Under bonnet lamp

[sunalp60]

Does anyone have a picture of the Sunbeam under bonnet lamp kit #5220127 that was an accessory for Series II and above?

 

[65sunbeam]

Lucas Boot Lamp NOS 54057141

Not sure if this is it, I was told these were mounted on the trunk lid to light up when it was raised?
It is actually a mercury filled switch that is off in the horizontal position and on when vertical.

 

[sunalp60]

Thanks Eric. I picked up a bonnet lamp at Fall Hershey meet last year. The seller thought that it came from a Sunbeam or MG. It has a mercury switch but has a silver cup around the bulb. Might still use it.

 

[Warren]

So when the post office says anything hazardous......... you gotta say yes Some old bicycles had a ball bearing that completed the connection for a brakelight. Nice thing to have surely never wondered why some cars had them as they were not the most reliable. Like the sales pitch gone bad. "Put a Dodge in your garage," buy one and that's where your's will be, must've been Chrysler influence

 

[Limey]

I think this is the one? Unrestored early series. (some light recommissioning) Its not a thing of beauty...

 

[bernd_st]

This is how the underbonnet lamp for Series 1 looked like. Not sure whether it changed for Series 2 though...

 

[Limey]

Flip it upside down and those terminals match my photo...

 

[bernd_st]

Yep, makes sense. Just the holder is missing...

 

[65beam]

I think this is the one? Unrestored early series. (some light recommissioning) Its not a thing of beauty...

View attachment 16952

That car is a repainted example with poor paint job.

 

[Limey]

Do you know this car?

 

[65beam]

No, but look at the hood latch, the bolts holding the heater core/latch cover, the area where the hood prop is secured. These have all been painted and should not be painted. If any other parts of the car needed repair it's possible those areas look the same.

 

[Limey]

I think we’ve strayed off topic

 

[65beam]

Just continuation based on comments made .

 

[Limey]

The car is untouched inside. And almost untouched under the bonnet
Some ancient paint is not of interest to this discussion. However you were very clever to spot it. Well done

 

[bernd_st]

Does anybody else have this underbonnet lamp ? Have never seen one in reality...

 

[Tim R]

In the photo the mount for the light fitting looks like it is mounted upside down on the slam panel above where the heater matrix lives. Surely it should be the other way up and mounted to the latch fixing that is on the bonnet, that way it illuminates the engine bay when the bonnet is up? I have never owned an early Series car and don't know the correct answer for where the light should be but that just looks wrong to me.
Tim R

 

[alpine_64]

I thought i had seen a photo of a similar lamp mounted on the distributor side of the engine bay.
Tim if the lamp was mounted the other way it would likely be hit by the bonnet when closed, also would more likely just light your face not the engine bay.

That said.. The location shown the light would be blocked by the rocker cover and filler neck... Strange location in general.

 

[Limey]

Bernd's illustration is the correct lamp it seems so maybe the bracket in my picture is a period well made homemade item?

Oliver

 

[DanR]

This is how the underbonnet lamp for Series 1 looked like. Not sure whether it changed for Series 2 though...View attachment 16956

Would you have any measurements for this ? It (the lens) just might be low enough to clear the underside of the Bonnet....

I have never seen one of these either.

 

[bernd_st]

Unfortunately not. My illustration is just from the early Series 1 accessory leaflet. However in the text a "kit" is mentioned, so it could well be that the bracket was actually included. It's also interesting that the picture of the lamp was ommited in the follower Series 2 accessory brochure so my theory is it wasn't a hot runner...