73-576: The Hillman Super Minx is a family car which was produced by Hillman from 1961 to 1967. It was a slightly larger version of the Hillman Minx , from the period when the long-running Minx nameplate was applied to the "Audax " series of designs. (The Minx underwent many changes throughout its history, and the Super Minx name was not used during production of non-Audax Minx designs.) Announced in October 1961,
146-547: A Humber shortly before launch, while the two-door Rapier based on the 'Audax' Minx continued unreplaced until 1967. The Sceptre nevertheless was able to be successfully promoted as a more sporty car than the larger traditional Humbers. Unlike the Hillman and Singer versions, the Super Minx-based Humber Sceptre retained the same roof, with large panoramic windscreen and shallow wrap-around rear window with fins, until
219-428: A horizontal stalk protruding from the side of the steering column, though on some vehicles it protrudes from the dashboard. The driver raises or lowers the outboard end of the stalk in accord with the clockwise or anticlockwise direction the steering wheel is about to be turned. In left-hand drive vehicles, the turn indicator stalk is usually located to the left of the steering wheel. In right-hand-drive vehicles, there
292-619: A radio remained optional. The car could be ordered in single colour or two tone paint. The four-speed manual transmission featured synchromesh on the top three ratios from the start and had a floor lever: "Smiths Easidrive" automatic transmission was option. A car was tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1962 and had a top speed of 80.0 mph (128.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 21.6 seconds. A "touring" fuel consumption of 27.9 miles per imperial gallon (10.1 L/100 km; 23.2 mpg ‑US )
365-437: A reference point for oncoming traffic where the widest part of the body was. These were sometimes used in tandem with fender lights during the same time period, when fenders were separate from the body and only covered the wheels. Direction indicator lights or turn signals, informally known as directional signals, directionals, blinkers, or indicators, are blinking lights mounted near the left and right front and rear corners of
438-553: A result, the UK requirement for dim-dip was quashed. Nevertheless, dim-dip systems remain permitted, and while such systems are not presently as common as they once were, dim-dip functionality was fitted on many new cars well into the 1990s. In the United States, amber front and red rear side marker lights and retroreflectors are required. The law initially required lights or retroreflectors on vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1968. This
511-611: A revised axle ratio. For buyers of the automatic transmission cars, 1962 was the year that the Smiths Easidrive option was replaced by the Borg-Warner 35 transmission . In 1964, with the launch of the Super Minx Mark III the Super Minx was facelifted, and the wrap-around rear window gave way to a new "six-light" design with a larger side windows aft of the rear side doors. The windscreen and side windows were also made taller and
584-500: A slightly different grille arrangement and front trim to the Vogue as well as a taller panoramic windscreen, sloping rear roofline and larger rear fins. It had been intended that the Sceptre be a sports saloon until shortly before its launch as a Humber, hence its sprightly performance compared with other Humber models. Nearly five years after its launch, a Singer Vogue Series IV saloon tested by
657-422: A steady rate of between 60 and 120 pulses per minute (1–2 Hz). International UN Regulations require that all turn signals flash in simultaneous phase; US regulations permit side marker lights wired for side turn signal functionality to flash in opposite-phase. An audio and/or visual tell-tale indicator is required, to advise the driver when the turn signals are activated and operating. This usually takes
730-507: A thermal flasher. If the stalk switch is not moved beyond the fixed left/right position and allowed to flip back, the control module will only flash the lights three times. Electric turn signal lights date from as early as 1907. Possibly the first factory installation of illuminated turn signals was on the Talbot 105 (as well as the 75 and 95), which used them at the front as well as at the rear from 1932 until 1935. The modern flashing turn signal
803-443: A turn indicator self-cancelling feature that returns the lever to the neutral (no signal) position as the steering wheel approaches the straight-ahead position after a turn has been made. Beginning in the late 1960s, using the direction-indicator lights to signal for a lane change was facilitated by the addition of a spring-loaded momentary signal-on position just shy of the left and right detents . The signal operates for however long
