MTFCA Forum

When it comes to my Fordor restoration I am a purist. Not so much on my TT and not at all on my Speedster, but I want the Fordor to be as much like the way Henry made it as possible.

I plan on driving it on city streets and country roads so I’m looking for a quick connect, easy to install and remove turn and brake signal solution. Wireless would be preferable. I’ve seen a few advertised but don’t know much more about them.

Suggestions?

While most states allow an antique car on public roads with the factory equipment of the year of the car, some do have other requirements. Safety glass windshield would be needed, one tail lamp is OK. Some states require brake lamps and turn signals even on antiques so check your state law.

But... today's drivers don't look at hand signals, they think you are waving them around you!

So adding at least rear turn indicators is a good idea. Have good success with the bicycle turn signals, wireless. Clamp the control module on your steering column, fab up a bracket for the rear, have mine on the license bracket.

Now for sure, these wireless ones are adjunct to your 'hand signaling' anyway, figure arm out and flasher on the rear MAY help stop someone from passing me on left turns!

As for brake lamp, you are in luck with the '26, you can add the factory accessory Stop/Tail lamp. And have a nice brake light too. They can be found still today at swaps or eBay.

I just completed a restoration on my '25 using front/rear sidelights from an '18 0r '19 T converted to signal.stop lights. There are numerous sellers for these sidelights on Ebay. I got mine from a local old time car restorer that has a graveyard of T, A and other cars. Assuming you have a 12v conversion>

http://theegyptgarage.com/images/Turn_Sgnals.pdf

What year T? A brake light was a dealer installed option and may not be a purist issue.

I kind of did what Dan has with the wireless bicycle turn signal system, using the double flasher when needing additional warning if in traffic.
I have the light itself setup so I can insert it into the automobile bracket that’s available for that light, on the tail gate so I can add or remove it easily. The base of the clip is black so it blends in easily.

For the main brake light I added a lightbulb into the rear kerosene lamp wired to a stop switch at the base of the brake pedal. You can get that switch from Langes or Macs I believe.

This keeps the vehicle stock looking when you need it to be.

A friend of mine has the wireless setup, think it was LOGO, on his A's. Can be moved from car to car. Problem is don't think they make the kit any more, which is too bad as it was a nice setup. My OP; If you are going to install turn signals, put them where people expect to see them. The setup for bikes might be fine on a bike where the is less mass and can be seen. I saw a photo of that setup on one of Jay Leno's cars, it was lost when installed.
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/311284-wi ... y-measure/
Another option might be wireless trailer lights. With magnetic bases they could be mounted on top of the rear fenders. Only problem is, the ones I looked at were setup to work with modern wiring harness's.

In my opinion, with today’s new generation of distracted driver, you need to give yourself a fighting chance of staying alive. When you are happily driving down the road at 35, a motorist following at 55 ( or 60) will be on you before either of you can react. I have at least two tailights on everything, and often use a magnetic flashing light, also.
If not pure, you can at least do it so it looks authentic. The venders sell a right hand tail lamp bracket for your year car. If you look closely , you can see I filled in the license plate lens hole. A little modification to the mounting bracket, and to me it looks like something Henry could have ( should have ) made. These are mounted on my station wagon, so I used fender irons reshaped. My rear M-P fenders were never drilled for lamp mounts. I also hide turn signals, and also use period stuff for this. It’s great fun to search out and restore turn signal sets from the era, and I use small glass lights hidden up in the chassis so less conspicuous, BUT these ford issued accessory tail lamps can be rewired easily for turn signals. Again, just my opinion, but I've scraped my share of victims off the asphalt, and it ain’t a pretty sight!

I had the same problem, how to have good visibility and at the same time keep things sort of period correct or at least not too disturbing.
I couldn't figure out how to combine the two issues so ended up making a removable board with additional lights and reflectors, the lights have LED bulbs in them so are very bright, the whole board is mounted with two wingnuts and the connection is with a hidden trailer connector, so in case you are on a show or need to be period correct i can take the board with wiring off in about two seconds flat.

I installed turn signals and disc brakes on my 1923 Fordor and have no regrets. I did it for safety and at my age I need all the help I can get. I used the Langs kit for the turn signals and it worked great.

Keep in mind 2 things; what ever you decide on put the rear lights where the chimps that talk behind you expect them to be and second; don't rely on them by expecting those same people to notice them. The worst ride I ever took in a T was the day after I installed my stop/turn/ tail lights courtesy of my fellow drivers. Sitting in a left turn lane with my signal on. The turn arrow light came on and the *** behind me shoots out on my left into the opposing traffic lane and makes the left from there. Would have blown me in half if I didn't see him. So don't, as I said, rely on them as a safety device.

There were also period correct accessory turn signals. Occasionally these will pop up on eBay or at a swap meet.

I carry a set of trailer tail lights in my trunk and put them on if I get caught out after sundown. I think they were about $20 from HF. I converted them to six volt LED.

A word of caution: Magnetic lights can bounce off. VOE. I keep them on with a ¹⁄₈" welding rod hook and a rubber bungee.

I also prefer widely spaced tail lights rather than bike lights. Bike lights are generally less visible (smaller) and being together in the center of the vehicle are easily taken as a single light from a distance.

Then again there are these turn signals that fold out when the signals are activated :
Kind of hard to miss.