The headlights of cars sold in the United States were identical from 1940 to 1984. A specific feature of this market, which both national manufacturers and importers had to comply with.
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In the past, although they showed stylistic originality, American cars sported the same gimmick, and for good reason: their headlights were strictly identical. This specificity, specific to the American market, regulated the size and format of car headlights for almost 45 years. All models – American and foreign – had to be equipped with these “sealed headlights” or “sealed beams”, which were successively round and then rectangular. Made compulsory on all vehicles from 1940, these primarily answered a practical question. As their name indicated, the bulb and the optical unit were a common block, so that in the event of an accident, the entire headlight was replaced. This standardization made it possible to overcome the problems of supplying special headlights (especially on imported models) encountered by manufacturers or importers at the time. For customers and insurance companies alike, this reduced costs.
Specific regulations
Thus, from 1940, all vehicles registered in the United States were required to display a round headlight (and only one!) on each side of the grille. If their layout remained at the discretion of manufacturers, it became complicated for designers to offer truly original grilles. This explains why the models in circulation in the country had airs of resemblance. From 1957, it was allowed to double their number. From this date, we therefore saw the arrival of vehicles sporting two rows of headlights, arranged horizontally or vertically. The models were starting to stand out a little more from each other. In 1975 rectangular headlights were authorized (in single or double format). 1984 marked the end of the era of “sealed beams”, composite and removable optics being authorized from that year.
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