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#1732858765082876-622: A vehicle conspicuous and visible with respect to its presence, position, direction of travel, change in direction, or deceleration. Such lights may light steadily, blink, or flash, depending on their intended and regulated function. Most must be fitted in pairs—one left and one right—though some vehicles have multiple pairs (such as two left and two right stop lights) and/or redundant light sources (such as one left and one right stop light, each containing two bulbs). Front position lights (known as parking lights in North America and front sidelights in
949-413: A vehicle, and sometimes on the sides or on the side mirrors of a vehicle (where they are called repeaters ). They are activated by the driver on one side of the vehicle at a time to advertise intent to turn or change lanes towards that side, or used simultaneously as a hazard warning signal to warn other drivers of a vehicle parked on the road (see below). For many years, turn signals' on-off operation
1022-471: Is a car classification used in Europe to describe normally-sized cars. The name comes from the marketed use of these cars to carry a whole family , locally or on vacations . Most family cars are hatchbacks or sedans , although there are MPVs , estates and cabriolets with the same structure as with the other body style . The term covers two types of family cars. This automobile -related article
1095-440: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Automotive lighting A motor vehicle has lighting and signaling devices mounted to or integrated into its front, rear, sides, and, in some cases, top. Various devices have the dual function of illuminating the road ahead for the driver, and making the vehicle visible to others, with indications to them of turning, slowing or stopping, etc., with lights also indicating
1168-512: Is a straight swap for both of these units and looks almost identical - it provides a useful boost in power to an already swift automobile. The unique Sceptre interior featured full instrumentation, including a tachometer marked up to 6,000 rpm, and a four-speed floor-mounted transmission with self-cancelling overdrive (with column-mounted control and indicator) on third and fourth gear for a total of six separate ratios in standard form. The lockout could be removed on first and second gears, and this
1241-437: Is credited with introducing an innovative version of the signalling arm in 1914, a predecessor to the modern turn signal, and a mechanical brake signal. She did not patent these inventions, however, and received no credit or profit from them. Tail lights and brake lights were introduced around 1915, and by 1919, low-beam or dipped beam headlights were available. Sealed beam headlights were introduced in 1936 and standardized as
1314-672: Is frequently cosmetic. They are often available as optional extras or only on higher trim levels of many cars. Since as early as the 2020s, several car manufacturers have noticeably omitted the front fog lights from many of their latest models, as more recent high-tech lighting technologies such as DRLs and LEDs connected to automatic high-beam systems negate the use of fog lights. However, some manufacturers who still offer fog lights as standard equipment in certain model trims have diversified its use to function also as an automatic lighting delay for vehicles, to light up surroundings and roadside curbs after being parked. An SAE study has shown that in
1387-576: Is less consistency; it may be located to the left or to the right of the steering wheel. Regulations do not specify a mandatory location for the turn signal control, only that it be visible and operable by the driver, and—at least in North America—that it be labelled with a specific symbol if it is not located on the left side of the steering column. The international UN Regulations do not include analogous specifications. Virtually all vehicles (except many motorcycles and commercial semi-tractors) have
1460-416: Is optional under UN and US regulations, is served passively in the United States by mandatory side marker retroreflectors . Some countries permit or require vehicles to be equipped with daytime running lights (DRLs). Depending on the regulations of the country for which the vehicle is built, these may be functionally dedicated lights, or the function may be provided by the low beam or high beam headlights,
1533-571: Is specified for use whenever other vehicles are present ahead. UN ECE regulations for dipped beam headlights specify a beam with a sharp, asymmetric cut-off; the half of the beam closest to oncoming drivers is flat and low, while the half of the beam closest to the outside of the road slopes up and towards the near side of the roadway. This permits a functional compromise where it is possible to substantially prevent glare for oncoming drivers, while still allowing adequate illumination for drivers to see pedestrians, road signs, hazards, etc. on their side of
