Old analog technology behind 1967 Mercury Cougar rear blinker light is simply brilliant
Published on Nov 26, 2025 at 10:35 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Nov 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Henry Kelsall
Footage on Reddit has shown the old analog technology used on a 1967 Mercury Cougar to operate its rear blinker.
Modern cars will use LED lights for headlights, taillights, and blinkers, but the system used in older cars is much more mechanical.
The Reddit video showed the sequence of the rear blinker and how the mechanical components on the car get it to work.
It is a very interesting glimpse into the internals of a 1960s American car, and it reveals how technology has changed over the last 50-60 years.
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How the 1967 Mercury Cougar rear blinker works
From the outside, we can see the blinker lights working in a sequence, from right to left.
This creates a nice, flowing light in the direction the car is indicating it will go; in this case, to the left.
It’s a feature we have all likely seen on a modern car at some point.
But it is very different on a classic car.
Whereas today it will be controlled purely electrically and digitally, however, this is far more analog.
Peeking into the trunk, we can see there is a motor whirring away in the Mercury Cougar.
The motor has a plastic cam gear on it, which just spins around.
It’s this motor, together with the cam gear, that controls the lights and turns them on and off.
The lights are physically switched on and off
As the gear moves around, it clicks the lights on and then clicks them straight off again.
There is an audible click as it presses down on one side and then releases before pressing down on the other.
On the other side of this motor, there is also a module.
While we can’t see it, the module is what controls the entire process for the lights going on and off.
There are a lot more moving parts here to go wrong than you would see on a modern blinker light.
But it is impressive to see the engineering and how effective it actually is.
Repairing this would probably be a nightmare.
But it’s great to see that on this 1967 Mercury, it is still working nicely.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
