Allegro Club International

bigmatt1975 · Joined: 04 Jul 2009 Posts: 339 Location: Manchester

Hi

On trying to change my headlamps on my 1981 Series 3 VDP1500 I hit a problem. Embarassed

My lights are not the ones that have the screw in surround, They push onio the alignment screws and have 3 L-Shaped lugs on them they look like that they were made like that and not modified ,Has anybody come across this before and is it possable to get this type of light.

Please Help

Matt Wink

_________________
Matthew Whiteley
1975 Alegro 1300 Super Harvest Gold,running (Named Hector) Harris Mann's Favorite!!
1978 VP1750 BRG To be restored.
1995 Rover 25 Impression x BRG,Daily (named Brian)

Paul-V · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject:

Matt,

I know the type you mean, because I have a pair lurking in my garage that came from a virtually identical VP to yours (rest in pieces GHW 244X)
Could you post a photo of one of your lamps on here, just to make sure?

They were made by Cibie and I think they were fitted because Lucas were on strike at the time!

Lucas lamps with the same fitting method were used on early Austin Metros.

Your alternative is to drill out the rivets holding the backing plates on to the front panel and then fit whole Lucas assemblies from another Allegro.

Laurence · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 1408 Location: Plymouth

Yep, that's exactly what I had to do last year when I bought the Silver VP (1500 S3 1980), I robbed the headlight holder units from an Allegro & fitted them. I fitted (early) Metro light units which I modified slightly so they would fit into the Allegro holder units.
You may be able to source the VP light units with the lugs on from Earlpart 01773 719504, Collectors Car Parts 020 8897 3774, Past Parts 01284 750729 or British Car Parts 01884 35745.
When you remove the headlamp unit from the holder be careful not to lose the tiny black rubber pads which locate in the rim of the holder behind the lamp unit, sometimes they adhere to the back of the lamp unit when its removed then drop off a get lost, sometimes they drop into the water drain holes & disappear into the front panel.
I replace the lost rubber pads with instant gasket silicone sealer, I squeeze a blob of sealer onto the rim corner then leave it to solidify slightly & before it's completely cured I fit the lamp unit which squashes the blob of sealer to form the shape of a rubber pad, cheers, Laurence.