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#17328587650821606-561: Is still found in international UN Regulations, which do not distinguish between a vehicle's primary (mandatory) and auxiliary (optional) upper/driving beam lights. The "driving light" term has been supplanted in US regulations by the functionally descriptive term "auxiliary high-beam light". Many countries regulate the installation and use of driving lights. For example, in Russia, each vehicle may have no more than three pairs of driving lights (including
1679-408: Is to use a relaxation oscillator chip to generate square waves to the relay coil, causing the relay contacts to open and close. Modern cars now use a relaxation oscillator and solid-state relay built into the body control module to flash the lights, and use speakers to produce the distinctive clicking sound associated with turn signals, which was previously made by a relay or the leaf spring in
1752-449: The Nordic countries that receive fewer daylight hours during winter. "Driving light" is a term hailing from the early days of night time driving, when it was relatively rare to encounter an opposing vehicle. Only on occasions when opposing drivers passed each other would the low (dipped or "passing") beam be used. The high beam was therefore known as the "driving beam", and this terminology
1825-405: The side-view mirrors in 1998, starting with its facelifted E-Class (W210) . Since then, many automakers have been incorporating side turn signal devices into the mirror housings rather than mounting them on the vehicle's fenders . Some evidence suggests that mirror-mounted turn signals may be more effective than fender-mounted ones. Turn signals are required to blink on and off, or "flash", at
1898-488: The 1,592 cc engine had twin single Zenith downdraught carburettors - later 1,592/1,725 cc engines used a Solex twin choke downdraught carburettor for simplicity. The twin Zenith carburettors had been hard to keep balanced. Other modifications included a water-jacketed inlet manifold, timing adjustments and stronger valve springs to eliminate valve bounce at high engine speeds. The later H120's 107 hp (80 kW) engine
1971-575: The 1949 and/or 1968 Conventions; examples include turn signals and side marker lights in North America, as described in those lights' sections later in this article. Forward illumination is provided by high- ("main", "full", "driving") and low- ("dip", "dipped", "passing") beam headlights , which may be augmented by auxiliary fog lights, driving lights, or cornering lights. Low beam (also called dipped beam, passing beam, or meeting beam) headlights provide adequate forward and lateral illumination without dazzling other road users with excessive glare. This beam
2044-668: The 2000s as more powerful LEDs became available. The colour of light emitted by vehicle lights is largely standardized by established conventions, first codified in the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and later specified in the 1968 United Nations Vienna Convention on Road Traffic . With some regional exceptions, lights facing rearward must emit red light, side-facing lights and all turn signals must emit amber light, and lights facing forward must emit white or selective yellow light. No other colours are permitted except on emergency vehicles. Vehicle lighting colour specifications can differ somewhat in countries that have not signed
2117-513: The Britain's Autocar magazine in August 1966, now with an advertised power output of 85 bhp (63 kW; 86 PS), had a top speed of 93 mph (150 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 25 seconds. An overall fuel consumption of 22.0 miles per imperial gallon (12.8 L/100 km; 18.3 mpg ‑US ) was achieved. The test car was priced by Rootes in
2190-548: The Super Minx gave Rootes , and particularly its Hillman marque , an expanded presence in the upper reaches of the family car market. It has been suggested that the Super Minx design was originally intended to replace, and not merely to supplement, the standard Minx, but was found to be too big for that purpose. An estate car joined the range in May 1962, and a two-door convertible in June 1962. The convertible never sold in significant numbers:
2263-526: The UK at £911 including taxes, at a time when the Austin 1800 was retailing for £888 and the Ford Corsair GT was offered at £925. The performance was felt to be lively, and the gear change, supported on the test car with an optional overdrive, ‘crisp’ with well chosen ratios. Comfort and fittings were also commended, but the fuel consumption and the tendency of the heavy brakes to fade when used hard disappointed
Hillman Super Minx - Misplaced Pages Continue
2336-448: The UK) provide nighttime standing-vehicle conspicuity. They are designed to use little electricity so they can be left on when parked for prolonged periods of time. Despite the UK term, these are not the same as the side marker lights described below. The front position lights on any vehicle must emit white light, with the exception of motorcycles, which may have amber front position lights. In
