Always seems like the old T3 healight bulbs are on eBay and sometimes sell for a gob of cash...

Are they really that desireable or are folks smoking the drapes, or what?

I have a couple on the '70 that have one of the 3 connection tabs broken off of and wondering if they're salvageable or are they throw-aways...?

Only NICE CONDITION T3 headlights are desired by restorers because these are original equipment. I think there are reproduction T3's now. The T3 would certainly not be better than a nice halogen lamp.

T3's are desirable because of the T3 logo. They do not throw better light than a modern halogen replacement.

I have taken T3 bulbs with broken terminals and soldered the terminal back on with a propane torch on low flame. Not done it often, but never had failed at it.

IMO, E-bay gets a lot of money for these, but you can find 'em at a good ol' swap meet for a few bucks if you look long enough.

Hey, they're good enough to meet the 1940 lighting standards!
I pulled a complete working original set from my '67 and replaced them with halogens. A real difference! The T-3s are good mainly because they are a visible original part, that's all.

Thats pretty much it. They are the original headlight. As for the quality of light you get with them, they are a waist of money. Even if I had a 100% stock restored car, there aint no way i would use those over a modern halogen lamp. They are much more safe and show way more in front of you at night anyways.

I guess that's what I expected to hear.

We're a ways off yet from needing headlights, but remembering back to the El Camino I had after high school, those lights were pretty dang'd dim compared to modern halogen and probably even worse compared to those new Zenon ones I see advertised.

A complete restoration sounds like the only real time to use T3s I suppose.

Thanks guys - was just curious...