Idiosyncratic features to be savoured
Discussion
Mound Dawg said:
Alfa 75, ooh, where to start...
Handbrake lever like a suitcase handle.
Window switches up by the rear view mirror.
But the best one-
Rear mounted gearbox and clutch, De Dion rear axle and limited slip diff that give monumental traction and let you to blast out of corners like a Group B Quattro.
Was this the Alfa in which you couldn't eject the cassette if it was in 5th?Handbrake lever like a suitcase handle.
Window switches up by the rear view mirror.
But the best one-
Rear mounted gearbox and clutch, De Dion rear axle and limited slip diff that give monumental traction and let you to blast out of corners like a Group B Quattro.
PixelpeepS3 said:
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
None matching mirrors on the W124. The passenger one also being convex. Very simple, yet very effective.
thank you.
probably chalk said:
My 968 Sport has no manual override for the electric locks in the event the battery becomes too flat to power the motors. Apparently this is feature that only affects 968s from the last year of manufacture. It can cause significant grief as you can imagine...
Surely the driver's door lock still has mechanical linkages in it?Later 986 Boxsters have a similar issue in that the battery is in the front boot, operated by an electric release. If you run the car flat enough, the immobiliser can't be disabled, meaning you can't pop the front boot open using the pull-out 12v input post in the fuse box.
The only way to get access is to put 12v into the cigarette lighter in addition to the 12v post in the fuse box.
My 1951 International Harvester L100 bonnet opens sideways, in either direction.
The latches each side also double as the hinges, you open (unlatch) either side by turning a heavy duty door handle on either side.
You can also remove the hood in a couple of seconds by opening both latches and lifting it off completely.
Makes working on the engine so much easier!
This photo isn't of my truck, but it shows the bonnet opened sideways.
The latches each side also double as the hinges, you open (unlatch) either side by turning a heavy duty door handle on either side.
You can also remove the hood in a couple of seconds by opening both latches and lifting it off completely.
Makes working on the engine so much easier!
This photo isn't of my truck, but it shows the bonnet opened sideways.
Also on the International there's another quirk. There's no driver side external door lock, only the passenger side.
I didn't know why when I first got the truck. But I later found out why.
Apparently the law in US in the 50's prevented you from exiting the vehicle into the street, so International decided to only allow the driver to lock their door by pushing the door lever forward, sliding across the bench seat to the passenger (kerb) side, and then locking the passenger door.
Of course this being 1950's rural America, where most of these trucks were sold, I doubt anyone ever locked their trucks...
I didn't know why when I first got the truck. But I later found out why.
Apparently the law in US in the 50's prevented you from exiting the vehicle into the street, so International decided to only allow the driver to lock their door by pushing the door lever forward, sliding across the bench seat to the passenger (kerb) side, and then locking the passenger door.
Of course this being 1950's rural America, where most of these trucks were sold, I doubt anyone ever locked their trucks...
Hand cracking the 2CV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjFuvlwGvq0
When it's actually easier to push it as it's so light!
Or the 996 intermittent wiper dial... I've still no idea which way is which.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjFuvlwGvq0
When it's actually easier to push it as it's so light!
Or the 996 intermittent wiper dial... I've still no idea which way is which.
Trabi601 said:
probably chalk said:
My 968 Sport has no manual override for the electric locks in the event the battery becomes too flat to power the motors. Apparently this is feature that only affects 968s from the last year of manufacture. It can cause significant grief as you can imagine...
Surely the driver's door lock still has mechanical linkages in it?Later 986 Boxsters have a similar issue in that the battery is in the front boot, operated by an electric release. If you run the car flat enough, the immobiliser can't be disabled, meaning you can't pop the front boot open using the pull-out 12v input post in the fuse box.
The only way to get access is to put 12v into the cigarette lighter in addition to the 12v post in the fuse box.
TooMany2cvs said:
The US had a thing for automatic belts for a while in the 80s.
Rather than make it a legal requirement to WEAR belts - hell, no, that'd be an assault on freedom, dammit! - they insisted that new cars waved the belt at you.
http://jalopnik.com/5835426/this-is-why-we-dont-mi...
Indeed, the idea that Americans simply couldn't be trusted to put a belt on, silly thing is smashing your face into an airbag without a seat belt on is going to hurt an awful lot to.Rather than make it a legal requirement to WEAR belts - hell, no, that'd be an assault on freedom, dammit! - they insisted that new cars waved the belt at you.
http://jalopnik.com/5835426/this-is-why-we-dont-mi...
My American VW Corrado has electric seat belts and I find them quite the novelty. Yes I'm also slightly terrified of them going wrong and the hassle of swapping to Euro spec manuals.
HTP99 said:
PixelpeepS3 said:
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
None matching mirrors on the W124. The passenger one also being convex. Very simple, yet very effective.
thank you.
Krikkit said:
It sets the dash/clocks etc to daytime-levels of brightness, even with the lights on - useful if you're driving in snow etc when it's bright outside, but you need extra visibility.
Had it on an outback until at least 2007, not present on our 2010 though...
On the new age cars 2001-7 it does the dash but on classics it's just the clock Had it on an outback until at least 2007, not present on our 2010 though...
My Rover P4 100 had many oddities that made a hell of a lot of sense:
- ridiculously over-engineered gearshift which could be adjusted for a more comfortable neutral position
- adjustable armrests all round
- suicide rear doors
- mercury switch in the boot. A small capsule of mercury had the electrical contacts at one end so when the boot was shut, the mercury was at the other end of the capsule and when you lift the boot lid the mercury runs down and completes the circuit
- foot operated windscreen washer (and dipswitch, so you end up with 5 pedals in all!)
- "shepherd's crook" handbrake mounted by the sill, allowing 3 to sit in the front in comfort
- windscreen wipers that rest on the bodywork and when you turn the wipers off they have one last "run-up" sweep to get over the windscreen seal
- dashboard mounted toolkit
- some models had freewheel capability
I'm sure there's more but I've recently sold it and can no longer have a quick look!
If you've got a spare few minutes, these British Pathe videos are worth a watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N79kzwNfUIk
I've just bought a Volvo 850 T5 and the rear armrest folds out into a child's booster seat. Genius from the Swedes as always. It also has a latch on the bonnet so it goes near vertical to allow for access and better visibility of all under bonnet components
- ridiculously over-engineered gearshift which could be adjusted for a more comfortable neutral position
- adjustable armrests all round
- suicide rear doors
- mercury switch in the boot. A small capsule of mercury had the electrical contacts at one end so when the boot was shut, the mercury was at the other end of the capsule and when you lift the boot lid the mercury runs down and completes the circuit
- foot operated windscreen washer (and dipswitch, so you end up with 5 pedals in all!)
- "shepherd's crook" handbrake mounted by the sill, allowing 3 to sit in the front in comfort
- windscreen wipers that rest on the bodywork and when you turn the wipers off they have one last "run-up" sweep to get over the windscreen seal
- dashboard mounted toolkit
- some models had freewheel capability
I'm sure there's more but I've recently sold it and can no longer have a quick look!
If you've got a spare few minutes, these British Pathe videos are worth a watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N79kzwNfUIk
I've just bought a Volvo 850 T5 and the rear armrest folds out into a child's booster seat. Genius from the Swedes as always. It also has a latch on the bonnet so it goes near vertical to allow for access and better visibility of all under bonnet components
Edited by liammedler on Monday 27th March 20:53
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