Elise Wipers - this morning's random thought

[RobM77]

There I was driving to work in the pouring rain and I had a sudden thought: the single wiper system on the Elise - what car is that off, or is it bespoke for the Elise? (which I doubt).

The only cars that I can think of with single wipers are the Citroen AX and a lot of Mercedes cars. Does the Saxo have a single wiper?

[nobbles]

Citroen AX is my guesstimate..

[RobM77]

Well, thanks very much :-) Now I know! :-)

[gooby]

It has wipers? Wow! I depress the stalk on the right and something smears the water. To call them wipers would be an exageration

[RobM77]

I have the excellent double video on the design and production of the original Elise. In that, they say that noone thought it was possible to wipe the Elise's windscreen with a single wiper. The designers and chief engineer wanted a single wiper though (looks more racey, and is more efficient). One day, the chief engineer, Richard Rackham, went down into the workshop with a Citroen AX wiper assembly and managed to get it to work by tilting the motor at the right angle. No amount of sketches and thoughts could get it to work, but when he had the parts in his hands at the time it occured to him how it could be made to work :-)

[sneakypete]

That video - where's best to get a copy?

Also, the wing mirrors? Metro? The switchgear is Astra or something I reckon.

I recall (badly) the F40 or Diablo having Citroen wing mirrors or something.

[RobM77]

the video: Not sure actually. I got mine for Christmas when the Elise first came out. It is called "Lotus Elise - inside story" I think. Very interesting indeed if you're into design and engineering.

[jig]

Door mirrors are Metro, yes. The switches in an S1 are Peugeot, the S2 are industrial units I think.

As for the famous citroen CX door mirrors, look at your next TVR Griffith/Chimaera, Marcos or even Jag XJ220... price depends on who you buy from, of course!

[piooly]

put rain X on your windsrceen and you dont even needd to use your wiper !!! water just comes straight off. Winner !

[tanman]

piooly said:

put rain X on your windsrceen and you dont even needd to use your wiper !!! water just comes straight off. Winner !

Nice one piooly. god the wipers are so bad but i'm not much of a guru- where can you get rain X from? (halfords?)
cheers
tanman

>> Edited by tanman on Thursday 15th September 20:16

[poptosis]

you must not drive slower than 44 mph though for it to work

[tanman]

poptosis said:

you must not drive slower than 44 mph though for it to work

Wicked- 44mph in through the school gates. is that a challenge? kids will love it but i fear i may get a bit of a roasting from the big cheeses