Emergency Flasher DOT Requirement

["Eric" <gearhead@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This link shows standard #108 of Title 49, Part 571, motor vehicle safety
standards, brought to you by the folks at the NHTSA/DOT. It would appear
that the SAE's report of January and February, 1966, spell out the
characteristics of a 'Hazard Warning Signal'.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=49&PART=571&SECTIO
N=108&YEAR=2001&TYPE=TEXT

The newly created DOT enacted its first score of laws on January 31, 1967.
Included in this would be a Hazard Warning Signal device. The chronology of
the Dept. of Transportation can be found at,
http://isweb.tasc.dot.gov/Historian/chronology.htm#1967

There are pre '67 cars with 4-way flasher units; the 1966 T-Bird Town
Hardtop and Landau had them included in their "overhead safety panel" as
featured by the Pilot in this link
http://automotivemileposts.com/tbird1966standardequipment.html

This link shows a picture of a flasher unit mounted under-dash on a '66
Pontiac GTO. The caption describes it such that it may be 1967 when GM
officiated the switch to the steering column.
http://ultimategto.com/scripts/showcar.cgi?type=show&pic=/1966/66_00066_4

Chrysler typically used the glove box for the placement of 4 way flashers in
'67-8. So, the question is, were flashers an option up to the models
produced before January 31, 1967, or did all '67 model year Chryslers get 4
way flashers as standard, required by govt edict, equipment?

Eric
'63 Crown Four-Door
'72 Newport Custom Sedan

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I have earlier cars with factory installed units also (my 65 Ford for
example), but I was addressing the federal mandate - specifically when they
were made mandatory on US production.


To add to the confusion here,  I presently own two 1966 Imperial LeBarons.
ONE has flashers and one does not.  The one that does has a separate switch
mounted on the bottom left side of the dashboard to turn then on&off.  I
also previously owned another '66 LeBaron and it did Not have flashers
installed either.  I do not know the production dates of any of the three
cars.