One would imagine that someone who is taking your spridget to sell bit by
bit on e-bay would haul it into the back of an enclosed van and make off
with it. Joy riders and pranksters can be deterred by cut-offs and clubs.
There are some clever devices that are less obvious than a toggle switch.
Someone has a car that doesn't run unless the cigarette lighter is pushed
in. You can have several switches that must be switched the proper way.
People have wired their brakes to the horn. You could probably wire the
horn to your ignition also. I think that using a combination of things is
best.
I'm not sure that a fuel cut off is that obvious. My 'B' ( RIP ) had one of
those impact fuel shut offs. I rolled her over an embankment and when I
tried to start her days later, she obliged. After what seemed like a minute
or 2, she stalled and would not start again. Finally, I clued in and reset
the switch. If the car ran out of fuel almost immediately, they would
probably abandon it?
I saw two people spin a parts car a couple of weeks ago. One lifted and
pushed on a rear fender and the other lifted and pushed on the opposite
front fender. It did a 180 degree turn on the spot. Apparently, this used
to be a common prank. Someone once lifted my Datsun 510 and placed it
against the front door of the bar that I was in. Imagine my surprise when I
walked out, the door hit something, I squeezed through and found my car on
the steps and a policeman driving by looking at me. I drove it off the
steps and parked it at the curb again. He drove off. I think that I looked
surprized enough that he knew that I didn't do it. Someone who knew me once
turned my 'B' sideways in a parking lot by pushing and steering it and then
driving his car to cover the open end. The club probably would have
prevented this one. I saw him watching as I came back to my car. I watched
him turn white as I drove out.
Two kids once got into my 'B' that was parked on an inclined driveway and
took it out of gear and released the park brake. The club might have
steered it onto the lawn instead of out into the middle of the street.
I took the Midget to the grocery store last weekend to pick a few items and
when I came back out, my headlights were on. Perhaps a battery cut-off is a
good thing?
This Midget is different. There is a switch that turns your signal light
switch into 4 way flashers. There are several switches that have unknown
functionality. There is an alarm, but it isn't very alarming at the moment.
Maybe it only signals dogs? :)
Maybe I should shut up and go have a coffee?
Robert Duquette
Ottawa ON Canada
http://www3.sympatico.ca/robertduquette
RobertDuquette@Sympatico.ca
'65 RHD BRG AH Sprite
'67 RHD red MG Midget < aka: Miss Marple >
-----Original Message-----
>David,
>
>The fuel cut out seems like a good idea- Unfortunately, I doubt very much
>that would work- this is an old trick which has been used a lot... I would
>imagine any thief worth his salt would know where to find it hidden,
usually
>under the dash or in the trunk. Only very sophisticated, non advertised
>(don't put a sticker on the window saying what system your car
>has)anti-theft devices may deter a thief, and these are designed for cars
>with modern electonics and computers... Of course, if they are truly
>"professionals", the thief will tow the car, as you said...
>
>As for the "Club", I remember seeing a demonstration in England by an
>ex-thief on how to defeat it- it did not take long! The Club would only
stop
>the most casual joy-rider.
>
>Jacques Le Clainche
>SCCA 1985 Mazda Spec RX-7 #44, San Diego region
>VARA 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite #4, F Production
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