Headlamp flashers
I believe these originated in Italy. In many European countries, it is
illegal to sound the car horn during hours of darkness - unless its an
emergency. As the majority of cars *used* to drive around at night in urban
areas on only sidelights (running lights) and not headlights - it was
customary to 'flash' at intersections to warn of approach. This was
particularly relevant where intersections had flashing orange traffic lights
outside peak traffic periods. Even though towns were well illuminated, the
vast majority of drivers now have headlights on at night. In Sweden (Odd,
please confirm), it has been customary to use dipped headlights at all
times - even in daylight, and this is being trialled soon in France as well.
The 'flashing' habit then extended to overtaking by giving the vehicle in
front a flash as you pulled out to overtake. This was taken to a further
extreme by BMW in its advertising for the 2002 range in the 70's - with a
picture of a 2002 at speed and the caption "Move OVER". As an aside, this
more aggressive use of flashing and 'moving over' seems to have been adopted
by many BMW drivers in the UK who give the impression that only they have a
sole and divine right to use the road and ignore all speed limits.
As far as wiring is concerned, flash circuits (when fitted as standard or an
optional extra) were wired to main beam only, unless specific territorial
requirements stated they should be on dip. The main beam repeater light was
similarly wired and in markets where the law required them to flash on dip,
requirements varied as to whether the main beam light should be used - or
whether a separate indicator should be fitted on the instrument panel.
For wiring diagrams (and their accuracy - or not). It was common practice in
the days before DTP for UK manufacturers to use an 'average' or generic
wiring diagram in handbooks and workshop manuals. There were many detail
differences in wiring looms for many different markets and mostly, those
that did appear, were UK domestic wiring layouts with importers being
supplied with market specific diagrams for dealer use by the Service
Division. In one of my manuals, there are no less than 14 different wiring
diagrams for just one model in one year. Hence, diagrams in handbooks and
manuals were only a *guide* and this became even more important as variable
and market specific safety standards started to emerge, and were often
changed annually. The US is a classic example in which as far as Triumph was
concerned, the cars themselves sold there post 1968, soon became a radically
different breed in their own right. Few diagrams were translatable or
entirely transferable between markets and many enthusiasts today also
overlook the fact that handbooks and manuals were not printed only in
English. If you compound territorial differences with language requirements
with annually changing specifications, you soon have one helluva mess!
FLY-OFF brakes
Much favoured pre-war in competition to gain valuable microseconds from a
standing start. By monting the handbrake between the driver's seat and door
(many different types of Jaguar and Hillman), it meant the driver could use
both arms for gears and brakes and both feet for clutch and accelerator to
get the car going with the least delay.
Jonmac
"I have only once followed a rigid, cholesterol-free diet and it was the
most ghastly afternoon I can ever remember" Denis Norden
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