What determines whether headlights are square or round?

[Herr Doktor]

..... on a Mk1 Escort?

 

I've seen round and square headlights on Mk1 Escorts. I've read that Mk1 GT's had square. Was that the only model that had square or were all "early" ones square?

Cheers

[Rally Pack 2000]

Twincams had them as well in the UK.

 

In Australia however EVERY Mk1 had square headlights. We never had round headlights on any model from the factory. Enthusiasts in the UK are often quite surprised when I mention this.

[Vista]

Twincams had them as well in the UK.

 

 

Only up to a certain date, I think some time in 1970 they too switched to round.

 

I you look at Ray's project thread, 1300e's had square lights too.

[Rally Pack 2000]

Only up to a certain date, I think some time in 1970 they too switched to round.

 

I you look at Ray's project thread, 1300e's had square lights too.

 

Yes thats true. Given that 1970 was the also last year for UK Twincams with the RS1600 replacing it, round headlight ones are pretty scarce.

 

Trivia - The last Twincam ever made was in Australia in 1972 and it wasnt even called a Twincam. The model name had changed to the 1600 GT.

[Herr Doktor]

So all Mk1 Escorts up to 1970 were factory fitted with square headlights? Mine is a 1968 Apache so should have square headlights to be in-keeping with the correct era?

[Vista]

So all Mk1 Escorts up to 1970 were factory fitted with square headlights? Mine is a 1968 Apache so should have square headlights to be in-keeping with the correct era?

 

No I don't think that's the case, the lower spec models all had round lights (caveat, I think)

[Rally Pack 2000]

Didnt the XL model or some luxury model have square headlights in the UK as well?

[Ray]

XL had square, as did early twin cam, GT and E

 

Ford wanted all of their more top end models to have square lights, but because the round lights produced a better light, the AVO cars and twin cam got round lights from around 1970

[In The Pit]

I'm no expert on MKI's but i'm sure that the following is correct:

 

Early Twin Cam, GT, XL, E and Super had square lights.

 

Late Twin Cam, Base, L, DeLuxe, Sport, Mexico, RS1600, RS2000 had round lights.

 

The rule tended to be (for both MKI & MKII Escorts) low spec and sports models had round, higher spec and luxury cars had square.

[Herr Doktor]

I love this site

 

Thx folks

[colr6]

Going back to the topic question, What determines whether the headlamps are square or round.........surely it's the shape ? ......LOL