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Pop-up headlights are one of the most distinguishing car features of all time, but not all cars sporting them were world-famous.

Pop-up headlights, also known as pop-up headlamps, or hideaway headlights, are a styling feature that conceals a vehicle’s headlights when they are not being used. They first appeared as far back as the mid-30s. The first power pop-up headlamps were introduced in 1938 on the Buick Y-Job concept, but it wasn't until 1962 that power hidden headlights were featured on a production vehicle – the Lotus Elan.

Automakers in America often used pop-up headlights as a way of circumventing the headlight height regulations. However, there are pedestrian-protection provisions restricting protuberances from car bodies, so automakers rarely incorporate pop-up headlights nowadays. While automotive enthusiasts may be familiar with pop-up headlights on vehicles such as the 1963–2004 Chevrolet Corvette, 1966-1970 Dodge Charger, and the Lamborghini Miura, let's take a look at less popular cars with pop-up headlights.

Related: Ranking The Fastest Sports Cars With Pop-Up Headlights Ever

The Sonett III version was introduced in 1970, using the same Ford Taunus V4 engine as the Sonnet II. However, Saab completely redesigned the exterior, with the addition of manually popping headlights. The Sonett III had a four-year production run, which ended in 1974, with over 8,368 units built.

The third-generation Sonett was originally designed to compete with European roadsters, but it makes for a great collectible item, with an average price of $11,100 in today's market, according to Hagerty.

The Cizeta-Moroder V16T was billed as the next great Italian supercar, as it was a huge leap from the 8- and 12-cylinder supercars produced during that era. As one of the first production cars with a V16 engine, it would be very easy to miss the sleek styling and focus under the hood.

However, the four popping headlamps won't fail to grab your attention, as they are stacked on each other, in a one-of-a-kind manner. Just nine examples of the Cizeta-Moroder V16T were built, and they go for as much as $665,000.

The Cord 810 was a luxury car produced from 1936-1937. It was powered by a Lycoming 125hp V8 engine and was the very first front-wheel-drive American car with independent front suspension. The Cord 810 was the production car to come with hidden headlamps and the radical horizontal louvered grille design earned it the nickname "coffin nose".

The Cord 810 had a sensational unveiling at the 1935 New York Auto Show, with expected production pegged at 1,000 units per month. However, Cord managed to sell only 1,174 units after the first year.

Related: An Incredibly Rare Convertible Cord 812 Will Be Up For Auction

The Austrian automaker Ledi produced the two-seater AS sports car, based on the Ledl Tanga, from 1981-1987. The Austrian authorities denied Ledi AS permission to sell more than 17 units in the country, even though a total of 249 copies were made, leading to the Ledi AS' obscurity.

All three Ledi AS models – AS 130, AS 160, and AS 160i – featured pop-up headlights with a body made of fiberglass. The headlights were sourced from Porsche 924, while the taillights were lifted from the Ford Granada.

The Bora holds a great historical significance to Maserati, being the first car developed under full Citroën ownership. The Bora is the first Maserati with a four-wheel independent suspension. Compared to most supercars during the '70s, the Maserati Bora was civilized and practical.

The Maserati supercar was equipped with advanced features like pop-up headlights, a hydraulically-powered pedal cluster, and to address the inconvenience many drivers face when entering and exiting their supercars a tiltable steering wheel was added. Just about 564 Boras were made before Maserati pulled the plug in 1978.

The AC 3000ME is a rare mid-engined sports car developed by Peter Bohanna, a Ford engineer, and Robin Stables, a race mechanic and Lotus dealer. The AC 3000ME is powered by a 3.0-liter Ford V6 with an output of 138 hp. It is fitted with pop-up headlights with a lightweight fiberglass body.

Just about a hundred AC 3000MEs were built from 1979 to 1985, so it's not surprising that the sports car slipped under the radar for many. You can get a 1980 AC 3000ME for just $18,000, according to Hagerty.

Related: 10 Things Everyone Forgot About The AC 3000 ME

The Bitter CD is a three-door hatchback coupe, which was inspired by the Opel Styling CD concept car. With its eye-catching design and reliable V8 engine, you could tell the Bitter CD had a promising future the moment it was unveiled at the 1973 Frankfurt Motor Show, with 176 orders for the stylish coupe.

The Bitter CD's exterior featured hideaway headlights, a small front spoiler, and a bigger grille. The 327 cu.in V8 engine puts out 230 hp and 314 lb-ft of torque. By the time production ceased in 1979, there were just 395 CDs built, many thanks to the oil crisis that rocked the world at the time.

In its knock-down form, the Bradley GTII is a luxury sports car kit built by John Chun, the Shelby American designer. The Bradley GTII came with electric pop-up headlights but was most notable for its gullwing doors.

The Volkswagen Beetle chassis-based GTII also features sliding safety glass, improved bumpers, and a reinforced steel roof. A total of 500 GTII cars were built before Bradley Automotive slid into bankruptcy with a debt of over $2.5 million.

While the Clan Crusader was a bit more popular with 315 examples made, the mid-engined version called the Clover lived in obscurity with just 26 examples built from 1985 to 1987. The Clan Clover was powered by a 1,490 cc Alfa Romeo flat-four engine with a rating of 105 hp.

The British sports car was equipped with pop-up headlights, a rear spoiler, and blistered arches. It zooms to 60 mph in under 7 seconds and tops out at 125 mph.

The Indra is one of the most successful models from the Italian automaker Costruzione Automobili Intermeccanica. The Indra and other Intermeccanica models like the Apollo, Italia/Torino, Omega, and Griffith GT all featured a head-turning Italian-themed styling and a dependable V8 engine.

The Indra was designed with a handmade steel body, an independent front suspension, and DeDion rear suspension. All 127 examples of the Indra made during the four-year production run feature hidden headlamps, ZF recirculating ball power steering, and electric windows.

Peter Akpejeluh is a content writer with years of experience in the automotive industry. His love for cars makes crafting colorful stories around them quite effortless. When Peter is not developing automotive content, you can find him taking one of his favorite cars for a spin.