This is the system I'm using in my under const. rdstr. using '50 Pontiac blue dots in the rear. Got to visit a cycle shop for some dual filament park/turn lights for front. Got 2 push buttons on the dash, and 2 LED indicator lights in the inst. cluster. Additionally, for a 3rd brake light, I have a louvered trunk lid and I'm placing a red LED in each of the 7 louvers in the top row, inside the hole, but visible from the rear. Also plan on the super bright LED bulbs in rear tail/brake/turn lights. You need all the help you can get when you're stopped to turn left or even for a stop light these days, with all the things to distract drivers behind you. Friend in a bright red "A" coupe, channeled, but with great big '50 Lincoln tail lights was stopped at a red light and some dumb broad hit him in the ass so hard it even damaged the Sanderson lakes headers! Being traditional is OK, but sitting in the road with your hot rod tore all to Hell and your asshole knocked up around your ears ain't so OK! Dave
No one sees my HUGE orange signals on my new Nissan daily driver when I use them. They still speed up and close the gap. It seems like they don't install them in Mercedes Benz, BMWs or Hummers because I can't remember ever seeing one with their signal on. Must be a cost savings not to install them. Hand signals work because people say, "Hey... what's he doing?" They tap the brakes and then you slide into the opening.
Well around here at least half (maybe 3/4's) of the idiots in their signal equipped modern cars don't know they have them. And probably 80-90% have no idea what "right-a-way" is. So no front signals doesn't bother me much. However after reading this thread I got an idea. I never use my high beams... so now I'm thinking why not wire my high's separately to the turn signals. That'll get their attention.
Find some nice early accessory lights for the front signals and get them wired up and switched into your rear lamps. Front signals are very critical for making turns especially across traffic at night. There are many attractive early backup lamps on GM and other cars that resemble headlamps, many are stainless steel and have clear lenses. Use as high powered a bulb as possible, perhaps an amber one and you have effective and very noticeable signals. We used two of these on the 32 3W mounting them on the front inside fender over the frame horns. Look good and can be used as parklamps if dual sockets are installed in them. We have headlamps with parklamps on top on the car. We'll be using 2 more of these lamps on the Track Car up front when it hits the road again. Rear signals can be accessory lamps or wired into your stop lamps already on the car. Even if you only have ONE tail/stop lamp centrally located you can add the separate lamps and be safer. Turn signals were not unknown on cars and hotrods in the early days. They were available in the aftermarket as far back as the 20s. You're being a leader if you have signals.
I don't use my blinkers all the time but there are times when it is safer and needed and I will most likely run something simple on my 30 sedan, like a toggle... on my 54 i run a 20 universal deal i got from Sachse Speed shop and it works well but does not cancel, so sometimes when i do use it i look like a dumb-butt rolling down the road with my blinkers still on :~)
I wouldn't think of using my coupe without turn signals. With the abundance of bad drivers around, I want every break I can get. I even added a couple of extra lights under the body. You can hardly see them til they light up. There are so many small yet bright LED lights that can be mounted in an inconspicuous place. Is safety traditional?
I believe you NEED turn signals and blinkers. I was using a hand signal when this happened It was sunny, and about 90 degrees ... when the guy hit me. It the dark, rain or with the A/C on ... hand signals are not effective.
If your car sets high enough maybe you cant attach some blinkers up under your car on the axel. I have a pair on my truck, they are old bullets.
That is exactly what I do, to no avail. But, then again, I live in the land of the no-warning, 4-lane change freeway exit ramp combo, and the no warning left blinker, left turn only lane, hard right hand turn on green (and its sister, the mirror opposite), where the "op" in stop stands for "optional" and a merge is something corporations do to increase profitability.
Some of these replies are so "Nader". Turn signals weren't even widely used until the 1940's. As for being "negligent" most states require the vehicle to have the safety features of the original car. The guy that asked this question has a '29 Sedan. Yep, no factory signals. Just plate glass all around and the gas tank above your legs. And as for someone plowing into the rear, your brake lights are for that. Keep your foot on the brake until you get turned. Although with everybody "texting" and "dialing" nowadays its a crap shoot, even if you have flashing red lights and sirens.
I used the electronic tun signal kit from Speedway. It is basically a motorcycle switch with built in flasher etc, and uses 2 small momentary switches to activate turn signals to front and rear and brake lights and flashers. Awsome little kit. I put the buttons on my shifter box and it keeps my column clean. They are also self cancelling. And yes on todays roads with so many drivers barely paying attention I would definately put some on. I have also used those old add on kits that srap to your coulumn just mounted in other easy to reach locations. It's all easy to do just takes a little thought.
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