Controls on your retro

[Deleted]

We've had this before with what side the indicators are on your retro. Thought I might share some comedy moments from the weekend...

I've never had a modern car. On my 100E the indicators were on the top of the horn button on a little switch, my Anglia has them on the right, dad's hotrod has them on the right and my Pop doesn't have them. Well it does now and I put them on the right for consistency Anyway, been driving my girlfriend's daily for the last 6 months to get to work and that has the indicators on the left, not really a problem and I got used to it after a week or so.

Just after Christmas I drove my Pop round the block (literally that's as far as I got before I broke down ;D ) and it completely confused me when I got back in her Renault. Then on Saturday I took the Pop out for its first reliable run, no MOT but meh it had to be done officer, and then jumped in the Renault to take the girl out for the day. Boy was I confused, the wipers kept coming on when I went to indicate , then she says to me to clean the windscreen so I start fumbling around pulling the sticks, nothing, guy in front looks round and I realise I've been flashing my lights at him.

Anyway I think the point of the story is I want my hokey ass bone shakers back on the road, then I have no more controls than I need. Thanks for reading folks.

[Paul H]

Fully agree! Modern cars have far too much switchgear. Also, are you a fan of floor mounted main beam switches? I think they're great ;D

Although my tank has the indicator stalk on the left (pull back also flashes the headlights), on the right is the o/d . The difference in indicator positions always made for entertaining moments when I still had my old Moggy van, as at around 45 / 50mph in the Minor, I'd instinctively flick the indicator, thinking it was an o/d....

[arthurbrown]

amazonsprite said:

Also, are you a fan of floor mounted main beam switches? I think they're great ;D

Utter pain in the ass in my experience.
Had them on the Escort, Land Rovers and the Humber.
On the humber, not a problem, but how can you 'flash' someone through when your left foot is holding down the clutch? Escpecially tricky on a land rover I tell thee.

[michiel]

The Simca dash, less is more eh? Two stalks on the left behind the wheel, one for horn (push in) and main beam, one for indicators... hope to learn soon which is which, I flashed a few people when I wanted to change lanes.

[Deleted]

Comes free with a little man living in the middle of the steering column who does everything for you eh?

I like floor switches.

[cortinaman]

A few years ago I was driving three cars (not all at the same time!) a Mk1 Cortina GT, Sunbeam Rapier and SAAB 9000. Each one had the handbrake in a different position. Umbrella type (cortina), on the floor by the door (Rapier) on the floor between the seats (SAAB) so you can imagine swapping betweeen the cars resulted in hands all over the place when wishing to apply the handbrake. You can guarantee I'd go for the wrong place!

[Dez]

you should try jumping in a stacklight merc. what appears to be the dipswitch on the floor is actually the wash/wipe, the handbrakes in the dash next to the door, and one stalk controls indicators, dip, and wipers!

i find it actually works better once youre used to it though, you can be changing down a gear whilst wanging the handbrake on very easily

[Speedman]

I get a few problems jumping between the work Merc, Goof, Beetle and Camper, the worst being the fact that the Camper is LHD and I try and change gear or handbrake with the wind winders, on the stalk front its not too bad until I get the scabby works Renault Kangaroo to use, where the washer button should be is the horn, great for those 5.30am starts in bad weather

[michiel]

I've got a month to prepare myself for a week of driving on the wrong side of the road (done before, not really a problem) ánd sitting on what for me normally is the passenger seat (first time, so slightly nervous)... lots of comedy situations guaranteed (like getting in on the wrong side 1500 times)!

[dollywobbler]

All my cars have LH indicators although the Citroens RH stalk does lights (including main beam) and horn while the BL stuff keeps it for wipers.

The VP is the other way around but as that's going to go this week, I don't really count it!

The Citroen light stalk is one you twist and pull/push away. In the nearest position, one twist is sidelights, two twists is main beam. In the furthest away position, one or two twists always equals headlamps.

The one classic that caught me out was an Austin-Healey 3000 where the indicator switch is a tiny lever in the middle of the steering wheel! Even self cancels.

[Jenn]

Hand signals FTW!

[scimmie]

My 69 Scimtar GTE dash



I also own a Fiat Seicento and after driving the Scimitar I am always trying to feel for the overdrive switch in the Fiat (which doesn't have overdrive! )

The worst thing is after driving the Fiat for a while I get used to having 5th gear, but the Scimitar only has four gears and doesn't like getting jammed into third gear at high speeds... Ooops ;D

[trg1984]

how cool are scim dashes. awesome stuff, spent an hour or so pokeing round one in my local scrappy a while back

[scaryoldcortina]

Saved a set of scimitar clocks for the granada cosworth project

As to controls.... I can cope with the stalks swapping sides, I'm constantly driving a mix of old and new (and nissans) so I tend to check for that. What catches me out is when I've been driving the LT35 for a while and then I jump into the cortina instead. The LT, as well as the indicator thing, has first gear where second should be and the handbrake on the RH side of the drivers seat. This means that I have, at least once, reclined the seat while stalling the car pulling away. OOps.

[tigran]

After driving the P5 i look a right curse word driving the focus - the window wipers on the focus are where the indicator switch is on the Rover. The viva is the same as the rover. It does my bloody head in!

[Deleted]

I think I started the last thread about stalk location When the Viva failed to procede a while back I found out at the worst possible moment that it has no hazard light switch It also has not got a reversing light either so when you have cars behind you at a parking barrier and need to reverse it's hard to let the people behind know about it!

The original buyer must have been a right tight git not to spend the extra wonga on those things Still at least it's a weight saving measure

[madmart]

stalk location doesn't really worry me or main beam switches mounted on the floor, providing I'm using the car sensibly Ive had many a moment up country lanes performing a emergency stop and switching the main beam off. what does catch me out though is driving a automatic, my mums is the only one i drive once a year to mot it i usually get to the end of her road and perform a emergency stop with my left foot

[michiel]

madmart said:

what does catch me out though is driving a automatic, my mums is the only one I drive once a year to mot it I usually get to the end of her road and perform a emergency stop with my left foot

Oh yeah, been there, done that, nearly put my head through the screen a few times on my sisters old Volvo 440... povo automatic and no power steering also made parallel parking a b!tch.

[Deleted]

jeminid said:

Hand signals FTW!

Totally for the lose. I swapped my trafficators for indicators because people are blind

[wazza]

79 sapporo dashboard all straight forward really with lots of clocks to look at!! and roofconsole pure 70s esso tigertail and 8track a must.