Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

What vehicle-related inventions were announced triumphantly by the people behind them, and were lauded in the press, only to fade from view without catching on and disappeared without trace, despite their promised benefits?

For instance, I'm not sure that exhaust-fed under-floor heating was ever going to catch on, yet was available as an aftermarket accessory in the 1910s/1920s

RJ
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[Peter_L]

Not so much technical, but the reverse slant rear window (Anglia & Classic) were hailed as "safety aids" because rain was not supposed to obscure rearward vision.

[mikeC]

Those Edwardian electric cars were never going to work, were they

[Peter_L]

I don't remember when, but many years back I was given a quantity of old motoring magazines. (Long since sold). There was one article that has stayed with me. It concerned dipping headlamps and described in detail the solenoid powered system that moved the reflector to deflect the beam down and to the left. One part of the text talked about twin filament bulbs, reflectors and refractor ground lenses. In short it dismissed each and all as being the answer. Correct dipping would only ever be achieved my mechanical re-alignment of the reflector.

Refer to Citroen DS and more recent models. Did they have something ? could it be that moving the light is the best way ?

[ka]

I hesitate to print this, but wasn't the C5 a wonderful idea? or even the BMW C1?
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KA

Better three than four.

[Peter_L]

Pushing the topic a little more "off topic". Why does the United States persist with Red rear direction indicators. ?

Volvo pushed the design limits by placing Rear Light Clusters, as high as they could. Did aesthetics kill this idea ?

[Peter_L]

[mikeC]

[Penman]

Hi
There was a proposal/suggestion in the 50's or 60's that all car glass including H/light glass and mirrors should be polarised on a particular diagonal, it was stated that this would obviate the need of dipping because any light visible from other vehicles wouldn't dazzle as it had to pass through 2 oppositely polarised panes of glass.

I think it was on Tomorrow's World.


But they didn't mention all the previously made vehicles which wouldn't be so equipped.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[goneps]

An idea I distinctly recall from Tomorrow's World when a mere callow youth was a modified articulated lorry fifth wheel to prevent jack-knifing. In essence it was a sort of clutch arrangement that would lock the articulated sections together, possibly under braking. This seemed like such a simple and effective idea I can't believe it was never taken up.

Another, from the same programme and also heavy transport-related, comprised mud flaps which looked like over-sized doormats made from material similar to artificial grass. The idea was that spray from the truck and trailer tyres would be trapped by the 'grass' surface and run harmlessly down to the road in a stream, whereas conventional flat mudflaps actually exacerbate the problem. The difference was spectacular, scarcely any more spray than a family saloon would make. How on earth could this simple and inexpensive yet so effective (and so necessary) idea have been allowed simply to fade into oblivion?

Richard

[Penguin45]

Ultimately, and after a decent run - hydrolastic suspension.

P45.
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'67 Wolseley MkI 18/85, '70 Austin MkII 1800 The Landcrab Forum.

[Ronniej]

I recall reading a description of a proposed anti-dazzle device.
The details are a bit hazy but the idea was that cars would have a rear-facing "headlight" mounted on its offside running board.
As two cars approached the drivers would "dip" their lights which would extinguish their headlamps and illuminate the rear-facing light.
This would mean the cars would pass using the other's lights for forward vision.
In a perfect world it may have worked but the obvious shortcoming is what would happen when a car using this device passed one without it.
In more recent times the "square" steering wheel fitted to early Allegros seems like something born to fail.
I recall an experiment in road engineering that seemed to work but has not been adopted: The crash barriers in the central reservation were fitted with vertical slats which were angled to shield drivers from the dazzle of cars on the opposite carriageway. This experiment was run on the road leading to the Forth Road Bridge, perhaps members living in this area might know why it was discontinued?
Perhaps we could also discuss an idea that works only too well and has spread like a plague. I speak of the speed-hump. I do accept that they may have a place in some sensitive areas but road engineers seem to have adopted them universally, possibly because they are much cheaper than other methods of traffic calming.
In my view there are far too many of them, many are also much steeper than they need be and some are poorly marked. They are tiresome in a modern car but deadly to an oldie.What do others think?

[Dipster]

[roverdriver]

There were many examples of wheels with the spokes being springs. The idea being to create a more comfortable ride and/or have the ride advantage of pneumatic tyres, but the no puncture advantage of solid rubber ones. Ackerman was one brand, but there were many others.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[Penman]

Hi
Puncrure proof tyres!
http://www.euro-nova.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?3430-Puncture-Proof-Tyres-!!!!!!
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10