The use of 4 headlamps was approved by federal law sometime in
the 1956 session of Congress. It then had to be approved by
each state individually. Some states had overriding laws that
gave automatic approval to federal standards but a few did not.
Therefore, these few states' legislators had to meet and vote on
this issue. All eventually approved.
Because not all had approved at the beginning of 1957 model
production which gets into full swing in August/September,
equipment for both dual and quad lamps had to be available from
all factories.
Regards Chrysler Division, the Nov. 7, 1956, Letter of
Announcement for the 300C (this model being a late introduction)
includes dual headlamps as standard equipment but only three '57
300Cs were built prior to that. There were 51 300Cs built
during the month of December. A further letter dated Dec. 12,
1956, states that all 300Cs will be built with four headlamps,
however a few serial number cars higher than approx. #0030 have
been found with 2 headlamps from the factory.
While these are 300C production numbers, I believe the dates are
probably relevant to all Chrysler production if not close for
the entire industry.
Wayne
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Whitman" <rwhitman@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2000 10:39 AM
Subject: '57's: History of dual vs. quadrilight headlights?
Does anyone have the history of the transition to 4 headlights
in 1957.
Which states had not yet legalized the 4 light system and why?
Did some
pass it through, halfway through the model year, so some cars
sold in that
state are 2-light and some are 4-light? Was it legal to buy a
car from a
4-light state and register it in a 2-light state? I bet one of
you folks
out there knows all about it, I gotta know!!
-Robert in Kansas (a 2-light or 4-light state?)
-'60 Adventurer
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