights, but we’re being completely arbitrary and defining those in this list as stationary headlights that are revealed when a panel opens up to reveal them. Here are 10 of our favorites.
1942 Desoto
We didn’t dig deep enough to see if this was the first mass-produced instance of hidden headlights, but it very well could be. The rounded square panels that hide the DeSoto’s headlights give the front a lot of personality, even when closed, and help focus your attention on the toothy chrome grille.
1965 Buick Riviera
When the 1963 Buick Riviera debuted for 1963, it already looked like a concept car. It had gorgeous lines and impressive Nailhead powerplants, although the quad headlights were a bit busy. For 1965, Buick kept the striking sheet metal and cleaned up the front end by hiding the stacked headlamps behind the trim at the leading edge of the fender. The clamshell design is unique among cars on this list. Has there been a more beautiful Buick since?
1967–69 Camaro Rally Sport
The first-gen Camaro’s Rally Sport option came with several appearance modifications, including different backup lights. The most noticeable addition, however, was in the grille. A pair of vacuum-actuated doors hid the lights until they were turned on and the doors pivot inboard. The 1967 and ’68 models look similar, while the 1969 models used three horizontal bars over the headlight doors for a more dramatic look.
1967–68 Mercury Cougar
Mercury had interesting sequential turn signals in the rear of the Cougar, and the headlights didn’t disappoint either. Just like their Camaro rivals, Cougars used vacuum power to lift the covers off their headlights, this time revealing a pair of lights on each side.
1968–70 Dodge Charger
The sleek, Coke-bottle styling of the 1968-1970 Dodge Charger doesn’t need a flashy grille to distract from its elegance. Its slim, full-width grille disguised four headlights, just like the Cougar, and the grille panels opened in a similar fashion. The previous generation Charger also high headlights behind its grille, but it’s this generation that really nailed the muscle car look.
1968–69 Pontiac GTO
Another muscle car with quad headlights, the GTO’s vacuum-operated headlight doors dropped down to let the light shine. The hideaway lights were optional in 1968 and ’69.
1970–71 Ford Torino/Ranchero
It seems like these muscle coupes and utes get overshadowed by the Ford Mustang, yet the stylish mid-sizers have plenty to love. Whether in coupe, Sportsroof, or Ranchero form, they all have great lines. As much as we love them with their headlights on full-time display, the hidden lights make them look that much more sinister.
1968 Ford Galaxie 500
Another criminally overlooked full-size coupe from the muscle car era, the Galaxie 500 featured powerful V-8 engines and amazing looks.
Jaguar XJ220
With its supercar lines and oval headlight covers, you’d be excused to think that the exotic Jaguar XJ220 features pop-up headlights. Instead, those covers drop down to reveal fixed headlamps in the fenders.
1969–75 Iso Grifo Series II
The Iso Grifo, along with its Italian cohorts Alfa Romeo Montreal and Iso Revolta Lele, used partially hidden headlights with “eyelids” that lifted to reveal the full glow of the headlights beneath. Even though they’re only partially hidden, we love the look.
OK, we stopped at 10, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot more out there worth mentioning. Full-size Mopars, K-cars, perhaps some ’80s Japanese models with headlight eyelids like our beloved Iso Grifo. Sound off and list your favorite if we didn’t have room for it.
1970 – 71 Mercury Cyclones w/ Gun Site Grill.
The 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix Convertible is indeed a standout example of hidden headlights. Here’s why it’s considered one of the best:
Sleek Design: The Grand Prix of this era was known for its muscular yet elegant design. The hidden headlights added to its streamlined appearance, giving it a futuristic and sophisticated look for its time.
Innovative Mechanism: Pontiac implemented a rotating mechanism for the headlights, where they would rotate outwards when turned on and retract back into the grille when off. This mechanism was not only functional but also a design marvel.
Integration with Design: Unlike some cars where hidden headlights seemed like an afterthought, on the Grand Prix Convertible, they were seamlessly integrated into the overall design. When closed, they blended into the grille, enhancing the car’s clean lines.
