Automatic dimming over 60 years ago
08/21/2014
Today's premium manufacturers like to advertise with advanced lighting technology, e.g. with automatically dimming and fading headlights. In fact, the Americans, above all General Motors, already had such systems in the 1950s (1952).
GM called the automatic dip and fade function "Autronic Eye" and described it as an "eye that is faster than your foot" - at that time, you usually switched from dipped to full beam using the foot switch.
The Autronic Eye consisted of a light sensor behind the windshield and a control unit under the hood that could not be overlooked, which acted on the light relay, and was installed in Oldsmobile vehicles, among others.
From 1958, the option was called GuideMatic and could be adjusted inside the car. Ford and Chysler also had similar systems.
The pictures here show an Oldsmobile Super 88 from 1957, which was equipped with the Autronic Eye, which still works today.
The car took part in the Zurich Classic Car Award yesterday, a full report will follow soon.
