C3 Corvette Headlights and Exterior Lighting

Sports car enthusiasts will do just about anything to sit in the driver’s seat of a C3 Corvette. As one of the most popular Chevrolet sports cars, owners can enjoy racing body builds, chrome accents, and, most importantly, pop-up headlights to brighten up the front end.

Owning a classic C3 provides the ultimate behind-the-wheel experience. However, Top Flight Automotive enables you to drive at night with our selection of aftermarket headlight components and kits.

The Top Flight Automotive team supports generations of restoration, style, and performance with headlight upgrades specifically for the C3 Corvette. The days of dealing with cracked or yellowing lenses are over, as our C3 headlight parts are engineered to meet or exceed the original specifications of the Chevrolet factory.

When to Replace Your C3 Corvette Headlights

Your headlights are key components of your C3 Corvette. They contribute to your C3’s unique exterior appearance and keep you safe on the road at night and during inclement weather. Issues like cracks, yellowing, and dim illumination can affect the entire look of your Corvette and put you at a higher risk of getting in a traffic accident.

Corvette headlights are used frequently, which can cause damage over time. Regular cleaning is your first line of defense against yellowing. If you clean your headlights routinely and still experience brightness issues, it may be time for a replacement.

One of the easiest ways to identify headlight problems is by paying attention to their brightness at night. While driving during evening hours, partial or total road darkness likely indicates broken or worn headlight components.

C3 Corvettes also utilize pop-up-style headlights with moving parts. These components can become worn or damaged from years of use, and vacuum-operated components can die out. Your headlights may stop responding if there’s an issue with their pop-up mechanisms. When this happens, you can count on Top Flight Automotive for reliable replacement options.

C3 Corvette Headlights from Trusted Manufacturers

Top Flight Automotive is serious about supplying you with headlight technology from leading brands. There are thousands of C3 Corvette headlights and conversion kits on the market, but not all are worth using.

Shop our site to purchase 1968-1982 Corvette headlights and related parts from names you trust:

• American Custom Industries
• Auto Accessories of America
• CA
• Detroit Speed
• General Motors
• Lectric Limited, Inc.
• ORACLE Lighting
• Trim Parts

C3 Corvette Headlight Components

Corvette fans have adored the C3 for nearly 15 years of production runs, showcasing the pop-up headlight design. While these devices operate through an open and closed switch inside the cabin, select models are over 50 years old. Drivers must maintain this area of the C3 front end for visibility and the safety of others on the road.

Whether the headlights of your vehicle get stuck from time to time, bulbs burn out, or you want brighter results, Top Flight Automotive stocks the following replacement pieces and kits for your restoration efforts:

• Headlight switches
• Headlight door kits
• Complete headlight assemblies
• Headlight bulbs
• Bulb retaining rings
• Actuator link springs
• Capsule tension springs
• Bushings
• Headlight bezels
• Headlight shields
• Bulb retainer cups
• Rod seals

1968-1982 C3 Corvette Headlight Switch Components

You need working controls to turn third-gen Corvette headlights on and off. When you shop on our site, you can buy all the replacement pieces and hardware necessary to get your front-end lights working again.

Top Flight Automotive is ready to ship parts like Chevrolet Corvette headlight switch indicator bezels and switch nuts for your next project.

’78 and ’79 Corvette Headlight Assemblies

At Top Flight Automotive, we understand that restoration can feel intimidating. For this reason, we bring our customers a solution for damaged or faded headlights.

Purchasing one of our 1968-1982 headlight assemblies helps you restore right-and-left-side ’78 Corvette headlights and other popular model years. Top Flight Automotive headlight assemblies give you the bulk of what you need for a headlight replacement, such as:

• Mounting brackets
• Bushings
• Actuators
• Springs
• Adjusters
• Sealed-beam bulbs

Headlight assemblies at Top Flight Automotive are designed to be installed without needing exterior modification. Right- and left-side assemblies are sold separately, and you can shop our online store by Corvette make, model, and year for a compatible fitment.

1981 Corvette Headlight Door Kits

With the help of Top Flight Automotive, you can skip the extra step of opening and closing headlamp doors through an Electric Headlight Actuator Kit. This package replaces the vacuum-actuated system that comes stock in C3 Corvettes with an updated electric configuration. A control module corresponds with your headlight on and off switch to automatically open or conceal doors as soon as you power the headlight bulbs.

Installations take just hours to complete, and kits include the following pieces for a straightforward conversion process:

• Two electric actuators
• Control module
• Harness
• Mounting brackets
• Hardware

C3 Corvette Headlight Conversion Kits

Upgrade your original C3 headlights with a conversion kit from Top Flight Automotive. Using a kit is the easiest way to transform your headlight area. You’ll get all the necessary components to modernize your lighting in one convenient package.

We carry C3 Corvette headlight conversion kits from Oracle Lighting, an industry-leading manufacturer. The ColorSHIFT headlight kit is the perfect solution for adding color and flair to your headlight assembly.