2409-528: The US, Canada, Mexico, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia (only if combined with a side marker), South Korea, North Korea, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and much of the Middle East, they may emit amber light on any vehicle. The "city light" terminology for front position lights derives from the practice, formerly adhered to in cities like Moscow, London and Paris, of driving at night in urban areas using these low- intensity lights rather than
2482-405: The US, daytime running lights may emit either amber or white light, and may produce up to 7,000 candela. This has provoked a large number of complaints about glare . UK regulations briefly required vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1987 to be equipped with a "dim-dip" device or special low-intensity running lights, except such vehicles as complying fully with UN Regulation 48 regarding
2555-607: The United States, more people inappropriately use their fog lights in dry weather than use them properly in poor weather. Because of this, use of the fog lights when visibility is not seriously reduced is often prohibited in most jurisdictions; for example, in Australia, "The driver of a vehicle must not use any fog light fitted to the vehicle unless the driver is driving in fog, mist or under other atmospheric conditions that restrict visibility. " The respective purposes of front fog lights and driving lights are often confused, due in part to
2628-410: The bimetallic strip cooled down, it would pull the leaf spring back over centre in the other direction, closing the contacts and again sending power to the lights and heating element. The cycle would repeat until the power to the thermal flasher was switched off by the stalk switch. Thermal flashers gradually gave way to electromechanical relays ; one of many control strategies with relay-type flashers
2701-471: The engine was running and the driver switched on the position lights (called sidelights in the UK). Dim-dip was intended to provide a nighttime "town beam" with intensity between that of contemporary parking lights commonly used in city traffic after dark, and dipped beams; the former were considered insufficiently intense to provide improved conspicuity in conditions requiring it, while the latter were considered too glaring for safe use in built-up areas. The UK
2774-440: The form of one green light on the dashboard on cars from the 1950s or older, or two green indicator lights on cars from the 1960s to the present, and a rhythmic ticking sound generated electromechanically or electronically by the flasher. It is also required that the vehicle operator be alerted by much faster- or slower-than-normal flashing in the event a turn signal light fails. Turn signals are, in almost every case, activated by
2847-403: The front and rear, except rear side markers may be red if they are grouped, combined, or reciprocally incorporated with another rear lighting function that is required to be red. Australian Design Rule 45/01 provides for two different kinds of side marker light: a type for trucks and other large vehicles producing amber light to the front and red to the rear with no requirement to emit light to
2920-810: The front doors and swung out to a horizontal position. They were fragile and could be easily broken off, and also had a tendency to stick in the closed or open position. They could be fitted with a fixed or flashing light. After turn signals were introduced regulations were brought in requiring them and laying out specifications that had to be met. Ultimately standards governed minimum and maximum permissible intensity levels, minimum horizontal and vertical angles of visibility, and minimum illuminated surface area, to ensure that they are visible at all relevant angles, do not dazzle those who view them, and are suitably conspicuous in all conditions ranging from full darkness to full direct sunlight. In most countries, cars must be equipped with side-mounted turn signal repeaters to make
2993-553: The front turn signals, or the front fog lights. Passenger cars and small delivery vans first type approved to UN Regulation 48 on or after 7 February 2011, and large vehicles (trucks and buses) type approved since August 2012, must be equipped with DRLs. Functional piggybacking, such as using the headlights, front turn signals, or fog lights as DRLs, is not permitted; the EU Directive requires functionally specific daytime running lights compliant with UN Regulation 87 and mounted to
Hillman Super Minx - Misplaced Pages Continue
3066-501: The installation of lighting equipment. A dim-dip device operates the dipped beam headlights at between 10% and 20% of normal low-beam intensity. Running lights permitted as an alternative to dim-dip were required to emit at least 200 candela straight ahead, and no more than 800 candela in any direction. In practice, most vehicles were equipped with the dim-dip option rather than dedicated running lights. The dim-dip systems were not intended for daytime use as DRLs . Rather, they operated if
