Modern cars overwhelmingly have two windshield wipers, but that typical arrangement is certainly not the only one. Sometimes more or less than two wipers is a fancy feature (à la Mercedes) or simply a necessity (such as on the FJ Cruiser’s squatty windshield).
Your task today is to catalog for all eternity (or at least as long as Google lasts) all the vehicles that have either a single front windshield wiper, or more than two. (And no, Mr. Clever, rear window wipers don’t count!)
Difficulty: I’m not really sure. There’s more low-hanging fruit out there, but this is just the sort of thing you’re likely to see on obscure and bizarre low-production vehicles, so how deep this well goes is anybody’s guess.
How This Works: Read the comments first and don’t post duplicates. Bonus points for adding photos. Remember thanks to Disqus, no HTML is needed: you can simply paste in the image URL.
Image Sources: Reddit.com and YouTube
Encyclopedia Hoonatica: More or Less than Two Windshield Wipers
About
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Citroën Visa
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Citroen_Visa_Post_facelift_including_front_view.jpg
[photo: Charles01] -
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Later Midgets, too:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/MG-Midget.jpg -
Never noticed that. Fine weather car!?
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It was only for the North American market. There’s some law stating that the wipers must sweep a certain percentage of the windscreen, which MG couldn’t achieve with just two wipers due to how short the window was. So they added a third wiper on the car instead of redesigning a taller windscreen.
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Am I the only one left who still thinks the Countach remains pretty freakin’ awesome?
http://img2.timeinc.net/instyle/celebrities/transformation/1986-heather-locklear-400.jpg
But then again, I still think 80’s hair is sexy. Perhaps I’m just approaching old geezerhood.-
No.
Me, too.
Yes. -
She lives in my town. She was sexy then, she still is today. Tiegs, that is.
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Correct…I was thinking Locklear, typed Tiegs. Just thinking about her is, uhm, distracting…..!
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<3
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Mercedes be able to make the case for copyright infringement.
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So, leaving aside all the … nonsense … going on there, I first thought the the wipers were fixed and the center hub just rotated. I felt like that would make for a sub-par rain wiping experience.
Then I realized that each bladed probably wipes on its own. Doubt it is any better than all of them going around, though.-
I’ve always assumed that the entire aparatus rotates. If the blades are in good shape and make solid contact I don’t know why it wouldn’t work.
Given the cab design, I wonder about visibility.-
I share your concern about visibility: If I ever had to drive one of M. Colani’s creations I would be very, very worried that someone I knew might see me…
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I feel that way about Sbarro but I would love to see Colani’s truck built. It is apparently very efficient.
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I hope that the blades are fixed and the glass rotates, somewhat like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_view_screen
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Panhard
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How about no wipers? http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/1968_Mercedes_Benz_Unimog_Snow_Blower_For_Sale_Interior_1.jpg
Just spinning windshields on this Unimog.-
Could they have made the drive motors any larger? The driver’s blocks half the damned gauges!
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This IS old school Mercedes we are talking about. Over-engineer EVERYTHING. The original motors are still probably working just fine. The windshields need to be able to spin if they have 2″ of ice sealing them in place.
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True, but there are more elegant solutions.
http://www.electric-watches.co.uk/other/images/forum/Turbo%20Visor.jpg-
So: The First of April fell on the Eighth of April in 1965 did it?
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How the hell does that work???
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Sort of like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shcRUDiPO10
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Thank you!
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Clearview screens FTW!
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Certain civilian Willys came with one … two may have been an option.
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Optional passenger-side wipers also were fairly common before WWII, such as on my former ’37 Plymouth:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6830618645_9c37181365.jpg -
Diamond plate doors and whitewall AT tires. That’s a hell of a combo.
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Citroen CX, the French appear to dislike two wipers. Why is that?
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You get two or more French anything pulling in the same direction and they’ll unionize.
