Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
#1 Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
Following the excellent Factory Fit article on the Series 1, I set out to find authentic looking headlamps for my S1 1964 OTS. This has been imported from the U.S. and therefore required its headlamps being changed for those designed for driving on the left-hand side of the road. I was also conscious of the need for Halogen rather than sealed beam. Research via the S1 Parts Catalogue indicated that Right Hand Drive Series 1 cars would have had Lucas PL700 "tripod" lights. As it turned out, Lucas did 3 types of 700 lamps; the 700 series, the P700 and the PL700s. The PL700s were fitted to more expensive cars such as Jaguars. Unfortunately, original RHD PL700s are rarer than hens teeth and at a price level which could only warrant them being fitted to a concours Aston DB5!
Reproduction PL700s are, however, available. These come with Halogen H4 bulbs and, whilst not perhaps manufactured to the same engineering lens quality as the originals, are good copies. Certainly, on installing them, I was extremely pleased with the end result. With H4 bulbs fitted (which the originals would not have had), they seem more than a match for the U.S. halogen lamps I had taken off the car. I've included a photograph below.
Reproduction PL700s are, however, available. These come with Halogen H4 bulbs and, whilst not perhaps manufactured to the same engineering lens quality as the originals, are good copies. Certainly, on installing them, I was extremely pleased with the end result. With H4 bulbs fitted (which the originals would not have had), they seem more than a match for the U.S. halogen lamps I had taken off the car. I've included a photograph below.
Phil
1964 S1 3.8 OTS
1964 S1 3.8 OTS
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#2 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
Were these ever fitted to E Types from the factory?
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#3 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
Yes on all RHD cars! viewtopic.php?p=35109#p35109
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red
Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red
Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#4 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
.... and I am the first to admit that they would never have been fitted to a LHD drive car However, faced with needing to switch my headlamps to RHD spec, it seemed only appropriate to use the British design (particularly if the car ever gets converted to RHD).Heuer wrote:Yes on all RHD cars! viewtopic.php?p=35109#p35109
Phil
1964 S1 3.8 OTS
1964 S1 3.8 OTS
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#5 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
Not quite - PL700's were fitted to all LHD cars except those destined for the USA and Europe. Those destined for the USA were fitted with Lucas D-F.700 sealed beam headlamps, those heading to Europe were fitted with Lucas B-F700 headlamps with removable bulbs. France, Austria and Sweden had variations on the B-F700 headlamps.
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red
Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red
Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
-
- Posts: 1650
- Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:26 pm
- Location: Shropshire
#6 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
Wow, David. How do you know all this stuff?
Stuart
If you can't make it work, make it complicated!
'62 FHC - Nearing completion
'69 Daimler 420 Sovereign
'78 Land Rover Series 3 109
If you can't make it work, make it complicated!
'62 FHC - Nearing completion
'69 Daimler 420 Sovereign
'78 Land Rover Series 3 109
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#7 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
I have repros on mine. They look fine and work ok...pair was fifty quid as opposed to gazillions for originals....
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#8 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
I snagged a set of original boxed NOS PL700's off eBay USA for little more than a set of repro's. They were RHD and the vendor did not know what to do with them. Downside is they only accept the original 45/40w bulbs which are not particularly good.
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red
Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red
Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#9 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
Such a good find. I hope the same will be true for me for the S1 bucket seats I need to track down (mine had S1.5 seats fitted as part of its documented restoration back in the eighties).Heuer wrote:I snagged a set of original boxed NOS PL700's off eBay USA for little more than a set of repro's. They were RHD and the vendor did not know what to do with them. Downside is they only accept the original 45/40w bulbs which are not particularly good.
Phil
1964 S1 3.8 OTS
1964 S1 3.8 OTS
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#10 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
Excellent! I have a set in my shed. I shall fit them.Heuer wrote:Yes on all RHD cars! viewtopic.php?p=35109#p35109
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#11 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
I'd like to buy a pair of the PL 700 repros made for the use of H4 bulbs.
But up to now I never found them cars to be driven on the right side of the road.
It'd be great, if someone could give me a hint, where to buy it.
Thank you
Jaglex
But up to now I never found them cars to be driven on the right side of the road.
It'd be great, if someone could give me a hint, where to buy it.
Thank you
Jaglex
Ser. 1.5 DHC LHD
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#12 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red
Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red
Add your E-Type to our World Map: http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1810
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |
#13 Re: Series 1 PL 700 Headlamps
Great David, thank you!
Ser. 1.5 DHC LHD
Link: | |
BBcode: | |
HTML: | |
Hide post links |