Hello everyone,

I am the proud new owner of a 1932 AH Tourer and have taken her for her first few trips out over the weekend.

Whilst from reading this forum I understand there are differing opinions on fitting non-original items on people’s cars I am planning to install indicators on her. Would anyone be able to assist me as to the types and styles of indicators they have fitted to their cars which are in keeping with its vintage and where I could purchase such items?

I look forward to your assistance.

Nathan

I fitted some A30 sidecar units with orange bulbs which look great BUT are useless at indicating to other traffic because they are so small!

Not sure what there is around that looks right but just make sure they are highly visible so people can actualy see them, unlike mine!

Steve

Hi Nathan,

I recently saw a supplier for an indicator system at the Brooklands Autojumble they were;
Austin Reproduction Parts Ltd
Tel: 01202 694351
This system was 12v or 6v included 4 ruberoid lamps, indicator switch , flasher unit and fixing brackets.
Cost from £65. Expensive but looked good and unobtrusive.

I too flap my arms at the moment and have thought about changing.

Regards

Chris

I wouldn't worry too much about the vintage aspect, much better to be seen! I have just purchased a set of amber indicators from Vehicle Wiring Products. A phone call to 0115 9305454 will get you a catalogue showing these, the flasher units and other useful stuff. The items I have fitted are Ref INDUFLBO on page 86. I have used the original panel switch.
Ron

I don't have indicators fitted to my Chummy and it is a deficiency which is high on my list to attend to.

The other recommendations are all good, but don't discount a visit to your local motor cycle shop.

I have seen some fairly natty devices at mine.

I intend to try and fit mine so that they can be relatively easily "dismantle" if the need arises.

Easy at the rear, but probably will require drilling the wings at the front.

I also must get around to decent rear stop and tail lights.

This is one area to quite definitely dismiss notions of originality. A badly crumpled A7, so caused because you intentions were not obvious to the other driver would be even less original.

Regards

Barry R.

Thanks for the assistance so far!

I think I have made my decisions on the type and locations of lights now its the digging deep into my pockets and making the purchase.

Another question, I am intending to install brake lights at the same time (so people can tell when I am braking as well as turning!!). Now the question is what ampage wiring should I use for the brake light wires?

Thanks again.

Nathan

No need to drill the wings, especially if you have a chrome rad. The popular location is to mount the front flashers on small right angle brackets bolted through one of the fastenings between the chrome surround and the flitch plate.
They are pretty easy to see from a wide enough angle.
A discretely mounted LED gives a warning that they are flashing. I have fitted an "A7 lookalike" rotary switch purchased from Auto Electric Supplies (phone 01584 819552), item 080906. I removed the 12V centre mounted bulb and replaced it with a LED and dropper resistance to suit 6V.
Ron

Brake light wiring needs to allow for 3 amps to each lamp, so I suggest wiring it all in cable rated at least 6 amps. Flashing indicators also draw 3 amps per lamp (18 watts divided by 6 volts)

Thanks Robert

Hi All
I did not like to add indicators to my Austins and rely on hand signals during the day, making sure the car behind has taken notice before changing direction.
For night driving I have made up an indicator board to strap on the luggage rack. This has high vis tape across the centre portion to compensate for the minimal rear lights and twin indicators on either side. I used twin indicators to get the 42 watts in the circuit not having front indicators.
Each car is fitted with a trailer socket discreetly between the rear wing and body to plug in the indicator board. I found a cheap source of flasher units on Ebay from a Series 1 landrover specialist and also some new illuminated switches which I have mounted out of sight below the dashboard. I only generally drive on out of town roads at night and I take the view (rightly or wrongly?) that only the vehicles behind really need to be aware of your intention to turn at junctions.
Cheers
Gordon

Gordon, I think you'll find that legally speaking your trailer board solution is well outside the requirements of the road vehicles lighting regs and the Construction & Use regs, even if it's well meant. If you fit indicators,(even albeit temporarily)then they have to comply in all respects.

Part of the requirements are that you have to have them both front and rear.

I was not sure if the reg's would only apply if the indicators were actully fitted to the car rather than on a loose board. I suppose if I mounted the the board on wheels and towed it, then it would become a legal trailer??? without effecting the construction and use reg's as regards the car.

Gpordon

.

Gordon,


I reckon that you have just hit on this year's golden marketing opportunity.

Please may I take shares in the 'Trailerlamp Company'?

Mike

Sorry chaps but as I understand it if you fit flashing indicators you have to have the full set. If you pull a trailer with flashers fitted then the car must also have them fitted. If the car has them then so must the trailer.

