"When in Rome, ..."
The 1961 Mercedes sedans had little side lights just forward of both front
doors. And there was a position on the light switch to turn each of these on
separately. I was told it was for parking on narrow European streets at
night. You'd pull your car onto the sidewalk as far as custom dictated and
leave the street-side light on over night. The bulbs are a very small, like
a multi-vitamin pill. ...bill in Oregon
==============================================================
-----Original Message-----
From: spridgets-bounces@autox.team.net
[mailto:spridgets-bounces@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Jim Johnson
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 11:22 PM
To: Frank Clarici; Spridgets
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Lowest Sprite Vin
As someone mentioned, all English cars had them in the 40s through 60s. Its
a left over from the Blitz. When I lived in England in the 60s many cars
still drove without headlights at night. They'd got into that habit during
the war and it just continued. In fact, most cars and motorcycles of the 50s
and 60s in Europe that I remember had those lights. You used to park along a
street at night and leave those lights on overnight. My old 1946 MG TC had a
little light that hung off the corner of the windscreen and plugged into the
cigar lighter (aftermarket!). My Norton had a small bulb in both the
headlamp and the tail lamp which turned on with a special ignition switch
position. Just a slight glow really. Not much light at all. My recently
restored 1964 BMW R60/2 also has that switch position and special little
bulbs. I was never really sure what these lights were for but "when in
Rome".... Perhaps some of our Brit buddies can enlighten...
Cheers!!
Jim
_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
http://www.team.net/archive
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/spridgets
|