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MG MGB Technical - Lucas Aerospace ???

Trying to find the Lucas website (haven't found it yet) but ran across "Lucas Aerospace" subsidiary of Lucas Industries, PLC (our favorite Lucas).

Kinda scary isn't it?
Richard Smith 1

Hmmm, wonder if you NEED headlights and turn indicators in outerspace???
TDHoward

My car built in 1966 still has all its original Lucas Equipment in good working order . Problems in the 36 years I have owned it have been minimal to none .Anyone want to predict how easy maintaing a CAN bus based car will be in 2045?
S Best

Lucas has been through several transmogrifications since that company produced the stuff found on an MGB, including Lucas Varity and TRW, the latter of which at least went bust I believe. Many Lucas parts were produced in Shirley, West Midlands, only about a mile from where I now sit, and my grandfather was born in a house that was bulldozed to become the expanded King Street factory in Birmingham, just a few more miles away. Which I'm sure is more than any of you wanted to know. They were never the same after adopting a logo of a large white 'L' on a green background, which looked at in another way was an arrow going downhill and backwards.
Paul Hunt

TRW is still alive - but as an auto supplier in these days, not entirely well. The company started as Thompson, an engine valve manufacturer in the aircraft and auto industries - The Thompson Trophy air races were sponsored by the company. PhD's Ramos and Wooldridge were the geniuses that led the company down (up?) the aerospace path in California in the Forties and lent their initials to the subsequent name. MUCH LATER, in the wake of Cold War peace breaking out, the aerospace industry's consolidations accelerated and Northrup Grumman bought out TRW's aerospace component (about 2/3's of the company) and spun off the automotive business, which is trying mightily to be profitable today.

I suppose that the earlier Lucas Varity acquisition is still part of the TRW auto business - but anyone know for sure?
John Z

Actually this was only a joke like all the others.

I really can't complain about the electrics on my car either. Mine have been very good actually. Everything works at least 99.99% of the time (just having a small and probably easily corrected issue with the turn signals at the moment).
Richard Smith 1

The main problem with Lucas electrics is DPOs with absolutely no inkling of how things electric work getting their mitts on the Lucas wiring. The easiest way to cure a problem with brake light switches burning out is to find a NOS Lucas switch to use in place of the whimpy replacements switches available today. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

A friend of mine worked for Lucas and gave me a cutting from a company magazine.
1. Joe Lucas tried to get Ohms law repealed.
2. Joe Lucas invented the intermittant wiper switch.
3. Joe Lucas was responsible for self dimming lights.
Unkind but funny.
John

There is, of course, the old question.

"Why do the English drink warm beer?"

Answer: "The keep it in Lucas fridges!"

Joseph Lucas was frequently called The Prince of Darknes in years gone by; but this was, probably, a little unfair.

Regards

Peter
P L Hills

Can't find the reference now but I was once directed to a spoof website for Lucas which opened up on a completely black screen. Vic
V Todman

I think the auto electrics bit was sold to Magnetti Marelli (probably mispelt)
Paul Hollingworth

Richard,
http://www.lsuk.co.uk/
Roger
RMW

Peter Egan's column in the new issue of Road & Track discusses Lucas electrics. His writing is always entertaining.
Marvin Deupree

This thread was discussed between 18/03/2005 and 24/03/2005

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