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    Posted: 24-September-2025 at 9:12AM
What is everyone running for headlights on their Torinos?  My car still has an ancient set of incandescent sealed beams. I am thinking of at least replacing them with some modern Halogen seal beam bulbs.  Sylvania has their Xtra Vision bulbs, but I am not sure if they actually offer any real improvement.


These ancient lights I have are very dim.  While I don't drive a lot at night, when I do get stuck after dark it can make for a nerve racking experience since I drive rural roads.  I also do not want to go to aftermarket LED lights or anything else that looks too far from stock.
Vince

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72 RS 351 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-September-2025 at 9:38AM
I'm interested too. I bought a plain brand of LED lights to try in my driveable 73, but I haven't tried them yet. I hope they look somewhat like stock, but I think like most they will be a little odd.

I still have the old Cibie lights I bought for my first 72, and those looked very much like stock lights. Back then nothing unsealed was legal, so I was different at the time then(1980). I used H1 and H4 bulbs plus a big starter relay to feed them(80amp), plus thin plastic covers that worked fairly well at protection.

I would suggest trying some sealed halogen lights, hopefully some of those will look normal. I loved my Cibie lights, the plastic covers would have survived a few years I'm sure, and the 400 watts were seriously bright. I doubt that kind are easily found now though, they were made as direct 5.25" headlight replacements, perfect fit. I'd like to find that the LED lights will be nice too if they look okay, as they would take almost no current.
Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker
73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later.
92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CobraJoe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-September-2025 at 10:13AM
Funny that you should ask, as I literally just got done installing my Holley RetroBrights.
They aren't cheap, but I have installed them on a couple of other cars for friends and they really like them despite the cost.
They are really clean, white light. Here they are running off a DeWalt battery:






Edited by CobraJoe - 24-September-2025 at 10:18AM
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72FordGTS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-September-2025 at 1:15PM
I have seen a lot of info about the Holley RetroBrights, but wasn't sure if they were worth the cost.  I have heard they are far better than stock and as good as modern cars.  Do they have flat lenses or curved like the original sealed beams? I can't tell from your photo.  I don't like the look of flat lens, or ones with weird glass patterns, as it's a bit too far from original for me.  Did you run relays so the power to the lights doesn't go through the headlight switch?
Vince

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote CobraJoe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26-September-2025 at 1:07AM
No relays, just plug-n-play.
No weird lens, with a slight curve to them:



1968 Torino GT F Code
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'57 Fairlane, SOLD
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Inkara1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-September-2025 at 4:09AM
I have normal halogen headlights, but I bought a kit to power them off a relay instead of through the switch. It made quite a difference, and was a lot cheaper than the Holley RetroBrights.
1972 Gran Torino station wagon, light blue, 351C 2V, prior owner upgraded to 4V (2V heads), originally had a C4 but prior owner changed to C6 for some reason.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rockatansky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-November-2025 at 4:10AM
any movement on the headlight front? i was just watching Alex Taylor's new vid she pulled out a Peak Lighting LED conversion bulb and remembered this thread. the Peak brand bulbs are hard to find but i did find out that i work 4 miles from Old World Industries headquarters. so i got to geeking out and did a Summit search. narrowed to 5.75" round


some look pretty normal from this distance ... ?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72FordGTS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-November-2025 at 11:33AM
Sort of.  I ended up buying some Sylvania Halogen bulbs, but didn't install yet. I want to get my headlight buckets powdercoated and make up new wiring harness with a relay.  I passed on the LED conversion for now, as I want to see how the halogen perform. The car is stored for winter now so, I will plug away at it over the winter.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72 RS 351 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-November-2025 at 2:35AM
What color are you thinking of for the headlight buckets? I used to want a black out them, bumpers and those, plus maybe a little trim. The cost of chroming a bumper gave me that thought, but I think chrome is the right look.
Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker
73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later.
92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W
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