luigi164
Active Member
What's the point of topfender turnsignals? Nice to have them but always asked myself: why? To see for yourself that they are on ? for other roadusers? I don't know...
Luigi
Luigi
Just curious...
- Thread starter luigi164
- Start date
goodneighbour
Well-Known Member
My `69 Imp has no indicators in the dash cluster, but the ones on the tops of the fender light up very well. Give other drivers the heads up I doubt it,most don`t see the four inch lights flashing down the side of my big truck let alone a peanut bulb on the top of a fender a mile long! Does yours have indicators in the cluster?
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
I do believe ( at least in 71) that when they were on the fender you lost them in the cluster
luigi164
Active Member
I have indicators in the cluster too, so that's why I was wondering... I didn't know there were cars with just lights on the fender and no indicators in the dash...
300rag
It's Not Going to Shift Itself
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
Im sure Carsten will chime in or perhaps Doug but my previous post is probably incorrect.
Pete Kaczmarski
Senior Member
My '69 Caprice Coupe w/427 had fiberoptic turn signals. The front fenders had three (headlight (low), turn signal and high beam. If I remember the back of the rear window was three in the center that you could see in your rear view mirror.
goodneighbour
Well-Known Member
My `85 Fleetwood was the same.
patrick66
Old Man with a Hat
Any car I've had with fender-mounted turn signal indicators, regardless of make, had them IN the instrument cluster, as well. It wasn't one OR the other; either you have dash indicators, OR you have dash and fender indicators.
And yes, they are a safety enhancement. The guy next to you, or alongside to the point where he can not see your taillights, sees this plain as day, whether it is dark or light outside.
This is the same reasoning that OTR trucks have blinker indicators on the truck fender AND the trailer.
Plus if you make a lane change and are the type that leaves the left/right blinker ON for five miles, it's a good reminder to YOU, too.
And yes, they are a safety enhancement. The guy next to you, or alongside to the point where he can not see your taillights, sees this plain as day, whether it is dark or light outside.
This is the same reasoning that OTR trucks have blinker indicators on the truck fender AND the trailer.
Plus if you make a lane change and are the type that leaves the left/right blinker ON for five miles, it's a good reminder to YOU, too.
luigi164
Active Member
A lot of answers, and a lot of reasons too....it's clear to me now. Thank you all...
Luigi
Luigi
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
I never saw these as something for others to see, even in the 70's European cars were putting turn lights on the side of the fender that were easily seen.
I have always seen these as a way for the driver to easily see that is indicators are on or forgotten on.
It doesn't matter, you still see drivers driving miles with the indicators blinking.
Alan
I have always seen these as a way for the driver to easily see that is indicators are on or forgotten on.
It doesn't matter, you still see drivers driving miles with the indicators blinking.
Alan
Rwc
Senior Member
My fury has them on the hood and in the cluster. My bet is they were more gimmick, but the driver will see them quicker than in the cluster during the day. Help prevent the old fart driving with the turn signal on all day.
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
It is? I'm more confused now than before the thread
azblackhemi
Old Man with a Hat
To answer the original question it's so you don't have to take your eyes off the road to know if your turn signal is on.
Landyacht
Active Member
They just look cool. It was a sales gimmick to get people to buy em.
I alwayz liked the early V-Dubz that the little arm turn signalz that would flip up out of the B-pillarz myself.
furyus 67
Senior Member
My 67 fury has the fender signals and nothing in the dash. Not even any wires for the cluster indicators.
73Coupe
Senior Member
My former '85 Eldorado had this all too. The rear window mounted indicators were also good to make sure your brake lights were working. All fiber optics. The side opera lights were fiber optics too with the bulb located in the trunk I think.
The fender mount indicators are one of my favorite details on my NY. I was also very impressed with their housing quality when I took them off for cleaning.
It is the one convenience option I wish my car had, that it does not. It is rather easy to forget about the signals when driving with the top down. Even with the top up, the chime is not very loud.
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