I just received a pair of original 7” Lucas headlamps (LUB384) with matched H4-lightbulbs (LLB472) and sidelights (LLB233) from a Swedish wholesaler for spare parts to classic British cars. I could feel that something was wrong as soon as I pulled them out of the box:

- cardboard boxes were sealed with regular office tape
- packaging of the headlamps was made with plastic wrapper
- glass seemed a bit thin, compared to my old originals
- glass was not well centred within the steel rim
- rubber sealing around the glass was uneven
- “Lucas” logo in centre of glass was looking weak and crude
- cutting pattern in the glass looked more like a design thing rather than being there to direct light correctly
- the sidelamp socket seemed simple and was made of a cheap piece of metal
- The bulb cover was made of bad quality rubber containing air bubbles
- Etc. etc.

Well, overall, the quality was far from impressing…

Also, the picture of a lightbulb on the H4-box was low-resolution (large pixels) and words on the box like “trademark” was misspelled “trade mark”. Words like “if” was spelled “it”

As I have bought parts from China before (mostly tools for watchmaking actually…) it gets quite easy to recognize this kind of bad build quality and word misspellings that tells that the parts are not original, nor built in Europe.

A quick Internet search made it clear that the headlamps are identical to the India made Autopal headlamps (that I was thinking of buying first, but now when I see them I would never put them in my car). Actually there are many “serious” e-shops (autoelectricalspares.co.uk for example) that keeps both the Autopal and Lucas headlamps in stock, even though it is very clear that they are identical to all aspects and should not be sold as Lucas originals.

Just to know if the light bulbs also were counterfeits; I made a quick search on the H4-bulbs and found a Lucas catalogue from 1983 showing dimensions of the original bulb. Of course nothing was similar with my bulbs. Not even the electrical connections; they were rotated 90 degrees compared to the original. Surprised?

Now I will confront the selling company and see what happens.

Please look at the pictures below that shows the counterfeit headlamps.

https://db.tt/dy3sfOK0
Original (left) and fake (right) headlamps. Compare the Lucas logo, glass thickness and cutting pattern.

https://db.tt/VhVSpMQZ
Comparison between original and fake light bulbs

https://db.tt/EpDb2waA
All fake parts included in kit

https://db.tt/hENgnmA0
Packaging of fake headlamps

https://db.tt/C6gvJAGs
Back of fake headlamp

https://db.tt/IDApeNOX
Picture on light bulb box

 

Good afternoon,

I was just curious if you had any follow-up on this subject? I've purchased the same lamp, came in the same packaging and wondered about the same; glass thinner, not centered, I even had problems getting it in the rimm and fit it into its shell.
Actually it is the second one; the first one's glass cracked when I tried putting it in the rimm.

I've purchased this one as I'm trying to keep my old bike as original as possible but I couldn't find similar to the worn original I have (Lucas 7366 (LHD flat glass)). But I think we can carefully say "they don't make 'm anymore as they use to" ...