Rear lights - improvement?

[iangotts]

I have thought long and hard about what to do with the Rover SD1 lights as they drag the car back into the 1980's. The problem is the lights are below the bumper and most new cars have the lights higher up above the bumper - even the Lotus Esprit, which is why the circular light conversion worked. So, moving the lights would require serious modifications of the wings and the lights would cut into the bootlid.

So I opted out and went for the dark grey look, which I think is an improvement. Simply a grey perspex panel cut to fit neatly inside the bumper and glued on top of the godawful SD1 lights.

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Check out the new MOT rules re: lights and smoked covers. IIRC they are aiming to exclude dark lenses as the young dudes on the tuning scene have taken it too far.

Apart from that. It still looks eighties and it's a bit "aftermarket" for me.

[iangotts]

Peter

Thanks for the heads up on MOT. I will check it out.

[iangotts]

I guess the only other approach is to go back to the existing SD1 lights, and make sure I never approach the car from the rear, so I never have to look at it.

[Excel NT]

I think it is a good compromise to try and improve/change the look whether it is successful is purely a matter of opinion. I applaud you for your subtle Excel modding.

Have you considered bonding a clear piece between the two ends to make it flush (like the M100 Elan rear)

[iangotts]

Now there's an idea, and I can make the reflectors under the clear rather then smoked glass so that it passes its MOT.

[royal]

(I have thought long and hard about what to do with the Rover SD1 lights as they drag the car back into the 1980's). Which ever direction you approach the car from it is a wedge shape, ergo it is a late 70's early 80's, car you cannot escape that. It sits alongside the Esprit, TVR, TR7, and dare I say it Austin Princess. You can do as many mods as you like but you can't hide the shape which screams 1980. That's why I like it Keith

[MrCoolA]

i always fancied the round lights from the Elise. if any one is able to manipulate a picture to see what it would be like it would be appreciated

[Mr Locust]

Can't say the smoked panels do it for me

Modern round lights on a flat panel? Couple of pairs of these.

http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/product/hella-pr ... il--pair-/

[iangotts]

The Lotus Esprit successful made the leap from SD! style to round lights, but had more space to work with

[bash]

I dont know if this is true, but, allegedly the sloping cover over the elan rear plate had the effect of bouncing camera flash !!, but I wouldnt want to try it. I have also considered a full width cover and even made one but decided not to because of possible sealing problems letting in condensation, it looked good tho.

Bash

[Mr Locust]

Hides the tail lamps in a more tasteful way.

Personally I like the Rover lights.

[muphy]

Have you considered bonding a clear piece between the two ends to make it flush (like the M100 Elan rear)

Just a thought Ian, how about cutting one single piece of clear perspex and then using your choice of (Colour & Opacity) tint film on the inside of the perspex at either end to cover the lights. I think that would be a stronger solution to bonding 3 pieces together (If I understand Excel NT correctly)

Mark

[MrCoolA]

The Lotus Esprit successful made the leap from SD! style to round lights, but had more space to work with

that's the kinda thing i like.............may have a play some time........

[Lotus-e-Clan]

i can't see it working. As already mention by someone, the lights are low in the bumper and so that dates it. No changes I can think of will stop it still looking dated or looking "contrived".

To make a worthwhile job of it you'd need to remodel the bumper to look like a bumper san-lights and somehow relocate the lights higher up at boot-lid level.

VERY ROUGH IMPRESSION ... note single multifuncion rear lights!



Just keep it STANDARD ... much better!