The Cord 810 of 1935 is credited as the pioneer of hidden headlamps. Alfa Romeo followed suit in 1936 with a custom example of the inline-eight 8C, and who could forget the Buick Y-Job from 1938?
Better known as pop-up headlamps due to the most popular concealing mechanism in the history of hidden headlamps, this form of automotive lighting became extinct in 2004 over safety concerns. The final series-production cars to feature pop-up lights are the Lotus Esprit V8 and fifth-gen Corvette.
When it comes to German automobiles, the 930-series 911 Slantnose comes to mind. Known as Flachbau in Germany, the Slantnose is best described as 930 with 935-inspired looks for the front end. Initially available via the Special Order Program, then directly from the factory beginning in 1987, the Flachbau styling package went official in 1981.
948 examples of the breed were finished in total, with 160 of them ending up in the United States market. Hugely collectible in this day and age, the 930-series Flachbau inspired the renderings attached in the photo gallery. Coming courtesy of pixel artist Glen Cordle, the red 992-series Turbo S with pop-up headlamps definitely ticks all the right boxes.
The louvers on the top of the front fenders only add to the visual drama, together with the retro wing out back and retro side air intakes. The wheels, meanwhile, are Exclusive Manufaktur 20s and 21s that retail at $2,490 at the moment of writing.
Photo: glen.cordle on Instagram
Unfortunately for pop-up headlamp enthusiasts, these headlamps were outlawed more than two decades ago. Safety regulations are one thing, but you also have to take into account that the pop-up mechanism adds complexity to already complex vehicles. Worse still, if the mechanism fails at night, you'd likely wish your car came with conventional headlamps.
Regarding the 992 Neunelfer in Turbo S attire versus the 930 series, they couldn't be more different under the skin. From the much punchier flat-six engine to the fancy all-wheel-drive system and the dual-clutch transmission (to the detriment of the original's manual), the 992 is on a different level from its ancestor.
Special editions such as the 911 S/T and 911 GT3 RS may be pricier, but the 911 Turbo S is the quickest road-going Neunelfer that money can buy. Retailing at $230,400 in the US of A, the Turbo S requires 2.6 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour), onto a top speed of 205 mph (330 kph).
It's going to get even quicker, though, because the mid-cycle refresh of the 992 will bring forth some hybrid assistance. The 992.2 Turbo S is expected to belt out between 700 and 800 metric ponies, which is McLaren Artura and Ferrari 296 territory.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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