TR2/3/3A tr3a backup light

[Murray]

Does anyone have a picture of where a backup light would be positioned? I bought one off e-bay and will have to make a bracket, but it would be nice to see a picture.

Thanks,

Murray

 

[Geo Hahn]

Since this is a non-original item I suppose it can go anywhere you like. Somewhere around the drivers side bumperette might be a typical choice.

 

[Don Elliott]

When I was rallying my 1958 TR3A from 1959 to 1965, I had a back-up light mounted on a 1/4" thick stainless steel bar strip bracket mounted to the top bolt hole for the rear bumperette. The light was a 5" diameter Lucas spot-light. When you are down the wrong road at 3 AM, you want to see as well as you can, to get back on route.

I still have that bracket.

 

[6TTR3A]

Actually, a back-up light kit was offered as a factory accessory (Part # 502251) The accessory brochure & the photo implied that there were two lights to a kit. I suspect it would have been difficult for the dealer to install one since the transmission cover needed a hole drilled & tapped in it to accommodate the switch. The switch was the same Lucas part as the overdrive isolator switches.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Often, such accessory fittings would consist of only one lamp -- in the 1950s, possibly a Lucas Model L494 -- and a switch on the dashboard for manual operation. Much easier to install than fitting an isolator switch on the gearbox!

Barney Gaylord has a nice writeup on this.

 

[NickMorgan]

I have done something like Don mentioned with my reversing light.

 

[PeterK]

Lucas also provided a reversing lamp switch that is illuminated in the center of the knob.

I use a Hella reverse light, nearly identical to the factory light. Mine is mounted on the driver side on a dogleg bracket that I made from some steel and mounted through the one of the rear overrider bolts. Mine is controlled by the Toyota Supra switch.