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I saw the picture of this mini and just wondering whats the use of that light accessory, I know it says is a parking light, but the mini already has the rear flashing lights. Is it used while parked or when parking?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30268259@N03/4968251001/

It's used when the car is parked, usually at night so the drunk, driving home from the local would hopefully, see the light and not drive into your pride and joy.

Radfords had some small ones, on the Bpost too.

Thanx, It's actually a good idea to avoid drunken drivers form crashing your car with these lights.

I think they were a legal requirement upto the early 1960s on a car which was parked in the street, in town, all night. They generally plugged into a little socket fitted somewhere on or under the dashboard. It was relatively unusual in those days to keep a car in the street and many people who had no garage or driveway hired a garage locally.

German cars of the period had circuitry so that, if you switched the ignition off with the indicators on, the indicator lamps on that side would remain lit. The law required that a vehicle parked on the street was lit - and the indicator switch saved battery life by only using power to light one (the road) side.

Cheers, Ian

German cars of the period had circuitry so that, if you switched the ignition off with the indicators on, the indicator lamps on that side would remain lit.

They still have...

1071 S wrote:German cars of the period had circuitry so that, if you switched the ignition off with the indicators on, the indicator lamps on that side would remain lit. The law required that a vehicle parked on the street was lit - and the indicator switch saved battery life by only using power to light one (the road) side.

Cheers, Ian

And Subarus up until my latest one had a well hidden rocker switch on top of the steering column that would turn on the parking lights without a key in the ignition. It was in the perfect position to be accidently tripped while cleaning the interior.
There are several Subaru message boreds with a sticky named "Help! My parking lights are on and I can't turn them off!"
I was almost ready to disconnect the battery when I did it.

There will be a couple of NOS boxed ones of those exact lights available very soon

M

JC T ONE wrote:Radfords had some small ones, on the Bpost too.

Here's a Radford one.



This Type 3 1500 Karmann Ghia has one mounted on the front wing.

1071 S wrote:German cars of the period had circuitry so that, if you switched the ignition off with the indicators on, the indicator lamps on that side would remain lit. The law required that a vehicle parked on the street was lit - and the indicator switch saved battery life by only using power to light one (the road) side.

Cheers, Ian

It wasn't the indicators that stayed on, it was the side and tail lights. The first car I had with the parking light function was a 1981 316 BMW. I seam to remember Vauxhalls and Opels had it aswell around that time.

Mk2 Capri's mid 70s if I remember correctly, or at least the 3 litre Ghia's.

my scirocco had the indicator/side light thing.... took me ages to realise why my lights were off but one side was on! ha!

the radfords use a Rolls Royce parking light unit... seen here....


noticed this when a cloud came into work for a service.... worked on the same principal as the vw, ignition and lights of, indicator on to which side you want....

Ed

I've enlarged the Radford light, looks like it's a Marchal unit.

thats the one!

been looking out for a couple for my mini... working on all those Rolls at work has goven me a whole host of ideas....

mk1 wrote:There will be a couple of NOS boxed ones of those exact lights available very soon

M

Missed this NOS one on sale and especially for BMC Mini's.



https://www.adverts.ie/vintage-classic/ ... et/2458091

(Someone asked about parking lights on another forum and I was reminded of this thread)

I have a couple of those Wipac ones NOS but I would hope to get a bit more than 20 euros for one ! Taking them to Beaulieu.