3139-504: The jurisdiction and the DRL implementation. Likewise, according to jurisdictional regulations, DRLs mounted within a certain distance of turn signals are permitted or required to extinguish or dim down to parking light intensity individually when the adjacent turn signal is operating. UN Regulation 87 stipulates that DRLs must emit white light with an intensity of at least 400 candela on axis and no more than 1200 candela in any direction. In
3212-548: The last one was made in June 1964, ahead of the introduction, in September 1964, of the Super Minx Mark III. The car was powered by the Rootes 1,592 cc (97.1 cu in) unit, which had first appeared late in 1953 with a 1,390 cc (85 cu in) capacity. The original Super Minx had the cast-iron cylinder head version of the engine, though on later cars the cylinder head was replaced with an aluminium one. Suspension
3285-487: The misconception that fog lights are always selective yellow, while any auxiliary light that makes white light is a driving light. Automakers and aftermarket parts and accessories suppliers frequently refer interchangeably to "fog lights" and "driving lights" (or "fog/driving lights"). On some models, cornering lights provide steady-intensity white light for lateral illumination in the direction of an intended turn or lane change. They are generally actuated in conjunction with
3358-626: The model was replaced, in the Humber's case in 1967, by a Hillman Hunter-based successor. The cars differed in subtle ways, with the Singer being positioned slightly above the Hillman and gaining such extras as quad headlights , and the Humber topping the range, commensurate with Humber's traditional role as a producer of upmarket and luxury models. The styling of the Sceptre (as well as the Vogue) somewhat recalled previous, larger Humbers. The Sceptre marks 1 and 1A had
3431-490: The only acceptable type in the US in 1940. Self-cancelling turn signals were developed in 1940. By 1945, headlights and signal lights were integrated into the body styling. Halogen headlights were developed in Europe in 1960. High-intensity discharge (HID) headlights were produced starting in 1991. In 1993, the first LED tail lights were installed on mass-production automobiles, with LED headlights subsequently being introduced in
3504-619: The original cars survives. The Super Minx saloon and its Singer variants were replaced by the Rootes Arrow range when the Hillman Hunter and Singer Vogue were launched at the London Motor Show in October 1966. However, the Hunter was initially offered only as a saloon and accordingly the Super Minx estate car remained in production until April 1967. Family car A family car
3577-479: The original lights), and in Paraguay, auxiliary driving lights must be off and covered with opaque material when the vehicle is operated in urban areas. Front fog lights provide a wide, bar-shaped beam of light with a sharp cutoff at the top, and are generally aimed and mounted low. They may produce white or selective yellow light, and were designed for use at low speed to increase the illumination directed towards
3650-491: The road is also flat, but higher than the half closest to oncoming vehicles. This results in substantially increased glare for oncoming drivers and also poorer illumination of the near side of the roadway in comparison to headlights conforming to UN ECE regulations. High beam (also called main beam, driving beam, or full beam) headlights provide an intense, centre-weighted distribution of light with no particular glare control. Therefore, they are only suitable for use when alone on
3723-451: The road surface and verges in conditions of poor visibility due to fog , dust or snow . They are sometimes used in place of dipped-beam headlights, reducing glare from fog or falling snow, although the legality of using front fog lights without low-beam headlights varies by jurisdiction. In most countries, weather conditions rarely necessitate the use of front fog lights and there is no legal requirement for them, so their primary purpose
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#17328587650823796-589: The road, as the glare they produce will dazzle other drivers. UN ECE Regulations permit higher-intensity high-beam headlights than allowed under U.S. and Canadian FMVSS / CMVSS standards. Auxiliary high beam lights may be fitted to provide high-intensity light to enable the driver to see at longer range than the vehicle's high beam headlights. Such lights are most notably fitted on rally cars, and are occasionally fitted to production vehicles derived from or imitating such cars. They are common in countries with large stretches of unlit roads, or in regions such as
