Re: IML: I haven't seen these before...

[JosephStil@xxxxxxx]

Wow!  Now THAT was interesting.

Shall I send the pic directly to Chris or have it posted to the site?

Anyone's thoughts?

Don't know which way to turn, in Allen, Texas...

In a message dated 1/19/2005 11:16:56 PM Eastern Standard Time, Christopher Hoffman <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>The laws regarding side markers were kinda funny. They were part of the
>sweeping FMVSS 108 (the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that phased in
>everything from collapsible steering columns and seat belts to padded
>interior surfaces, head restraints and recessed interior door handles, most
>of which came into production between 1967 and 1969).
>
>In 1968 and 1969, either reflectors or illuminated side markers were
>required. Chrysler Corp was the only automaker to do lights without
>reflectors and then reflectors without lights nearly corporate-wide in 1968
>and 1969 respectively (meaning the 1969 version was the cheaper approach...
>Imperials were unique among Mopars in having the shark-gill front lamps
>combining side marker lights and cornering lights but without reflectors).
>Most GM and Ford products added front lamps and rear reflectors for 1968,
>while most imports tended to both starting that year.
>
>For model year 1970, the law was clearer, requiring both. There remains no
>law to this day that requires turn signals to be visible from the side,
>however... a ridiculous oversight in my opinion but typical of our poorly
>thought-out lighting laws that still allow one bulb to handle the brake
>lamps, rear turn signals and taillamps under a red lens. To me, it's even
>more ironic to see advanced lighting technology like LEDs used to produce
>lighting no better at communicating a driver's intentions than lights did 50
>years ago. But I digress... off the soap box, boy...
>
>Anyway, there are cars that use the front side markers to double as
>side-visible turn signals, including a few Mopars starting in the late 1980s
>with, of all models, the antiquated Jeep Grand Wagoneer (Grand Cherokees
>still have this feature). It's a great feature accomplished entirely by the
>wiring setup, meaning it adds a benefit at virtually no cost. (If anyone
>wants to know how to wire their side markers to double as turn signals,
>email me privately. I've converted a number of my cars to do this.) I think
>the '90s Imperials might have been the first to do this, but owners of those
>can tell me if Chrysler even bothered. It was common not to do this on cars
>with cornering lights standard, so it might not have been included on any
>Imperial.
>
>If Joe's '61 has these, they pre-date even Chrysler's use of their signature
>fender-mounted turn signals, which were visible in most cases to both the
>driver and a parallel driver in an adjacent lane, which means someone added
>them. Their first use on an Imperial was in 1967 (also the first year for
>cornering lamps), though I think C-bodies offered them as early as the 1965
>body change. The unusual aspect of the 1967-68 design is that there were no
>turn-signal indicator lamps on the dash (you know, the little green arrows),
>so the fender-top indicators are all there is. But since they were standard
>on all Imperials in those years (and I think every year thereafter through
>the 1978 NYBs), I guess they figured the lights in the dash were not
>necessary. But even Road Test magazine comments on how hard they were to see
>in bright sunlight,a nd the original relay was rather quiet, too. Lesser
>Mopars had both (dash and fender-top) because the fender-mounted turn
>signals were optional, usually part of the basic option package A01 (and
>after 1968, Imperials shared basic instrument-cluster designs with
>lower-level Chryslers).
>
>I'd guess someone added them to this car from another car, maybe another
>Chrysler. Joe, got any pix? I could probably ID their origin for you (send
>it privately). Are they on the sides of the front fenders or on top? Either
>way, no country required them this early, so I would imagine one of your
>car's prior owners added them.
>
>OK, long story, so that's all for now!
>
>-- 
>Chris in LA
>67 Crown
>78 NYB Salon
>
>
>
>
>
>On 1/19/05 6:44 pm, Mark Evans (evansma@xxxxxxxxxx) wrote:
>
>> I'm having trouble imagining what they look like. Kinda like some European
>> cars had in the 70's? Sounds like an aftermarket add-on though. I don't know
>> of any dealer option for something like that. But, I'll never say "never".
>> 
>> Side marker lights are pretty interesting though. I haven't read the rules.
>> But, in 1968, Chrysler put the famous "bullet" lights on the sides of their
>> cars. In '69, they were reflectors. And, they were illuminated again in '70.
>> I don't know of any Chrysler side markers that worked with the turn signals
>> though.
>> 
>> Mark Evans
>> 1963 Imperial Crown Convertible
>
>
>
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