Useless styling features

[mercrocker]

Not all of it reflects, either!

[panhard65]

I had a discussion with a customer many years ago about the reflective panel on the rear of an Audi coupe. I failed it on the mot due to the reflectors being missing on the back. The customer got the hump and said the refective panel was there and that meant it didn't need the bumper mounted reflectors, he didn't win his appeal.

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The '66 Thunderbird did have a full width illuminated panel and sequential flashers as well.

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[mercrocker]

Aye, that's what the Zody needed!

[cros]

Talbot 105 has amber indicators very neatly built into the bottom of the radiator surround. Unfortunately no one else bothered with such things at the time and given that they didn't flash makes them a fit target for this thread. Nice looking though.

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[paulplom]

The Golf Mk3 had what looked like three lamps each side under the bumper, the indicator on the outside then a strange plastic bit and then either a fog light or a continuation of the middle bit if no fogs fitted.


I hated this bit and vacuum formed (an equally strange, but black) plastic bit for my one which didn't have the fogs fitted.
Golf3.JPG

I had that exact gti. Same colour, reg etc. Just an eight valve and wasn't exactly quick. It had a random cutting out problem where it wouldn't restart that I could never get sorted. I ended up scrapping it at ten years old. The fucker cut out and wouldn't restart on the way to the scrappie. It wasn't taxed, tested or insured at the time. Fucking thing.

[PhilA]

Talbot 105 has amber indicators very neatly built into the bottom of the radiator surround. Unfortunately no one else bothered with such things at the time and given that they didn't flash makes them a fit target for this thread. Nice looking though.

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That's about the same period where they had the little traffic light looking lamps bolted to the cars so you could confuse people by letting them know you were thinking about turning, maybe- isn't it?

If so the whole light up arrows thing is ridiculously modern

[cros]

Talbot 105 has amber indicators very neatly built into the bottom of the radiator surround. Unfortunately no one else bothered with such things at the time and given that they didn't flash makes them a fit target for this thread. Nice looking though.

vehicle_ad_standard_image_8268691a99f0c940f9f68d9877b9fa75.jpg

That's about the same period where they had the little traffic light looking lamps bolted to the cars so you could confuse people by letting them know you were thinking about turning, maybe- isn't it?

If so the whole light up arrows thing is ridiculously modern

That would be the very easy to understand Wilcot Robot system. A bloke I met with them on his Morris started to tell me how they worked but I dropped off after 20 minutes.

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[FhakeConcern]

Here's another light related useless styling feature on the facelifted (modern) Fiat 500
The original retro styled version had back lights that looked like...well lights
Here...

Then the facelift had a strange body colour panel in the centre
Here...

Not too bad if the car has red paint, but still...

[mercrocker]

Looks like they incorporate fake reversing lights too, judging by the pitiful insert in the rear fogs down below. Or are those its indicators?

I've never actually sat behind one of these that indicated, though, especially when pulling in to park.

[paulplom]

Shitroen ds3 shark fin. Sole purpose to make the rear passenger claustrophobic.
They would be ideal in a kidnapping. You're victim would have no idea where you were taking them. No need for a blindfold.