Camilla Jessen
Once thought extinct, the legendary pop-up headlight may be making a comeback.
Porsche has officially applied for a patent with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) that suggests a possible return of one of the automotive world’s most nostalgic design features: folding or pop-up headlights.
Once a hallmark of 1980s sports cars, the flip-up headlight hasn’t been seen on production models since the early 2000s.
But according to media outlets including Autoblog and Torquecafe, Porsche’s new filing indicates that the brand could be preparing to bring back the feature.
A Design Made Famous by the Flachbau
Pop-up headlights were once a defining element of Porsche’s 911 Flachbau (“flat nose”) model, introduced in the early 1980s.
The dramatic, aerodynamic look helped boost sales and turn the model into a collector’s favorite.
Today, Flachbau 911s with factory folding headlights are among the most sought-after on the market.
Although many believe pop-up headlights were banned, that’s a misconception.
They faded out primarily due to tighter safety standards — particularly pedestrian protection rules — which made them harder and more expensive to implement.
Why Pop-Up Headlights Disappeared
The disappearance of folding headlights wasn’t driven by legality, but by regulatory pressure and changing consumer tastes.
As auto manufacturers focused more on pedestrian impact zones, pop-up mechanisms became difficult to engineer within the new safety frameworks.
By 2004, the Chevrolet Corvette C5 and Lotus Esprit were the last production cars to feature pop-up lights.
After that, many assumed the quirky feature had been permanently shelved.
But nostalgia runs deep.
Enthusiasts, bloggers, and design purists have long expressed a yearning for the return of folding headlights — not only at Porsche but across the industry.
In recent years, retro design trends have seen a surge in popularity, from boxy off-roaders to vintage color palettes.
Now, Porsche’s patent filing in Alicante has reignited that conversation.
While the brand hasn’t officially commented on the design or its intentions, the move has sparked speculation that a retro-inspired Porsche model could be in the works.
A Bit of History
Although Porsche may be at the center of the conversation now, it wasn’t the first to introduce folding headlights.
That distinction belongs to Ford, with the Cord 810, unveiled at the 1935 New York Auto Show. By the 1960s, the design became a staple on both American muscle cars and European exotics, culminating in its cultural peak during the high-flying 1980s jet-set era.