Side note and history question

[ocnblu]

I am smitten by the 2010 Mustang's sequential rear turn signals, but I have a question I hope some of our FoMoCo historians can answer: Which vintage Ford Motor Co. vehicles had that feature? I thought it was on the first-gen Cougars and maybe the Shelby Mustangs of the 60's... oooooooh, wait, was it on a Thunderbird as well? Help!

[Camino LS6]

It was on the T-bird.

[Robert Hall]

'65 Thunderbird was first, I think. Then the '67 Cougar. The '67 Shelby used '67 Cougar taillights sans chrome trim, and then the '68-70 Shelbys used '65 Thunderbird taillights. Not sure if the Shelbys had the sequential feature, or when the Cougar and Thunderbird stopped using it. My folks' '67 and '68 Cougars have them, neat feature. The '68 Mustang California Special and High Country Special also used the '65 Tbird taillights, don't know if they had the sequential flasher or not.

Edited September 24, 2009 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[§carlet §wordfish]

I thought I read somewhere that sequential turn signals had become illegal, which is why I was surprised when I saw the new Mustang had them. I saw a pre-facelift 'Stang that had beed modded with them, and thought it was perfect for the classic segmented Mustang taillights.

I don't like the backup lights in between the red segments at all though.

[balthazar]

Sequentials ~

T-bird : '65- at least 69 (verified). They were not available on the '73s (verified) tho the '73s certainly were 'set up' for them... cannot verify anything between '69-73 tho. Interesting that the originator dropped them before the Cougar.

Cougar : '67-73 (verified).

Shelby : '68-70 (according to web).

[A Horse With No Name]

I think the 68 California Special Mustang may or may not have had them as well. It's late and I can't remember.

Chris

[Blake Noble]

I like this better:

[vonVeezelsnider]

First Ford to have those directional turn signal thingies was the 1965 Thunderbird to the best of my knowledge.

[daves87rs]

I need to check that out...

[PONTIAC06]

I've only seen one new mustang on the road, and didn't notice sequential turn signals on it, but they freak me out...probably just because the only thing I've ever really seen them on is my work trucks...telling people the get out of my way...ha ha

[Intrepidation]

Sequential rear turn signals are cool.

[ZL-1]

Sequential rear turn signals are cool.

what are those? :/

[trinacriabob]

what are those?

They are fantastic.

Generally, each rear taillamp is divided into a vertical set of "bars," like on the new Mustang. They blink sequentially, one at a time, and then return to the first "bar" to do the same thing, 1-2-3...1-2-3. It's both effective and visually appealing.

Sidebar/edit:

They were on both T-birds and Cougars of the late 60s, looking especially cool on the Cougars. Fortunately, or unfortunately, history repeats itself.

Edited September 25, 2009 by trinacriabob

[GMTruckGuy74]

Two or three years ago there was a late-model Pontiac Trans Am WS6 Raim Air coupe at the Carlisle All-GM Nationals that the owner did the electrical work on to make the TA's rear taillights sequential in operation (he stated that he was an electrical engineer and it took him some time to get it right). It looked very cool on that car - too bad I didn't have a video camera on hand to capture the look. I did see a new '10 Mustang with them a week or two ago and thought it looked awesome. This is a feature I'd like see make a return.

[ZL-1]

They are fantastic.

Generally, each rear taillamp is divided into a vertical set of "bars," like on the new Mustang. They blink sequentially, one at a time, and then return to the first "bar" to do the same thing, 1-2-3...1-2-3. It's both effective and visually appealing.

Sidebar/edit:

They were on both T-birds and Cougars of the late 60s, looking especially cool on the Cougars. Fortunately, or unfortunately, history repeats itself.

Aha, thanks! We don't have those around here :AH-HA_wink:

[aaaantoine]

I'd prefer if they didn't all stay lit up, but rather if the illumination "moved" from the inside out, like a marquee.

But that's just personal preference. Also I'm kinda relieved I wasn't the first person to have this idea.

[Robert Hall]

One interesting light of this type I saw pics of somewhere was on a '60s or '70s show car (not sure if it was a Ford, don't recall the details)...the light was sequential and lighted up in the shape of a giant right or left arrow (taillight housing looked normal when not signalling).

[balthazar]

search youtube for 'sequential turn signal' and you'll see a bunch of vids - most of which are aftermarket kits... but there's some factory car there as well.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Here are some vids from youtube on sequential turn signals:

2010 Chevy Camaro:

'80s Pontiac Fiero:

4th Generation Pontiac Trans Am:

[Chevy Nick]

My wife wants to trade in her GTO for a new mustang solely for this reason.

[ocnblu]

I need something more practical, but I want something wild. The new Mustangs make me ogle. If only I could afford two vehicles.