Reproduction Lucas Headlamps

[angelfj1]

I realize that these were not supplied with Triumph sports cars, but just wondering, are these headlamps authentic reproductions? Would they be period correct for a TR3A?

click here

 

[Brosky]

Frank,

I have a set in my car and I like them very much. A lot better than the stock lamps, but I can't say if they are any better than some of the new high end bulbs that are available.

 

[trrdster2000]

angelfi,

Pretty much a standard upgrade, They will work with your original wiring, but the up grade kit from VB would make me feel better.

I see a lot of these, and the price is not bad.

Wayne

 

[Brosky]

I do have the Dan Masters headlamp relay kit in mine as well as a 95 amp battery, so they are nice and bright. I know that Frank is covered with the alternator, so the relay kit is a definite plus.

 

[TR3driver]

I realize that these were not supplied with Triumph sports cars, but just wondering, are these headlamps authentic reproductions? Would they be period correct for a TR3A?

click here

Something to watch for, as even noted in the auction, some of the repros are really bad (in terms of light thrown on the road vs light thrown elsewhere). "No ma'am, that's a special yellow primer."

Personally, if I were going to do something like that, I'd go for the "Tripod" replicas that accept modern H4 bulbs, rather than using the obsolete PL700 bulbs. Yes, you can still buy them (even with halogen bulbs) but there is a significant premium for using the obsolete base. And H4 bulbs are readily available almost anywhere (if, for example, one should burn out on the way to an event).

BTW, while the old PL700s would be "period correct", they were also illegal in the USA. In fact, they might still be illegal in some locations, depending on how the law is interpreted.

 

[Tabcon]

I was fortunate enough to find an original pair of the Lucas PL7's on Ebay a while back. I'm almost sorry I paid more for them now because I cannot see much difference between the originals and the reproductions. I do like them though.
I replaced the stock light bulbs with high intensity bulbs and they light the road very well.

 

[Don Elliott]

Frank - I bought two PL 700 lamps in 1963 for $16.00 for the pair. I used them until about 7-8 years ago when one of the bullet reflector inside one of the lamps became corroded and it fell down to the bottom inside. From 1992 till about 7-8 years ago, I lost part of a point at every TRA annual concours event because the judges told me that this style PL 700 did not exist when our TR3As left the factory.

What is correct if you really want to be exact is to buy the 7" lamps with the black dot in the center. This dot is about 3/8" in diameter.

But then TRA will (or may) dock you part of a point because the original lamps with that black dot also had the word "LUCAS" printed across the dot. So if you buy 2 new repro lamps with the small black dot, they will not have the word "LUCAS" because our usual suppliers will tell you that the repro company cannot come to an agreement with Lucas as the name is a copywrite trade-mark name held by Lucas.

Looking for two good original lamps with the word Lucas across the small black dot is the only way to please TRA. BTW, they never docked me any points because of the halogen replacements that I bought at my local auto parts store about 7-8 years ago.

Go figure !

Good luck looking for two rare and old "needles in a hay stack".

Here is a TR2 owned by the original owner here in the Montreal area showing the correct small dot and the word Lucas across the dot.

 

[Don Elliott]

Here is a closer shot of the early small-dot Lucas 7" diameter lamp. The Comm. No. on this TR2 is about TS 6000 L.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Don, those "earlier" lamps are known as "P700" and took a more typical (for the time) headlamp bulb. Original "PL700" with the PL shield rather than the round LUCAS center) took a Type A headlamp bulb.

For whatever it's worth, PL700 lamps are not shown in my Lucas Master Catalogue 1945-60, but the P700 lamps are shown. Also, if you look at any number of factory publicity photos of TR2, TR3 and early TR4, it is the P700 as pictured above that you see.

Finally, even originals weren't always the best. I bought some NOS P700s back in the mid-1970s (I worked briefly in an ex-Bap-Geon store, and -- honest to goodness, there was a pallet full of NOS P700s!). Optically, they were fine, but some of the tri-pod bars weren't aligned very well inside!

 

[eschneider]

Something to watch for, as even noted in the auction, some of the repros are really bad (in terms of light thrown on the road vs light thrown elsewhere).

Personally, if I were going to do something like that, I'd go for the "Tripod" replicas that accept modern H4 bulbs, rather than using the obsolete PL700 bulbs.

I would re-iterate that some repro's are really bad.

The ones that will accept the H4 bulbs seem to be better quality, in addition to providing more light. For example, I am pleased with the sets I get from Custom Spares.

 

[hondo402000]

funny you say, I purchased a set of uprated headlamps from TRF dont now which ones unless I look at my pics since I am out of town, but when I put them back in after my paint job I realized they were askew and I endedup having t cut the metal tabs that fit into the slots so they would line up correcly, seems anything we buy aftermarked has to be tweeked to fit correctly, just my observations

Hondo

 

[Brosky]

Hey, where in the heck is Frank? All this chatter and he hasn't checked back in yet.

 

[angelfj1]

Hey, where in the heck is Frank? All this chatter and he hasn't checked back in yet.

I'm here. been nursing a 'orable' cold, the kind of sinus thing - you know - where just reading is an effort. :frown:

Thanks to everyone who sent a comment re the lamps. I'm going to hold off until next spring and see if I can find a pair at Carlisle.

 

[PeterK]

Frank, Try some cognac, tsp honey, and drop of lemon, 20 sec in the microwave. Great for a cold esp sinus.

 

[Opa]

Frank, Try some cognac, tsp honey, and drop of lemon, 20 sec in the microwave. Great for a cold esp sinus.

Frank,if minimal results are achieved after first dose,repeat several more times and you'll feel great! works well as a preventive maintenance as well.lol

 

[angelfj1]

Peter, Casey: tried it, several doses in fact. It worked, but now I can't remember my name!

 

[TR4nut]

Frank-

Off topic and probably discussed already, but I chuckle everytime I see that icon of yours! Get well soon! I can vouch for Peter's suggested remedy as I've tried it - the hardest part is staying in that microwave for 20 seconds! :crazy:

Randy

 

[PeterK]

Frank, As long as it it's working, eventually someone will recognize you and take you by the hand and tell you your name. Then they'll Purell their hands.