Popularity and Influence: The 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix Convertible became iconic partly due to its hidden headlights, which became a signature feature of the model. It influenced future designs within GM and across the automotive industry, showcasing how innovative features could also be stylish.
Performance and Appeal: Beyond aesthetics, the Grand Prix Convertible was known for its powerful performance, which complemented its striking appearance. The combination of design, performance, and innovative features made it a standout example of automotive engineering in the late 1960s.
These factors collectively make the 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix Convertible one of the best examples of hidden headlights to come out of General Motors, demonstrating a blend of style, innovation, and functionality that defined the era.
What, no Miata, the most iconic….and popular…hideaways of all time?
Not really iconic at all. There were many examples of cars from the ’80s and even ’70s with these simple pop-up headlights. That they were part of the look of the Miata doesn’t mean they are iconic or notable.
Lotus Elan – the 62-73 version. Great when they worked !!
Yes, whomever decided upon vacuum actuation should have been executed as the lights ‘hid’ when coming off the throttle! Designed for appearance and not function.
What ? No 1967 Eldorado ? Seems when you do these its like you get bored and throw out the easy picks,,, No Cord? Vettes? etc,,,,
Ferrari Daytona?????????????????
1935 Cord
’71-’72 Plymouth Sport Fury GT.
How about the Pontiac Fiero?
What happened to the Cord 810/812?!!
The Opel GT was fun as a driver. Something about pulling that handle to roll the headlights made it even more fun than would have been simply pulling a knob. Plus, they rolled! I sure wish I’d thought to take pictures of our ’69, as it lives on only in memory now.
I agree with some of the others on this. Absolutely the ’65 Riviera belongs at the top. I’m a big fan of hideaway headlights. As I was scrolling through, I noticed that five of them are escentially the same, even though they were different brands and models. I was expecting all ten to be unique and different from each other. Here’s my list of unique and different. All favorites for all these different reasons.
65 Riviera is the only known to me stacked hideaways
66 Charger, entire pod rolls over.
Jaguar XJ220, has a door that drops down in front of the lights.
The Cougar, 68 – 70 Charger, Torino, GTO, Galaxie, 67 – 69 T-Bird along with many others all really the same.
Opal GT unique rollover style, and manual.
35 Cord controlled by a crank on the windshield header
63 – 67 Corvette rools over like the 66/67 Charger, but a really different look, so it counts as different.
C4 Corvette backflip is unique
1st gen Camaro with sideways kickers are unique
NA Miata, Porsche 914, Saturn S1, C3 & C5 Corvette and everything else that pops up counts as one style.
Porsche 928 even though they are not actually hiden, they do move.
And the style of the Iso Grifo, Alfa Romeo Montreal, Isuzu Impulse would count as one.
I think the prewar Cord was the first car with hidden headlights.
List should have been at least 30! Pantera, Countach, Japanese just from my garage! And many more exotics
In my post Japanese should be Jaloa!
7 of the 10 cars are muscle cars from ’65-70 that had covered headlights almost interchangeable with fixed options.
Agree with others that this list isn’t very well lobbed together. Cord (probably) gets the title for first or close to it. Someone that writes for Hagerty should at least have a coworker to point that out.
A Vette should be on the list as that model probably made more hidden headlights than any other car, 1963-2004. C2s and C4s are more neat to see in action than some plastic slide on a Galaxie (and own two 65s).
Opel GT is very unique/cool and missing from the list as others mentioned. XJ220 is a good choice.
Some oddball ideas to throw in are Arnolt Bristols or the unique pop up driving (fog?) lights on the 365 Cali. Spyder. Alfa Montreal is another “come on man” omission. The Vector and Cizeta V16T are more pretty neat too.
Though, the title includes “favorite” which is “just like your opinion man”, and people are allowed to think some stuff is cool even though cooler stuff is out there.