Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

[Tony S.]

Question: Do any vendors sell modern T-3 headlights for a C2 without the letters DOT in the front glass?

[Leif A.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

Zip Corvette sells the T3 and states that they are "correct in every way". They are DOT approved, but they don't state if the DOT is on the front of the lens or on the rear. If you open the attached link and enlarge the picture of the bulb, you can examine for the DOT...I didn't see it on the lens. Before spending the dollars, I would call them and ask them about the DOT marking. I bought a set from LIC about 8 years ago for the same money and they did NOT have the DOT on the front of the lens.

https://www.zip-corvette.com/60-67-t3-headlight-bulb-set.html

[Tony S.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

Thanks Leif. I'll ask them.
Happy New Year. Tony

[Gary B.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

Tony,

Sometime in the 2015/2016 time frame a vendor on eBay was selling newly made, non-DOT C2 headlamps that were advertised for “off-road use only”. I bought a set which are still in their shipping box with a June 10, 2016 shipping date. A couple of years ago I searched on eBay and was unable to find any such new bulbs. I strongly suspect the vendor was persuaded to stop selling the non-DOT bulbs because of the threat of legal action by some government agency.


The shipping label on the box the bulbs came in says “VetteParts”, “Cortland, IL”. The only Corvette related company I can find in Cortland is Melrose Corvette, which sells numerous Corvette parts, but there is no indication they sell non-DOT headlamps. You might try calling Melrose, but I think you’re going to be disappointed.


Gary

[Troy P.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

I have a pretty good collection of T-3s. I'm sure other members do as well. Every repo will be required to have "DOT".

BTW each C2 year is not the same when it comes to T-3.

As a side note the 3 refers to the 3 aiming tits cast into the glass in order to use Guide's new aiming device that is mounted on the bulb.

[Tony S.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

Thanks Guys!

[Mark F.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

Tony, Sometime in the 2015/2016 time frame a vendor on eBay was selling newly made, non-DOT C2 headlamps that were advertised for “off-road use only”. I bought a set which are still in their shipping box with a June 10, 2016 shipping date. A couple of years ago I searched on eBay and was unable to find any such new bulbs. I strongly suspect the vendor was persuaded to stop selling the non-DOT bulbs because of the threat of legal action by some government agency.

The shipping label on the box the bulbs came in says “VetteParts”, “Cortland, IL”. The only Corvette related company I can find in Cortland is Melrose Corvette, which sells numerous Corvette parts, but there is no indication they sell non-DOT headlamps. You might try calling Melrose, but I think you’re going to be disappointed. Gary

Gary and Tony,

Here's what one website says in reference to federal regs...

"By law, all headlights and tail lights must be DOT approved to be legal for use on all roads and highways in all 50 states of United States. Head or tail lights without DOT approval are intend[ed sic] for off road use only, and are not legal for use on all US roads and highways...."

http://www.carlightings.com/What-is-DOT-SAE_ep_42.html

[Danny P.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

Question: Do any vendors sell modern T-3 headlights for a C2 without the letters DOT in the front glass?

Try David Sokolowski he has originals non DOT with GUIDE bottom ,there expensive

[Troy P.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

What year are you looking for?

[Gary B.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

Gary and Tony,

Here's what one website says in reference to federal regs...

"By law, all headlights and tail lights must be DOT approved to be legal for use on all roads and highways in all 50 states of United States. Head or tail lights without DOT approval are intend[ed sic] for off road use only, and are not legal for use on all US roads and highways...."


http://www.carlightings.com/What-is-DOT-SAE_ep_42.html

[Keith B.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

I thought lectric Limited got Wagnor to make them for them

[Frank D.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

Mark,

I suspect that the vendor who was selling new, non-DOT bulbs in 2016 was told by their legal advisor that the liability was too great to justify the small profit made by selling to people who ignored the warning and used the non-DOT bulbs on street driven cars. It’s probably a case of who has the deeper pockets, the buyer who uses non-DOT bulbs on public roads, or the seller who sold the bulbs with the warning they were for off-road vehicles only. That’s the only reason I can think that that non-DOT bulbs for off-road use are not still being sold.

Gary

Maybe - but plenty of small time distributors of aftermarket LED bulbs put "For Off Road Use Only" and sell a boatload on Amazon and elsewhere so they seem to have dealt with the legal issues.

[Mark F.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

Maybe - but plenty of small time distributors of aftermarket LED bulbs put "For Off Road Use Only" and sell a boatload on Amazon and elsewhere so they seem to have dealt with the legal issues.

Yeah, and I'm wonderin' how many police officers are checking headlamps and taillamps to be sure they have "DOT" on them?

Also, here in PA, "[registered] Antique vehicles operated exclusively between sunrise and sunset are exempt from the normal lighting requirements of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, but must have their original lighting equipment."

So, if you're driving at night (in PA) in your mid-year or earlier, I guess you could be pulled over...

[Gary B.]

[Keith B.]

Re: Non-DOT T-3 Headlights

I thought the newer set of LL T3 has the DOT logo on the back.