3869-456: The road. The United States and Canada use proprietary FMVSS / CMVSS standards instead of UN ECE regulations. These standards contain regulations for dipped beam headlights that also specify a beam with a sharp, asymmetric cut-off; the half of the beam closest to oncoming drivers is also flat and low, but not as low as prescribed in UN ECE regulations. The half of the beam closest to the outside of
3942-531: The roof-line flatter. Engine capacity was increased to 1,725 cc (105.3 cu in) for the Super Minx Mark IV launched at the London Motor Show in October 1965. (The larger engine outlived the Super Minx, to be used in later models too.) Like many other Rootes products including the Minx, the Super Minx was one of a badge-engineered series of models, sold under various marques. The Singer marque
4015-414: The side (intended for showing the overall length of long vehicles from in front and behind a combination) and the U.S. type amber front/red rear lights for passenger cars. Side marker lights can be seen as the successor to "cowl lights" used on vehicles during the 1920s to 1930s, which were a pair of small lights installed at the top edges of the cowl between the hood and the windshield, and would serve as
4088-672: The size of some large vehicles. Many emergency vehicles have distinctive lighting equipment to warn drivers of their presence. Early road vehicles used fuelled lamps before the availability of electric lighting. The first Ford Model T used carbide lamps for headlights and oil lamps for tail lights. It did not have all-electric lighting as a standard feature until several years after its introduction. Dynamos for automobile headlights were first fitted around 1908 and became commonplace in 1920s automobiles. Trafficators —signalling arms that flipped up, which later were lighted—were introduced in about 1900. Silent film star Florence Lawrence
4161-446: The testers: this would presumably not have been an issue had the road test been of a Humber Sceptre which had its stopping power from a servo-assisted 10-inch (250 mm) front disc/rear drum arrangement. The Humber was also, at launch, fitted with a high tune version of the 1,592 cc and, from September 1965, 1,725 cc oversquare engine producing 80 hp (60 kW) and 85 hp (63 kW) respectively. Early models with
4234-431: The turn indication visible laterally (i.e. to the sides of the vehicle) rather than just to the front and rear of the vehicle. These are permitted, but not required in the United States and Canada. As an alternative in both the United States and Canada, the front amber side marker lights may be wired to flash with the turn signals, but this is not mandatory. Mercedes-Benz introduced side turn signal repeaters integrated into
4307-612: The turn signals, and they may be wired to also illuminate when the vehicle is shifted into reverse gear. Some modern vehicles activate the cornering light on one or the other side when the steering wheel input reaches a predetermined angle in that direction, regardless of whether a turn signal has been activated. American technical standards contain provisions for front cornering lights as well as rear cornering lights. Cornering lights have traditionally been prohibited under international UN Regulations, though provisions have recently been made to allow them as long as they are only operable when
4380-422: The turn signals; nevertheless, they are not required to flash at all. Side markers are permitted but not required on cars and light passenger vehicles outside the United States and Canada. If installed, they are required to be brighter and visible through a larger horizontal angle than US side markers, may flash only in synchronous phase with the turn signals (but are not required to flash), and they must be amber at
4453-637: The vehicle in accord with UN Regulation 48. Prior to the DRL mandate, countries requiring daytime lights permitted low beam headlights to provide that function. National regulations in Canada, Sweden, Norway, Slovenia, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark require hardwired automatic DRL systems of varying specification. DRLs are permitted in many countries where they are not required, but prohibited in other countries not requiring them. Front, side, and rear position lights are permitted, required, or forbidden to illuminate in combination with daytime running lights, depending on
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#17328587650824526-436: The vehicle is travelling at less than 40 kilometres per hour (about 25 mph). Police cars, emergency vehicles, and vehicles competing in road rallies are sometimes equipped with an auxiliary spotlight, sometimes called an "alley light", in a swivel-mounted housing attached to one or both A-pillars , aimed by a handle protruding through the pillar into the vehicle. Conspicuity devices are lights and reflectors that make
