All 48 states (no federal laws back then) and 10 provinces had to change
their regulations to accept the 4-headlamp system. As there were still
holdouts in 1956 most manufacturers elected to hold off until the 1958 model
year. Thus DeSoto, Chrysler and Imperial had the choice of single or dual
headlights, depending on state / provincial regulations. When the 1957
model year began, Chrysler of Canada offered the 4-beam system only on
imported cars, where provinces allowed them.
Nash offered only duals in 1957, stacked duals yet, but with sales being so
low I suppose AMC didn't feel it was worth offering singles. 1957 Lincolns
look like they have dual headlights but the lower ones are foglamps.
Bill
Vancouver, BC
----- Original Message -----
From: Wayne Graefen
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 6:03 AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Fwd: Get Ready For Winter
Some early production '57 Chrysler 300Cs had single headlights. The US
states were in the process of changing their headlight laws and federal law
had to be approved by each state legislature. California was the last state
to accept the new law due to the meeting dates of its legislature. The
particular car shown happened to be sold new in California. We don't know
the exact number of cars that were equipped with single lamps but not too
many because the 300s didn't start production until most of the state laws
got changed. Then dealers had a retrofit kit to put 4 headlights into the 2
headlamp-equipped cars and most of the cars got updated.
Wayne
----- Original Message -----
From: Jan & Roger van Hoy
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 11:29 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Get Ready For Winter
The car cover in this ad shows a Chrysler 300, [I'm assuming a '57 though
the grille looks more like a '58] with single headlights. Never seen a 300
C with single headlights.
--Roger van Hoy, Washougal, WA, '55 DeSoto, '58 DeSoto, '56 Plymouth, '66
Plymouth, '41 Dodge
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