I'm with Reckless on this one.

On the subject of how to fit any form of extras, I prefer to do it in such a way as to allow easy reversion to standard later and not cut holes everywhere.

Fit a piece of sheet metal trapped between the number plate and its bracket, sticking out each side of the number plate enough to take the indicator lamps. This way you can use the existing number plate mountings without having to drill any more holes. It also works both front and rear.

Above all, make sure the indicators are big and bright enough to do the job intended.

Martin

I don't know if you can see the indicators on this special I built some years back, but the indicators are off a 1980s Suzuki Motor bike - you should be able to pick up a set at a bike breakers (google if you don't know one) - they'll be 12v but you can change the bulbs.

I shall join in ---- I fitted 6v motor bike indicators, as stated above by an extended plate to the front and rear number plates. Re. the trailer board, Dave Mann has a trailer board over his spare wheel to make sure those following him can see the car, but he takes it off (multi-pin connector) at rallies - he of course has front flashers as well.

I found most flashers sold did not have much in the way of reflectors, mine in fact were black plastic on the inside, so I painted them white to increase the reflected light - it works. Re. the interior repeator light/lamp - I fitted mine ( a bright led) into a round switch housing (the type that use to be on dolls houses etc) and mounted it on the metal strip above the windscreen in my RP - I also have a couple of switches up there as well, one for the (replacement) electric wiper motor and the other for a period interior rear light.

Now if I can master putting pictures on here all would be clear - help Mike W, please.

Sandy

With reference to the lack of relectors in the indicators,I laminated some kitchen cooking foil and then cut to size to fit behind the indicator bulb

.

Sandy,

You said ........

'Now if I can master putting pictures on here all would be clear - help Mike W, please.'

I really am trying! Honest!!

See my posting of 11.49 on 6th.
"Putting Pictures on the Forum - part 2."

Mike

Some useful stuff here on legal requirements:
http://www.westfield-world.com/svalights_front.html

Note the requirement for minimum separation of front indicators, measured to the inside edge of the lens. You could easily fall foul of these requirements if fitting indicators to the sides of the A7 radiator cowl. Make sure your brackets are long enough!

John

For the Peking/Paris trip I put on some nice chrome ones from Paul Goff they are great,good quality,and only £12.99 for a pair.I have to say that I of the firm opinion that every A7(old car) should have them the modern driver just does not register wavy hands or the original rising arms anymore.A set of indicators is far better than a bashed A7 and a sore head. Most importantly, it does the old car movement harm when incidents are caused by our reluctance to be more proactive on the safety front, some EU puppet is just waiting for any excuse to get us oldies of the road.(I mean the cars!)
Chris

Hi,
I have used the "Robbolite" type lamps for German TÜV approval (they are e-marked) :







I have also used them before on Vintage and PVT cars - in my opinion they are not too modern in appearance.
Get them from http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/398

Regards,
Ralf

Another picture from the front :



I was able to fit them without drilling any hole, they come complete with mounting bracket.
You can buy them with red, orange or clear lens - I used the clear one for the front indicators and dipped the bulb in transparent orange paint (Tamiya for models).

Regards,
Ralf

As I'm being flash with the photo's (thumbnails, so click on them to enlarge) here's my front indicators attached to a bar behind the number plate.

As several of you have shown pictures of your indicators I thought I would try to add my variation.I've tried to follow Mike's instructions for thumbnailing but it could be a disaster but nothing ventured etc.
I've added motorcycle flashers for the front adjacent to my "flippers". The rear are on brackets by the number plate. I'm told they are easy to see and the MOT tester raised no objection. Richard Tatton

.

Richard,

I am relieved to see that my instructions, as well as your reading of them, both worked so successfully.

As an aside, has everybody noticed that when the thumbnail has been clicked to full size, then when the cursor is over the picture it becomes a small plus sign (+). Clicking again at this point will further enlarge the image.

Well - it does for me!

Mike

I have used the "mini catseye taillight" supplied by Custom Fasteners for both indicator and taillight on special no.2.

You can buy these in various combinations to get the best price depending on how many you want. They come with red lenses, but amber lenses are available.

see: www.safe-servers.co.uk/~cfasten/acatalog/Taillights.html

and scroll down the page. Worth looking at their "indicators" page but I feel some of these are a bit small for our purposes.

Regards, Stuart





www.safe-servers.co.uk/~cfasten/acatalog/Taillights.html