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Sparto reversing light placement

SIVAllan

Donation Time
From time to time the question arises about where to install Sparto
lights.

These lights are scarce - I recall seeing them installed only rarely.

Pictures in Rootes accessory brochures provide locations for both early
and late Alpines and Mk1 Tigers. Possibly a set was installed now and then
by a dealer on Mia crossover cars.
 

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I see that the examples show the reverse lights inboard of the overriders on later series and outboard on early series. So was there a true standard or was it "dealer's choice"?

Righted images attached below.
 

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I have several Sparco sets and parts. The location on the Mk1A Tiger I'm currently working on is on the inside of exhaust as is my earlier Mk1/1A.
 

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I see that the examples show the reverse lights inboard of the overriders on later series and outboard on early series. So was there a true standard or was it "dealer's choice"?

Righted images attached below.
The supplied wiring harness probably plugs into the main harness like the OD harness does. If so, maybe someone has one and can use it to see where it reaches, whether to one or both locations.
 
I've covered this a few times.. there are actually 2 types of bases for the Sparto twin jet lamps. The early style had a compound curve cutout and mouth them to the outside edge of the valences. This makes them hard to position and you often see them facing down.

Later they made a more simple base with a constant curve cutout . These are the ones that mount inboard of the overriders.
 
I've covered this a few times.. there are actually 2 types of bases for the Sparto twin jet lamps. The early style had a compound curve cutout and mouth them to the outside edge of the valences. This makes them hard to position and you often see them facing down.

Later they made a more simple base with a constant curve cutout . These are the ones that mount inboard of the overriders.
Thanks, Michael.

Could you post pictures or maybe sketch drawings to illustrate the degree of a compound curve? The bases I'm looking at fit to the car almost in a straight line. There's a minor curve at one end. Technically that would be a compound curve I suppose, but comparatively speaking, maybe not.
 
Thanks, Michael.

Could you post pictures or maybe sketch drawings to illustrate the degree of a compound curve? The bases I'm looking at fit to the car almost in a straight line. There's a minor curve at one end. Technically that would be a compound curve I suppose, but comparatively speaking, maybe not.
Allan I think a few years ago ( many?) I may have sent you an article I did for the local sunbeam club on the lamps that had some pictures.

The best way I can describe the different bases is that the ones on the corners of the car has the compound curve.. if you look at it in elevation ( side on ) the cut for the fit against the valence isn't parallel to each side...it also cuts across at an angle if you were to look at it from above.

The later one that mount inboard the profile for the valence is parallel when viewed form above. I'll try and sketch it for you later.
 
Based upon Michael's description, I took a photo of the bases that I have, side-by-side and upside down to illustrate the curves. I believe these must be bases for early series cars and mount to the outside of the bumper overriders.

Perhaps someone with the other type base could post a picture for comparative purposes.

That would leave as needed only a photo of the factory supplied wearing harness for the lights.
 

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All this talk of back up lights. I need to ask, does anyone have a source for some bases for these lights? Seems to be the hard pieces to find.
 
All this talk of back up lights. I need to ask, does anyone have a source for some bases for these lights? Seems to be the hard pieces to find.
There was a Tiger guy making them about 10 years ago out of polished stainless but think that production run was finished a long time ago
They were advertised in TEAE magazine
 
The TEAE member who made these bases quit making them about 2 years ago. My buddy bought his last set.
 
I picked up this on the chance that it might be one of the elusive plinths - Advertised as Sunbeam but application unknown What do you think? plinth.jpgplinth1.jpg

Has a part number P2866645 on it -Karl
 

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A side note about the sparto lamps...they actually use the beehive lens from the standard Lucas and sparto lights.. as per the front indicator/parking on series I-3 .

So if they melt as they often do .. easy replacement or...use the glass Lucas ones..

Does anyone want the mounting instructions...I think I found them ...I'll post in the tread and gallery later
 
Karl,
Your find has a very similar profile to the Sunbeam application. Note: The center hole is considerably larger. But, could possibly be fabricated to accommodate any appropriate bulb receiver. I only have two original sets with bases (I have five (7) top sets). One set is perfect and one set (represented in photos) is marginal and should be re chromed. I would say that utilizing one of the marginal pieces for a mold might be a way to go.
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Cheers
Jerry Logan
 
A side note about the sparto lamps...they actually use the beehive lens from the standard Lucas and sparto lights.. as per the front indicator/parking on series I-3 .

So if they melt as they often do .. easy replacement or...use the glass Lucas ones..

Does anyone want the mounting instructions...I think I found them ...I'll post in the tread and gallery later
Michael,
Years ago (after I got my first Tiger in 1989) I spent considerable time trying to find a substitute for the Sparto lens to no avail. The Series 1-3 glass lenses do not work as the have a larger diameter that won't allow them to fit inside of the light bulb surround. The Sparto lens was unique to the Sparto from what my extensive research suggested. This is why I started collecting these and ended up with six (6) good sets of lenses and several melted units.
 
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