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.
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).
