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MG MGA - MGA Factory Headlight Flash Switch??


And now for something completely different:

Ending today on eBay is an auction for what purports to be a factory-option Lucas MGA headlight flash switch.

See:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=34207&item=4546105963&rd=1

The copy reads:
"This is the real thing.Lucas # 31898 although I don't think Lucas actually made these.My other one has a hand engraved part number on the side as well as the same sticker.These are as rare as hair on a frog, possibly the rarest MGA option of all.Used with a simple sub harness and relay 33135 (similar to many early horn relays) this allowed you to flash your headlights for the sheer joy of it.It does not push or pull to operate but tilts about 10 degrees to complete the ground for the relay's coil.How many were ordered on MGA's ...hundreds or only dozens.We will never know.I have only seen one on a picture of a restored Twin Cam coupe. I bought three 30 years ago and only one is for sale.Ohmeter tested and working! You will NOT see another in the foreseeable future.The choice is yours!"

I have never heard of or seen one of these before. Has anyone else?

Frank Nocera

Never seen one either. We had a thread on this a while back...it is on page 50 of Clausager's restoration book (tiny picture). Someone mentioned a lookalike replacement from www.holden.co.uk but the toggle handle was slightly different.
Jim Paul

Jim is spot on. It is shown directly above the direction indicator switch on the RHD car on page 50. The Holden switch is substantially different.

Steve
Steve Gyles

The advert is slightly misleading. It is definately NOT a factory option but it is definately a period modification. These switches were available and no doubt some owners would have fitted such a device the same way as we do things to our modern cars.
Bob (robert)

That is the third one I have seen on eBay in the past 18 months or so and these were made by Lucas. If you want something that looks pretty close for a lot less money, Holden in the UK make a very good substitute that operates the same way for $20 or so. If anyone is interested in this I can get you the part number.

Frank
Frank Graham

Bob,
The headlamp flasher was a factory option and is listed in the Twin Cam, 1600 and 1600 MKII service parts list, it is however listed as optional for N. America only. I don't know about the 1500 parts list I don't have one to reference. The original BMC part number for the switch was BHA4116 (Lucas # 31898) and 3H1911 for the relay (I don't have the Lucas # for it handy).

Frank
Frank Graham

Steve,
While the Holden switch is by no means identical I think it is pretty close, these are so rarely seen that most knowledgeable MGA owners would probably not spot the difference. I have side by side photos of a Lucas original and the Holden item at:

http://safetyfast.homestead.com/flasher.html

If anyone is interested take a look and judge for yourself.

Frank


Frank Graham

Frank, why are there three connections on the back of the Holden switch? I purchased one of these and a relay a while back, however have not yet installed them.

Could you explain the connections?

Thanks
Ted

The switch and relay are also listed in the 1500 parts list with the same details as Frank gives. They are not shown on the illustration.
malcolm asquith

Frank Graham writes:

" ...it is however listed as optional for N. America only. "

That's surprising! Most American drivers, when you come up behind them in the left (inside, ie, passing) lane and flash your headlights, usually respond by slowing down to "teach you a lesson". This would be a practically worthless accessory in America. On American freeways, if you want to pass a left lane bandit you usually have to do in on the right - and the other driver will usually speed up just to "teach you another lesson."

David Breneman

Keep in mind that the device was designed for an era and driving conditions of 50 years ago, before road rage was even a concept. Interestingly, Florida (and perhaps other states as well) now has a law on the books that allows a person traveling in the passing lane to be ticketed by the highway patrol or local gendarmes if the person impedes the ability of a car to pass...no matter what their speed is, or the speed of the car that wants to pass. Get outta the way or get a ticket.
Frank Nocera

Washington has had a law forever that you cannot impede the travel of three or more vehicles. Even on a two lane road, you must pull off onto the shoulder and let them pass. I know of only one person who ever got ticketed for this offense, however. A friend of my grandmother's was cited for impeding 5 cars some time in the early 1950s. Maybe people did have more sense about passing back then. Nowadays, these laws make little impression on people who see virtue in making others travel slowly. Thay feel that yielding to overtaking traffic is complicity in an act they find offensive, speeding. This topic was argued to death on the seattle.general Usenet news group over a decade ago (at the depths of the 55MPH boondoggle), and posters usually broke down into two camps: 1) "If I want to pass you, you are required by law to move to the right at the first safe opportunity and let me pass." 2) "Speeder! Speeder! I'm not gonna help you speed, you speeder!" :-)
David Breneman

I installed the "flick switch" on my MGA when I restored it and find it to be most functional. For those that drive their cars on the open road, it is great for greeting a fellow sports car driver (as we did in the 60's). I find it to be especially useful in signalling passing truckers that they're clear. Marv.
Marv Stuart

I want to thank Frank for bring to my attention of that switch being for sale. I am the person who bought it. I have almost every option for the car including a factory alum hardtop, Judson supercharger with pressure guage, washers for windows ect. It was a bit much for it, but I will now have to eat out a little less to save the money which is probley a good idea so I can still get into the A.
JEFF BECKER

This thread was discussed between 01/05/2005 and 03/05/2005

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