it was far too dim for something that needed to be noticed.
NT
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6 years ago
OT - Old British Cars
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6 years ago
The ultimate example of an important instrument being placed well out of the driver's eyeline was on my mum's old Renault 14. The temperature gauge was on the centre console, behind the gear lever housing. Not somewhere that you check every so often while your driving - unless you take your eyes off the road ahead.
My sister was once driving the car and the engine seized up because a hose had burst. The needle on the gauge was in the red zone - but no warning light came on the dashboard and you don't tend to look down by the gear lever when you're driving.
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6 years ago
and if you signalled left turn the driver of the car (or motorbike) sitting right behind you couldn't see the signal. My dad got shunted by someone on a motor bike doing that very thing - the bike rider came off the worst, luckily only shaken up a bit.
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6 years ago
I added a pair of indicators from a kit to my MG TC in the mid 60's.
Incidentally, I was overtaken yesterday by a brand spanking new and very shiny Morgan three-wheeler; bright red, nippy and with a lovely throaty exhaust. I didn't know they'd started making them again. Two
1-litre pots at the front, in the classic V arrangement, so lots of power there (although I thought the originals were 500cc pots).I want one (but totally impractical for most purposes, so it'll never happen)!
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6 years ago
You really do talk bollocks, harry.
The electrical selector arrived with the Silver Shadow in the '60s. The two previous auto models had a mechanical selector on the steering column.
Older cars with a manual box generally had a right hand floor change.
Which is irrelevant anyway as it is still the gear selector.
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6 years ago
The actual bulb had a separate switch, IIRC, and didn't come on until the indicator was fully up. So adding a flashing circuit for the bulb wouldn't have been difficult. The problem was more the weedy bulb - only 6 watts or so unlike the 21 for flashers. And a much smaller area of light.
One snag with trafficators was they weren't always visible to the rear of the vehicle.
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6 years ago
On my SD1, if I adjust the steering wheel for the most comfortable position, the top of it masks most of the speedo. Think the designer must have been used to the old Mini driving position.
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6 years ago
Top Gear tested one when it still had the old three presenters.
Very much a niche product as it offers nothing over a more conventional 4 wheel design.
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6 years ago
Fortunately they'd dropped that idea by the time mine was made, But it did eventually suffer from a snapped throttle cable,
It was an early enough model to have the dreaded sealed for (very short) life king pins though.
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6 years ago
And ignition switch on the LEFT
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6 years ago
In article , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes
They weren't - they were British rubbish, but are now continental rubbish.
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6 years ago
Also A35. Often had to lean back and thump the one behind my ear when turning right.
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6 years ago
The 70s that Corbyn harks back to.
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6 years ago
In article , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes
Riley 1.5 Twin carbs
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6 years ago
Very true. That ancient pushrod V8, based on a US design, was just what is needed in a modern car. Along with the 3 speed US auto. And Citroen suspension. The final body style from Rolls must rank as one of the ugliest cars made. Apart from the current one, obviously.
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6 years ago
No need to hype it up. All Riley 1.5 had twin carbs.
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6 years ago
Fitted to the sit-up-and-beg popular ISTR. (The one prior to the one in the 100e Anglia shell)
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6 years ago
Very much less, in fact, but it has style and is quite unique in it's appearance and design, whereas conventional 4-wheel Morgans, although more stylish than a lot of sports cars, are still just ... well ... another sports car.
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6 years ago
It's certainly different. But I'd like that difference to be an asset. No real point otherwise. Three wheelers where originally made so you could drive a car on a motorbike licence. And or to keep costs down. If neither of those apply, a bit pointless to me. Different if you have an original.
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6 years ago
In message , Chris Hogg writes
Wash your mouth er... fingers with something caustic!:-)
I ran a 1956 series II 4/4 for about 20 years. The Ford 100E engine and
3 speed box didn't do a lot for it but there was lots of roadside admiration and other drivers giving way politely.Piston slap led to an upgrade with a 122E GT from a crashed Corsair which made it slightly dangerous having drum brakes all round.
Still running round Ipswich last time I looked.
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