Trafficators replaced with Amber 'Big Ears'

Post by **788pkn** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:48 pm

We used to have a Morris Minor, sky blue, which my dad claimed he'd bought from the police. Instead of the flip-out trafficators, it had big amber indicators in the same place - he said they were from a lorry, and the police had requested the modification.

Has anyone seen or heard of this on any other Moggy?

Post by **tortron** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:30 am

think i recall seeing them (probably on the internet somewhere)
rectangular four sided pyramids?

Post by **788pkn** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:58 am

tortron wrote:think i recall seeing them (probably on the internet somewhere)
rectangular four sided pyramids?

Yes, more of a stepped pyramid (well, curved) if you extruded a } it would be like that.
I'm looking for pictures of this strange mod and wondered if anyone had any.

Ta.

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:40 am

You could buy amber indicators to fit in the trafficator mountings, presumably in the 60s when flashers were the latest new thing. Seen a few of these at autojumbles and was slightly tempted for one of my cars - just to be different with the period look rather than the restored to as new look...

Post by **Sidney'61** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:19 pm

I know what you mean, kind of looked like this...<br>

<br>

Post by **RussLCV** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:48 pm

Would it be like this? a pigs ear?<br>

<br>

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:33 pm

Similar but longer, ie: they would fit over a trafficator slot - the theory being that you would ditch the old fashioned trafficators and fit these in place. Even using the same screw holes.

Post by **stag36587** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:23 am

were these not the same as side indicators used on single decker buses/coaches of the time?

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:28 am

May well be the same, not being a bus expert. The set I saw had a built in parking light on one side (offside presumably), there being a little separate section on the bottom of one lense with a claer/red section in and a tiny bulb in there, so I guess they were intended for car useage.

Post by **MattFinnish** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:47 pm

AEC & Foden Lorries certainly had the lamps you are talking about. they were indicators just ahead of the cab doors. Some fire engines and coaches did have them too.

Probably Lucas or Wipac. You might find them in old catalogues?

Post by **emmerson** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:16 pm

Not so, Matt. The AEC/Leyland indicator was much larger. The ones that 788 is talking about did exactly as he says - they fitted over the hole that the trafficator fits in. In other words, they are only about 0.75inches wide, and about 8inches long, fitted, if my memory is good, with one twenty-one watt festoon bulb. They were a rather good transitional piece, actually, because drivers used to seeing the semaphore indicator pop out didn't always see the flasher down there by the tail light, but they did see these, as they were where they were expected to be. Made by Wilmot-breedon, perhaps?

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:55 pm

Well I thought all the police Panda cars were the later cars without the trafficators.

Post by **GeoffC** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:06 am

The Austin/Morris FG series used indicators similar to the ones described.

There a link in MarkyB's reply in the Charles Ware Sri Lanka thread. The first photo shows an FG.

http://marksrilankaholiday.googlepages. ... ;init:.JPG

Post by **mike.perry** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:16 am

The pigs ears indicators were fitted to GPO vans around the 1963 period. They were fitted on the roof panel half way along the van box. They were not particularly visible from the blind side. "Morris Minor Light Commercials" P. 48 shows one of these vans.

Post by **pfgiz** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:39 am

Pigs Ears were not only put on Commercials, they were what drew me to my Sisters car and the reason she kept it for me until I could drive.

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3297/356 ... bbe709.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="DSC_0361" />

It's also the main reason Annie's never been converted into a convertible. Where would they go..????

Post by **788pkn** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:38 pm

Mark's image of the lorry in Sri Lanka fits the bill perfectly. Definitely not 'Pigs Ears'. So do you think it was the police that made the change?

Post by **simmitc** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:13 pm

The well known Police Panda cars were introduced with Unit Beat Policing in 1968, way past the change from trafficators. Prior to Pandas, the Police used Minors for general transport and wireless. I have not been able to find any trace of "Police Specification" in the earlier production registers, so I think it unlikely that the transitional lamps were for the Police. However, research in this area is tricky, so I would welcome any information to disprove my own conclusions.

Morris Minor Owners Club

Trafficators replaced with Amber 'Big Ears'

Trafficators replaced with Amber 'Big Ears'

Re: Trafficators replaced with Amber 'Big Ears'

Re: Trafficators replaced with Amber 'Big Ears'