[rajeev k]

In the 70s the battery isolator switches, like the one in the pic was a much sought after safety as well as anti theft accessory.

[Bulldogji]

Does no one remember the cute little three metal curved blade fans?? These were followed by coloured plastic multi blade fans, so common in Fiats and Ambassadors, mounted ahead of the ash trays in the Fiats, on the dash or the inside of the B posts in the Ambassadors ? Especially those used by Babus with white curtains etc etc , before black glasses became the fashion?

what about the horrible reversing horns? And the Godrej door locks, steering/ brake pedal locks, floor gear shift lever locks?

Rajeev,

I still use the battery isolators , safe and prevents the battery from losing charge when not in use for prolonged periods.Now they are expensive and not easily available.

[President]

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

Does no one remember the cute little three metal curved blade fans?? These were followed by coloured plastic multi blade fans, so common in Fiats and Ambassadors, mounted ahead of the ash trays in the Fiats, on the dash or the inside of the B posts in the Ambassadors ? Especially those used by Babus with white curtains etc etc , before black glasses became the fashion?

what about the horrible reversing horns? And the Godrej door locks, steering/ brake pedal locks, floor gear shift lever locks?

Rajeev,

I still use the battery isolators , safe and prevents the battery from losing charge when not in use for prolonged periods.Now they are expensive and not easily available.

Bulldogji Sir,
Your above post brings back a lot of memories from that era.
Of course we remember those fans and also the Sanyo fans with the AC duct design (made in Japan) mounted on top of the Fiat ash trays with two brackets on either side. Incidentally, I still have one like that and some three blade ones too, with me for vanity, as a period accessory.

And yes, the battery isolaters are a must for our cars that are not running on a regular basis. Saves the battery from draining. I have them on most of my Fiats and believe me the battery does co-operate even after 4-5 months of non use or hibernation.
Today these switches are extinct but a cheapo Rickshaw battery cut off switch can still be available and adaptable to comply.

[ajay99]

Originally Posted by Karthik1100

Some nice accessories on FIATs.

4. Period Pioneer system seen in a Premier President!
Attachment 1139841

The pioneer cassette player is a real gem.Never seen this old school one for years now

[ajay99]

Ra-Bambus parcel shelf made in MUNCHEN,germany a much sought after VW accessory.

[rajeev k]

Originally Posted by ajay99

Ra-Bambus parcel shelf made in MUNCHEN,germany a much sought after VW accessory.

You have just given a business proposition to cane furniture manufacturers. Is any such one seeing the above post?

[ajay99]

Originally Posted by rajeev k

You have just given a business proposition to cane furniture manufacturers. Is any such one seeing the above post?

It could sound like a good proposition,but please note the quality and finesse of the bamboo used in the Original stuff.Also our local bamboo is more rough.the original Ra-Bambus parcel shelf costs USD200 plus.while the repro ones around USD60.

[ajay99]

Tubular fan which could fit into the dash of Beetles
made by VDO/Hella/Braun

[P76]

@Karthik1100, the photos of "extra" Godrej door locks and the audio system very safely enclosed inside a box reminds me of the same in our Mark-4 Amby. The car had extra Godrej locks for the Boot as well. The Audio system was safely 'hidden' inside the Right hand side glove box (the Amby had two Glove boxes) with a lock, and controlled by a master switch.

The floor mats were Coir ones with rubber undersides, and they provided excellent heat and sound insulation. I remember they were marketed by the Kerala Coir Board in Tamilnadu !

Also analog type Kienzle brand Clocks were the sole add on on the dash for Ambys.

The HVAC aspect was taken care of by the small Remi fans and I remember people using the cars on Highways during summer used to tie a mat woven out of a grass called "Vettiver" in Tamil (Wiki's hindi name says "khus"). The mat would be tied to the roof, and dampened frequently with water to cool the roof!

[Bulldogji]

Originally Posted by P76

@Karthik1100, the photos of "extra" Godrej door locks and the audio system very safely enclosed inside a box reminds me of the same in our Mark-4 Amby. The car had extra Godrej locks for the Boot as well. The Audio system was safely 'hidden' inside the Right hand side glove box (the Amby had two Glove boxes) with a lock, and controlled by a master switch.

The floor mats were Coir ones with rubber undersides, and they provided excellent heat and sound insulation. I remember they were marketed by the Kerala Coir Board in Tamilnadu !

Also analog type Kienzle brand Clocks were the sole add on on the dash for Ambys.

The HVAC aspect was taken care of by the small Remi fans and I remember people using the cars on Highways during summer used to tie a mat woven out of a grass called "Vettiver" in Tamil (Wiki's hindi name says "khus"). The mat would be tied to the roof, and dampened frequently with water to cool the roof!

Does anyone remember why we put the extra Godrej locks on the ambassador dicky??

It was because after locking the dicky with the factory fitted handle cum lock assembly, a slight twist and pull ensured that the LOCKED dicky would happily, without any fuss, open

[P76]

@Bulldogji, there was one more advantage in using the original door and dicky locks in the Amby - after a fair bit of usage, any key could open any lock in the car, and even some other car !. You could easily walk up to a used Amby with another car's key and open the original door locks without a fuss. No problems with lost keys whatsoever !.

There was always the front door quarter-glass which could be nudged open with a screwdriver. There used to be a lock for that quarter glass also - a small stainless steel fixture like the ones we see in showroom glass shelves.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by P76

@Bulldogji, there was one more advantage in using the original door and dicky locks in the Amby - after a fair bit of usage, any key could open any lock in the car, and even some other car !. You could easily walk up to a used Amby with another car's key and open the original door locks without a fuss. No problems with lost keys whatsoever !.

There was always the front door quarter-glass which could be nudged open with a screwdriver. There used to be a lock for that quarter glass also - a small stainless steel fixture like the ones we see in showroom glass shelves.

Even the ignition switches of older Jeeps from the Jeep and early Mahindra era could be opened using almost any Godrej -like key. I have myself driven many of them using the wrong key.They were of Globe Prestolite make, if I remember correctly.

Sans any doors and only the OE canvas hood canopy (non-Roplas jeeps), wonder how safe these were from thieves?

[anjan_c2007]

Some period accessories:



Fog lamps Jaguar 1.5 litre



Venetian blind Landmaster



Fog lamps Landmaster



Fog lamps 1936 Ford V8



M.G. fog lamps (whether period?)- the car had come to India in 2011



Ford Fairlane - an A.C. but an OE



Ambassador Mark II sunshade



Ambassador Mark II roof-rack



Luggage carrier in a 1920's Plymouth



Sunshade in a 1920's Plymouth

(all pictures from my personal albums)

[anjan_c2007]

Period accessories on bikes:



Side stand on this Norton bike



Sidecar with this 1922 Harley Davidson

[the mole]

Hi guys this is a very intersting thread, it can be of value to everyone only if we post pictures of accessories along with information about manufaturer if known and other historically relevant data. Otherwise there is a danger that it may turn into just another thread about pictures of classic cars in india.