4599-504: The vehicle's headlights. In Germany, the StVZO (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations) calls for a different function provided by these lights: with the vehicle's ignition switched off, the operator may activate a low-intensity white light at the front and red light at the rear on either the left or right side. This function is used when parking in narrow unlit streets to provide parked-vehicle conspicuity to approaching drivers. This function, which
4672-679: Was a sporty Sunbeam version of the Minx (the Sunbeam Rapier ) but no Sunbeam version of the Super Minx. In addition to assembling the Super Minx, Rootes Australia produced variants of the Singer Vogue from 1963 to 1966 as the Humber Vogue and Humber Vogue Sports . At least six Humber Sceptre development mules were built with the same engine as the Sunbeam Tiger, a 289 cui Ford V8 unit. These never entered production, but at least one of
4745-405: Was activated by a thermal flasher unit which used a heating element , leaf spring , and a bimetallic strip . When activated by the stalk switch on the steering column , the signal lights and heating element turned on. The heat caused the bimetallic strip to bend such that it threw the leaf spring over centre, opening the circuit and breaking power to the heating element and the signal lights. When
4818-481: Was amended to require lights and retroreflectors on vehicles manufactured after 1 January 1970. These side-facing devices make the vehicle's presence, position and direction of travel clearly visible from oblique angles. The lights are wired to illuminate whenever the vehicles' parking lights and tail lights are on, including when the headlights are being used. Front amber side markers in the United States may be wired to flash in synchronous phase or opposite-phase with
4891-460: Was independent at the front using coil springs with anti-roll bar and at the rear had leaf springs and a live axle . Un-assisted 9 in (229 mm) Lockheed drum brakes were fitted. The steering used a recirculating ball system and was as usual at the time not power assisted. Standard seating, trimmed in Vynide, used a bench type at the front with individual seats as an option. A heater was fitted but
4964-465: Was often done by Rootes in cars used for competitions such as rallying. In addition, the Sceptre was from the beginning provided with servo-assisted braking control and, unusually in 1963, 10-inch front disc-brakes. The Marks 1 and 1A were not available with an automatic option - although this was rectified with the Mark II cars, using a three-speed unit with automatic kick-down. This was a cheaper option than
5037-633: Was patented in 1938, and shortly after, most major automobile manufacturers offered this optional feature before it became mandatory in 1967. As of 2013 , most countries require turn signals on all new vehicles that are driven on public roadways. Alternative systems of hand signals were used earlier and remain common for bicycles. Hand signals are also sometimes used when regular vehicle lights are malfunctioning or for older vehicles without turn signals. Some cars from about 1900 to through 1966 used retractable semaphores called trafficators rather than flashing lights. They were commonly mounted high up behind
5110-590: Was recorded. The test car cost £854 including taxes, which was then slightly less than the recently upgraded Austin Cambridge A60 . The first Super Minxes featured the 1,592 cc (97.1 cu in) engine as used in the Hillman Minx, providing in this application a claimed 62 bhp (46 kW; 63 PS) of power. A year after the car was launched a Mark II version was presented, in October 1962, with greasing points eliminated, larger front disc brakes and
5183-620: Was represented by the Singer Vogue which had been announced in July 1961, four months earlier than the Hillman Super Minx. The range was joined in 1963 by a Humber : the Humber Sceptre . The Singer Vogue and Humber Sceptre names would be retained by the successor Rootes Arrow model range. The Sceptre was developed as a four-door replacement for the Sunbeam Rapier , but was re-designated as
5256-578: Was the only country to require such dim-dip systems, though vehicles so equipped were sold in other Commonwealth countries with left-hand traffic . In 1988, the European Commission successfully prosecuted the UK government in the European Court of Justice , arguing that the UK requirement for dim-dip was illegal under EC directives prohibiting member states from enacting vehicle lighting requirements not contained in pan-European EC directives. As
5329-708: Was usual at the time due to the deletion of the Laycock De Normanville overdrive fitted to the Manual cars. There was a Singer variant of the smaller Minx as well (the Singer Gazelle ) but no equivalent Humber version of the Minx, (except for the Humber 80 version of the Minx released in New Zealand, as is Humber 90 to the Super Minx) which would have been uncharacteristically small for the Humber marque; conversely there
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