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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 619
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Here's a typical 80s/90s Jap car with the indicators in the bumper:
![]() (still taken from "Fast Foward") Can someone explain to me the idea of putting the indicator down there? It seems like it would be an added expense, having to have extra wiring down on the bumper, when the indicator could obviously have been placed in the typical spot on the corner of the headlight. This would not only save money, but look better too. And yes, I realise the irony of asking this question due to the fact that I have a Mustang, which has the indicator in that very spot on the bumper. But it's very uncommon on mainstream (non sports) cars these days, whereas back in the day every other car seemed to have it in that spot. ![]() (Honda Legend, 1991, somewhere in Melb) Last edited by MrZ; 11-12-2020 at 09:35 AM. |
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#2 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 670
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Its a bit like asking, why did 50s cars have fins? (yea I know, because of the whole space thing, but my point is, styling can be a fad or flavour of the month/year/decade)
It didnt stop at japanese cars either of course, from Ferraris to BMW's (8 series) , and even chevy camaros, indicators were in the bumper. ![]() |
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#3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 619
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The thing is, it's not a styling feature. If it were just about style, they could put a non-fuctional clear plastic lense on the bumper, which would be much cheaper than having a fully functioning turn signal. And honestly, who cares whether the turn signal is in the headlight or not - it's not something that makes a car more interesting or attractive. Let's face it - cars (especially Japanese ones) in the 80s were boxes, there was very little style involved. So again, I ask why the car makers intentionally added complexity and cost in making the car, when they could have avoided it?
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#4 | ||
^^^^^^^^
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: online - duh
Posts: 9,634
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It's an evolution thing.
Cars first 'evolved' headlights so you could drive in the dark. Later, when roads were busier, indicators were added so others knew your intentions (only moderately successfull depending on where you live). Initially these were levers on the side of the door and hand operated. Later on they became lights - initially round and made from glass and metals. They had always been seperate units until the glass and metal started to give way to plastics, it wasn't even possible until then and many 80's cars would have still had glass lenses. As aerodynamics became more important, materials and maunfacturing methods changes and as mentioned above for aesthetics the headlights and indicators gradually merged to become the one unit. But as technologies and fashions change that could change again at any time. .
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. Last edited by Raptor; 11-12-2020 at 10:10 AM. |
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#5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,821
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back then I don't think the technology was really available to put the indicator into the headlamp. Don't forget these were filament bulbs that need a fair space around them for the light to hit the reflector and for cooling.
integrated indicators and lamps are really only available now due to LEDs, light tubes etc. Remember when BMW first brought out the angel halos? |
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#6 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 619
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Quote:
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#7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Victoria
Posts: 7,854
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and now we have these incorporated LED headlights that can turn a minor accident into a write off
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______________________________ 2015 Territory Titanium RWD Diesel - SOLD 2016 BMW X5 xdrive 30D Msport Seadoo Challenger 210SE 310HP |
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#8 | ||
The one and only
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Carrum Downs, Victoria
Posts: 9,053
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Back then they were practical and easy to see. Now it's more about style and looks
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1992 DC LTDHO 360rwkw built by me Tuned by CVE Performance Going of the rails on a crazy train Other cars include Dynamic ED Sprint, Dynamic DL LTD, Sparkling Burgundy DL LTD, Yellow, Red & Blue XB sedan & Black XB Coupe
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#9 | ||
FG XR6 Ute & Sedan
![]() Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bibra Lake WA
Posts: 23,017
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For cars that were made overseas and sold in multiple markets with different rules about bumpers and the shape, height and colour and use of indicators, parking lights and brake lights it also made it easier and cheaper to produce batches of cars with different bumpers and these minor lights for different markets.
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regards Blue |
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#10 | |||
FAWD - No Boundaries
![]() Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 8,129
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Quote:
I'd have to double check... but perhaps, if this is the case, it was adopted from other legislation overseas... and if so, under the guise of road safety, no less ![]() D
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#11 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 124
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My XF pano has an XG XR8 front bumper with indicators in the bumper just below the headlights.
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#12 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 1,661
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Quote:
You answered your own question. It used to be deemed safer to have the indicator further away so it's easier to spot at night when the headlights were on. Then no one cared about that safety aspect and did it the cheaper way that looked better (and added huge touchscreens instead of sensible controls, DRLs always on with dash lights so idiots drive at night with no headlights on, clear lenses with weak coloured bulbs and little touches like that etc). tl;dr: People used to think and care, now they don't. Price and looks matters most now. |
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#13 | |||
Experienced Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australasia
Posts: 7,560
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#14 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,291
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There were instances where imported vehicles had turn signals designed for other markets like USA that
did not comply with local regulations, be that visibility at certain angles or the radiated colour not being correct. That lead to some quirky looking light set ups in bumpers in front and back of certain vehicles. |
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#15 | ||||
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,892
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Quote:
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Pretty sure the Unleaded Fuel XF's had the Indicator in the Bumper, whereas the leaded ones Didn't.. (Or maybe Vice versa) but happy to be corrected.. |
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#16 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,432
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Hi. Both had indicators in the headlight but the unleaded version (1986 on) had side repeater indicators in the sides of the front bar. Cheers MD
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![]() HI ![]() I'M MICHAEL ![]() 2003 ACID RUSH BA FUTURA WAGON ![]() light up window switches | auto on cruise control | doubleclick window lift from remote |
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#17 | ||
Shenanigans..............
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Footscrazy
Posts: 12,357
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Nissan Patrol, brake lights in the bumper and not where they should have been.
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#18 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: perth
Posts: 4,355
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Quote:
from memory they XR/XT were in the front bumper the XW/XY/XA were next to the head lamp the XB was back in the bumper and the XC/XD/XE/XF were back next to the head lamp dont remember the e series onwards and i briefly had an EL then moved to other things
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#19 | ||
Experienced Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australasia
Posts: 7,560
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#20 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,432
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Hi. The KA and KB laser hatch had the blinkers beside the headlights but its brother the meteor sedan had them in the bumper for the same years. Cheers MD
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![]() HI ![]() I'M MICHAEL ![]() 2003 ACID RUSH BA FUTURA WAGON ![]() light up window switches | auto on cruise control | doubleclick window lift from remote |
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#21 | |||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,837
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Quote:
![]() I can remenber the ugly front and rear bumpers added to imports into "The Democratic republic of Commie fornia" back in the 70s which turned fine examples of some Mercedes and Honda's into silly looking lenghtened abominations. No other US states were silly enough to allow this.
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#22 | |||
0o\==^==/o0
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Brisbane
Posts: 4,317
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#24 | ||
Parts bin special
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Narre Warren, Vic
Posts: 8,275
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The VP-VS Commodore had indicators next to the headlights but the equivalent Toyota Lexcen had them in the bumper to make it look a bit more like other Toyota models of the time. I think it's just a styling thing
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#25 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canberra Region
Posts: 8,941
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Don't forget the round headlights that some European cars had to have which were imported into the US.
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