Hi
I have a 1985 124 spider that I purchased in europe and bought back to australia in 1992.

I would like to instal headlights with the correct RHD cutoff ....are there special lights required?
should I look for lights and the mounting bowls (that screw to the body and are hidden from view by the headlights themselves) from a 124 AC coupe?
My local parts outlet sells 7" lights but the mounts are totally different to the fiat and I cannot see a way to adapt them.

any comments appreciated.
thanks
Steve

I'm not very familiar with the 124 Spider but am with the 124 Coupes and other RHD Fiats (in a past life) You might not have to change the headlamp bowls, just the lamps.
Iirc the 124AC headlamp unit was also fitted to various other Fiat models incl 124 Saloon (Sedan) + Estate (Wagon), 850 + Coupe, later 600, 1100, early 128 etc., also the Lada (don't know if you got these in Oz). As you have found the Fiat h/l mountings are different from the norm using iirc a system of pressed steel forks with attached spring clip and an arrangement of cupped washers and a small coil spring (like a smaller version of brake shoe to backplate hold downs) to hold the lamp
against the headlamp bowl.
Good luck, hope you find something suitable,
Al.

Hi Al

thanks for your reply.

your description of the method of mounting was spot on.

I did locate a new set of RH headlights from a 850 coupe with the correct mounts...unfortunately the spider headlight also includes its sidleight/parking light whereas the 850 coupe light does not have that provision


so the hunt continues.

thanks again

steve

Hi Steve, thanks for the update. I'm fairly certain that the 124 Saloon(Sedan) and Estate had the sidelight/parking light built into the headlamp, also possibly? the 850 Saloon/Sedan?, early 128 Saloon/Sedan and I suspect some of the early Lada's. The reason I suggested keeping your original headlight bowls is that some chrome H/l rings/bezels? are fitted with a clip/step at the top and a screw at the bottom but others are the opposite, didn't want you to fit new bowls and headlights only to then find your rings/bezels wouldn't fit ! Ah, the joys of trying to adapt similar parts to keep an old car on the road !
As always, good luck in your quest
Regards,

Al.

Hi Steve, some other suggestions for your consideration :-

1) If getting desperate, you might be able to use RHD headlight glasses fitted to your existing headlamp reflectors. Some Fiat h/l glasses are 'glued' to the reflector with some sort of sealant/adhesive. The dip beam pattern on these older lamps is afaik controlled by the 'fluting' on the inside of the glass, I don't think the bulb holder position is any different between RHD and LHD lamps.The sealant can be removed with something like a Dremel (high speed mini drill) fitted with a rotary burr.

2) It might be possible to use standard 7'' replacement headlights and bowls similar to what you found in the local parts suppliers and modify as necessary to accept your headlamp chrome bezels. I don't know about in Oz but in the UK , e.g. MGB headlamps and bowls are readily and (relatively)cheaply available.

3)There is a Co. called DTR Sportscars in the UK which has imported a lot of LHD 124 Spiders for sale in the UK ( afaik www. dtrsportscars.co.uk), maybe they can suggest something or have something available. I can however appreciate you probably don't want to order from the UK- cost!!!

4) THe best/easiest solution is probably as you reasoned in your OP, to use 124AC headlamps but they're probably getting scarce now?

5) Have you tried NZ ? I know there's a lot of interest there in older Fiats.

Regards,

Al.