Classic Fog Lights

[Yertis]

I want to get some more light out the front of the TR and so would like to fit some fog/driving lights. While the car is somewhat modified under the skin, I want to keep it at least looking original – what would be appropriate 'classic' lamps to fit? Looking around, Lucas 'Square 8' lamps seem to be a bit of a thing – why is that? I'm too young to know about what would be appropriate or good to fit to an early 70's TR6, even though I was described as being 'about a million years old' the other day :roll eyes:

[grumpy52]

The square 8 was about the most popular light in that period . They were a bit more discreet than big Cibie or Wipac lamps .
If you have other electronic accessories fitted uprate the alternator and battery .
Lucas sabre or super sabre were also popular a few years before.

[Mr Tidy]

Yes, I think the square Lucas ones are of that era. My Dad bought a 1970 Fiat 125 in 1972 and it had been fitted with a single driving lamp. When I got the car I added a fog lamp on the other side to even it up!

I never had a problem with battery charge, although the Fiat did have an alternator.

[lowdrag]

I remember fitting the evocatively-named Lucas Flamethrower spot and fog in the day, but that was more 1960s

https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Lucas-Custom-Car-Spot-Fog...

[Riley Blue]

I've a couple of friends with TR6s and they both have Square 8s fitted, in fact I can't recall seeing a TR6 with anything else - which may be a good reason not to fit them.

[Yertis]

Thanks for the advice, older chaps!

I think I'll go for some Square 8s then...

[P5BNij]

Square 8s really do look the part, a neighbour gave me an unused boxed pair last year in exchange for some unwanted Mini trim, if I don't put them on the Cooper S they might go on the Lotus Europa I'm hoping to bag this week, if things go to plan. They're quite large, but not as in your face as the big round Cibies you used to see on Mexicos and the like.

[Nik da Greek]

The Elford bumper on my RX-7 came with Cibie Airport foglights which sound like the sort of thing you're after? Not sure if Photobucket will work here though





I have to admit, I've since replaced them with LED ones purely because the chrome was going pretty rusty and cack-looking, and because there's no chrome anywhere else on the car. But then they were about 30 years old. I'm sure newer ones would last better




....actually, they probably wouldn't given how rubbish the chrome is on today's Chineseum tat

[Yertis]

Nik da Greek said:

The Elford bumper on my RX-7 came with Cibie Airport foglights which sound like the sort of thing you're after? Not sure if Photobucket will work here though





I have to admit, I've since replaced them with LED ones purely because the chrome was going pretty rusty and cack-looking, and because there's no chrome anywhere else on the car. But then they were about 30 years old. I'm sure newer ones would last better




....actually, they probably wouldn't given how rubbish the chrome is on today's Chineseum tat

I was looking at the RX7 on the Anglia Auctions site earlier on

Sensible head on I won't be bidding. How difficult are spares for those?

[Nik da Greek]

Yertis said:

I was looking at the RX7 on the Anglia Auctions site earlier on

Sensible head on I won't be bidding. How difficult are spares for those?

Spares for mechanicals aren't too bad, although it's almost always better to buy from the USA via Rock Auto or whoever than try domestic UK Mazda dealers who pretty much washed their hands of anything rotary years ago. Although with that said my local Mazda dealer hasn't even had a parts counter for years

But a droplink is a droplink, caliper is a caliper etc. It's all still available. What's hard to find is panels and trim... panels rot super-fast if you don't keep on top of it and trim is 70s Japanese so fragile and easily knackered. The days of being able to buy a good parts car for £200 on eBay are long gone and even horrible rotters are being flogged for a few grand by chancers. And as for engine housings, rotors etc... nope. Just nope

[grumpy52]

Yertis said:

Thanks for the advice, older chaps!

I think I'll go for some Square 8s then...

It's senior ! You cheeky little whipper snapper !
Car guys don't get old we develop "patina "
Glad to see proper motors in your life .

[MJK 24]

Nik da Greek said:

The Elford bumper on my RX-7 came with Cibie Airport foglights which sound like the sort of thing you're after? Not sure if Photobucket will work here though





I have to admit, I've since replaced them with LED ones purely because the chrome was going pretty rusty and cack-looking, and because there's no chrome anywhere else on the car. But then they were about 30 years old. I'm sure newer ones would last better




....actually, they probably wouldn't given how rubbish the chrome is on today's Chineseum tat

Those lamps were OEM on the Alfasud, Alfa Spring and Peugeot 309. The surround were black and not chrome however. Quality was generally awful with the black surrounds and the reflectors corroding before your eyes!

[Yertis]

MJK 24 said:

Quality was generally awful with the black surrounds and the reflectors corroding before your eyes!

Perfect for a '70s Triumph then.