10 replies to this topic

[Holly]

A question from my boyfirend!

Did the early minis have a light dip switcvh on the floor that you operate by foot like the old land rovers!?!?

I have no idea what that has to do with but someone may know

Thank yo u:)

[Jammy]

Yes.

[Holly]

what model were they on cant find any on google hundreds of ebay shops come up!

[minimanclive]

My 1966 Mk1 Mini had a foot operated headlight dip switch. It confused the MOT tester!

[taffy1967]

All MKI Minis I think? The MKII Mini of late 1967 did away with the flashing tell tale indicator bulb on the indicator stalk and I'd imagine that the floor mounted dip switch was axed at the same time too?

[Teapot]

Just to confuse everything (I like doing that) I think I remember my 850 mini in 1962 having a starter button under a rubber cover on the floor by the handbrake, a dipswitch on the floor by the pedals which was just a metal clicky thing you trod on, and a little green blinking light on a stalk for the indicators. (First hand I-was-there stuff, this).

Fast forward to 1968 and I'm in a Morris Cooper S with hydrolastic suspension and beachball seats and both the floor switches have gone and the indicators stalk has lost its little blinky. I thinky.

Er, so which cars had foot-operated windscreen washer plungers, then? Not electric, but what's the foot version of manual? Pedual?

Edited by Teapot, 06 November 2007 - 05:06 PM.

[taffy1967]

Wow you were there in those heady days? Much respect and you can still remember too? So as the saying goes, you weren't really there at all then man.



Anyway yes they did have starter buttons on the floor and I've heard a rather tongue in cheek joke that they changed that little feature after a Mini parked over a manhole cover was blown into the air after it's driver pressed the starter button. Apparantly gas present beneath the car was ignited by the spark produced by the starter button switch.

I don't know if there is any truth in that saying, but it got changed after a few years anyway.

Edited by taffy1967, 06 November 2007 - 05:11 PM.

[miniman retford]

Yeh i had one with a floor dipswitch & can still remember one dark night out on country roads when i dipped for an oncoming car & when he had gone past pressed it again and headlanmps went out altogether was very scary !!

[Elfie]

After long journeys on straight roads I always try and use the dip button as a clutch. Unsuccesfully

[jayare]

This is the part at Minispares: http://www.minispare....aspx?pid=37907
There's one on ebay - item number 190171049447 which has a photo but it's more expensive than Minispares!

JR

[julievn]

yes ive got my highbeam switch and starter switch on the floor and i wouldnt have it any other way even though driving through fog it takes five minutes to find the bloody switch, ha ha
i was at a show once and these young lads were looking at my car, one turned to the other and said that the floor was a funny place to put a fag lighter!!!!