This kit features sealed-beam headlights with Oracle’s ColorSHIFT halos pre-installed into the glass headlight housing. The ColorSHIFT halos provide colored lighting for an eye-catching look. You can use the included ColorSHIFT controller to select which colors to display.

The controller has over a dozen pre-programmed color patterns and memory presets to save your favorite colors. Simply connect your control wires to the ColorSHIFT controller wires for dynamic control of the halo assembly.

The kit also includes light-emitting diode (LED) headlight bulbs for powerful, long-lasting illumination. They provide 3,200 lumens of crystal-clear 6000K light output. The bulbs’ electronic components are housed in a sealed, waterproof, heat-sink casing, eliminating the need for cooling fans and external drivers. The bulbs also have a low-profile design for an easy plug-and-play, do-it-yourself (DIY) installation.

C3 Corvette Headlight Bulb Replacements

If you’re noticing one or more of your headlights are burned out or dim, consider ordering replacement bulbs from Top Flight Automotive. We help you keep the restoration process simple with compatible kits and individual bulbs on our online store.

Replace your 1968-1971 Corvette headlights and keep extras on hand with a set of four headlight bulbs manufactured by Lectric Limited, Inc. These reproduction C3 headlights have an OEM design with modern lighting technology for brighter, longer-lasting illumination than the original bulbs.

If you only need to replace one headlight bulb, you can purchase individual sealed-beam halogen bulbs compatible with 1979-1982 Corvettes. These bulbs restore your headlight area with exceptional brightness and longevity.

1968-1982 C3 Corvette Headlight Bezels Online

Headlight bezels surround Corvette lighting. These trims are mainly responsible for tying the front end of your vehicle together, but bezels also work to keep dirt and water away from connections and bulbs. Your 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s Corvette headlight housings can lose color or crack over time. Top Flight Automotive sells replacement bezels made by CA for your convenience.

Get direct-fit headlight bezels you can use with OEM headlight assemblies. The CA designs we carry are produced with molded plastics. Few changes were made to Corvette headlights throughout the third-generation era. This means you’ll have no issue using these components with models from early years, like the 1968 and 1969 ‘Vettes, or the later 1981 and 1982 Corvette headlights.

1968-1982 C3 Corvette Headlight Bulb Retainer Cups

C3 Corvette headlight bulbs must fit correctly to shine in the right direction, and headlight bulb retainer cups are vital to securely holding bulbs. Turn to Top Flight Automotive for 1968-1982 Corvette solutions manufactured by Auto Accessories of America and CA.

Use the C3 Corvette headlight bulb retainer cups available online to finish your project without guesswork. The C3 Corvette headlight bulb retainer cups on our site are nearly impossible to see once the headlight assemblies are fastened. The C3 Corvette headlight bulb retainer cups we sell showcase predrilled openings for threading hardware.

Various Corvette Parts Categories

• Exterior Parts: Our exterior components are designed to enhance the overall appearance and durability of your Corvette, providing both style and functionality.
• Brakes: Quality Corvette brake parts are built to deliver superior stopping power. This guarantees both safety and performance on the road or track.
• Accessories: Custom accessories allow you to personalize your Corvette. They add unique style elements that reflect your individual taste.
• Wheels and Tires: Corvette wheels and tire packages are designed to improve handling and traction.
• Performance Parts: Our performance parts are engineered to boost power, acceleration, and handling. They will help enhance the driving experience.

Explore Parts for Every Corvette Generation

Browse through the pages below to find the right parts for your model.

• C1 Corvette Parts (1953-1962)
• C2 Corvette Parts (1963-1967)
• C3 Corvette Parts (1968-1982)
• C4 Corvette Parts (1984-1996)
• C5 Corvette Parts (1997-2004)
• C6 Corvette Parts (2005-2013)
• C7 Corvette Parts (2014-2019)
• C8 Corvette Parts (2020-present)

Why Choose Top Flight Automotive?

Top Flight Automotive is part of the Extra Mile Brands family of companies, serving the Corvette community for over 40 years. With an extensive inventory of 120,000+ parts for classic restoration, Resto-Mods, and modern performance, we are the largest manufacturer and supplier of Corvette parts.

Our sales team, with over 175 years of combined experience, is here to assist you. Let’s explore our full line of C3 Corvette headlight components from trusted manufacturers like Auto Accessories of America and American Car Craft.

FAQs

What are the signs of a failing C3 headlight actuator?

Slow or non-responsive pop-up headlights, buzzing noises, or headlights that remain stuck open or closed often indicate actuator failure.

Can I convert my vacuum-operated headlight system to electric?

Yes. Our electric headlight conversion kits for C3 Corvettes replace the vacuum system and operate smoothly using included modules and actuators.

Are LED headlight upgrades street legal?

Many LED upgrades meet DOT compliance. However, you should always check local regulations before installing modified lighting systems.

Shop Top Flight Automotive for C3 Corvette Headlights

Discover top-tier C3 Corvette headlights at Top Flight Automotive. Browse our vast inventory of premium components from trusted brands like Auto Accessories of America and American Car Craft.