One of the great debates when owning a classic car is whether to keep everything completely original or venture into the world of restomods by upgrading parts of the car with modern tech to improve performance, reliability, or usability. With my 1966 Gilbern GT 1800, I’ve been toying with this question ever since I bought it.
My original plan was to keep things largely authentic. I love the character of the Gilbern, and with it being a rare Welsh-built classic, I feel a certain responsibility to preserve its identity. But I also want to drive it more regularly — potentially even daily — and that means some compromises in the name of practicality.
Changing the headlights wasn’t even on my radar.
In fact, it wasn’t on any list of upgrades I had considered. But as is often the case when you’re trawling through parts for something else, I stumbled across a set of LED headlights — and I’ll be honest, I was tempted. Very tempted.
The Modern Appeal of LED Headlights
I’ve seen a fair number of restomods where people fit circular LED headlights to classic cars — often with those halo-style daytime running lights (DRLs) that give the car a distinctive, modern look. While I like the aesthetic, I’m not one to follow the crowd blindly. I prefer doing things a little differently, and luckily, this particular set of headlights seemed to tick that box.
There are, of course, many valid reasons to consider fitting LED headlights to a classic car:
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Improved visibility: LED lights are significantly brighter than traditional halogen units, which is a big win for night driving.
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Modern look and feel: They subtly change the front-end appearance, making the car feel more current without losing its identity.
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Efficiency and longevity: These LEDs promise a 50,000-hour lifespan and use less power — handy for the Gilbern’s electrical system.
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Safety and practicality: Better lighting means better awareness, and the optional DRLs and indicators would add functionality that wasn’t even available back in 1966.
The Lights Themselves
The units I found were 7″ LED sealed-beam headlights specifically designed for right-hand drive vehicles. A quick overview of the spec:
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Voltage: 10–30V DC
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Power: 2×15W beam pattern per unit
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Lumens: 4800lm per light
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Colour temperature: 6000K (cool white)
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Housing: Diecast aluminium
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Lens: Polycarbonate
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Waterproof rating: IP67
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Extras: Built-in DRL strip and optional indicator wiring
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Plug type: Standard H4/H13 with a 3-prong connector
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Price: £135 from the Original Café Racer Co. via eBay
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Bonus: No wiring changes required – plug and play to a degree!
Installation on the Gilbern GT 1800
Surprisingly simple.
I unscrewed the chrome outer trim (just one screw), then removed the light unit itself (three screws). There was a rubber seal to peel off, and once that was done, I simply unplugged the original bulb and slotted in the new LED unit. The new light uses the same three-prong H4 connection, so it was as easy as plug-and-play.
Even better — it fit right into the original headlight bucket, secured with the same hardware. Chrome ring back on. Job done.
I turned the key, flicked on the headlight switch, and — boom — both dipped and main beam worked perfectly. So I repeated the process on the other side. All in, it took less than 30 minutes. That’s quicker than brewing a proper pot of tea.
Daytime Running Lights & Indicators… Coming Soon?
Where things get a little more technical (and beyond my current skillset) is wiring in the DRLs and the optional indicators. The lights have a strip across the centre that acts as a DRL, which I’d love to get working. There’s also an option to connect them to the car’s indicator wiring, which would improve visibility when signalling — especially useful on a classic where the existing flashers can be a bit, well, subtle.
For now, though, I’ve left those wires disconnected. This might be something I tackle in Part 2, or I may enlist some help from someone more electrically inclined. Watch this space.
Aesthetics vs Authenticity
Visually, the new headlights give the Gilbern a slightly more purposeful, updated look. I’m actually really pleased with how they’ve turned out. They don’t scream “modded” from a distance, but up close, there’s definitely a more modern feel — especially when switched on.
I’m still deciding whether they clash slightly with the two original spotlights mounted on the front. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. You tell me — I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts.
I’m also conscious that this is probably the most visible, modern change I’ll make to the car. Most other modifications I’ve got in mind will be either hidden or completely reversible. This one, while subtle, definitely changes the car’s face — quite literally.
Would You?
So, what do you think? Would you upgrade the lights on a classic like the Gilbern, or keep it completely period-correct? Is it a tasteful improvement, or a step too far?
Let me know in the comments or drop me a message — especially if you’ve wired in DRLs before and fancy offering some advice for part 2…