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Sigh! 😉
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on an unrelated matter, mrs spotty and i were out and about in her C4 citroen the other week when a mercedes decided to deny us access to the next piece of road and a front end collision did ensue (who’d have guessed – a german car telling a french car what to do)
the crazy polish woman driving the merc said the back end of the C4 came well over a foot off the ground when we hit her
(mrs spotty is ok but i got ‘seat belt shoulder ouchie’)
the odd thing is that even though the C4 is about a foot shorter than it came from the factory, the airbags didn’t go off, when mrs spotty asked me about this i said that i assumed that because they were French and there were two of them they were probably on strike. she didn’t get it…….
Sorry Vavon
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And the BX, which also routes the spray nozzle to out on the wiper.(Tube visible in third picture)
If you have one wiper, there is no linkage to worry about. One of the few(only?) examples of Citroen’s logical design making things less complex than the norm.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Citroen_CX_Prestige_long_wheel_base_2347cc_March_1983.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Citroen_BX_front_20080621.jpg
http://i1.wp.com/hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/1991_citroen_bx_16_tgi_3.jpg
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very low hanging fruit for south america, the fiat uno makes do with only one…
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if one for each windshield is valid, most 40s cars…
(sorry if the post already mentions that, but in my work hooniverse.info is blocked, disqus.com is not yet)
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Zero:
Meyers Manx
https://img.mecum.com/auctions/MN0610/MN0610-93746/images/MN0610-93746_1.jpg
Ariel Atom
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It does have a satellite dish though. Does YOUR car have a satellite dish?
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Images of the Timbs Special crossed my path twice todat, including here on these pages. Might as well include it as a no wiper car.
http://www.dragtimes.ru/files/blog/563aec8798aba2d0ab65e35c13881419-thumb-800×350-crop-0x137;800×350;100.jpg
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The current Yaris also gets by with only a single windshield wiper
http://pictures.dealer.com/k/koonsanapolistoyotascion/1873/f760d4ad0a0a006400833f0ecefbc902.jpg -
Renault twingo
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/260494/tw1.jpg
this is not in the thema but rear whipers on citroen ds5 are ridiculous…
http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/650902ds5a10.jpg -
That you tube video is truly bizarre…..Look at the windshield wiper, David! LOOK AT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER!
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My dad’s Piper Navajo has only one.
http://www.pipercessna.com/images/Cheiftain-pic-3.jpg -
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(Should really have a wiper for the driver’s side window as well)
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Lancia Sibilo concept
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Does that slide instead of pivot? If it does, wow!
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Yes.
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European pedestrian safety testing?
See, pop-up headlights are no problem, as long as you aim properly!-
Google “Lancia Sibilo”
You get all kinds of leopard print posing.
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Seems to be a theme with the French – Duport Parco. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nzb2oXLAUcs/VR1S9ydq72I/AAAAAAAAXmU/WQUGn-jq39w/w1075-h806-no/DSCN2143.jpg
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Let me guess: The single wiper stays still, but you are expected to get out and rock the car gently from side to side?
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No need to get out; it already comes equipped with rocks on each side.
http://clunkbucket.com/wp-content/gallery/1980-kv-mini-1/img_6618.jpg
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Good point. The question says “all vehicles” so three-wheelers should count. In that case, Velorex (all models):
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6643729345_f1b99aa57b.jpg
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Citroën AX.
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Clearly early topolino rubbed-off on the Poles. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aOCAubELepE/VR1O5YmxOEI/AAAAAAAAXmU/mpDUFLzOOzE/w1075-h806-no/DSCN2111.jpg
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Lane has it all!
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1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Mille Miglia Berlinetta by Carrozzeria Touring
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Citroën C1 – Peugeot 107+108 – Toyota Aygo
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I only just realized this was the same car. I suppose that’s a case of NAH blindness.
How long as Toyota been in bed with PSA? HOW LONG, TOYOTA, you gutter rat!?-
Way too long. The cars above are second generation (if not third?). Also:
http://www.toyota-partner.de/img/pool/dealer/OIvBJTWFV3gLvEKNTd9NQ/61232_20142143141.jpg-
This is the second generation of the little Triplets since 2002.
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This was the first generation!
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Since 2002, all 3 cars are built in the Czech Republic.
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Any idea how they’re holding up reliabilitywise? I see a lot of the Toyotas here, but none of the other. The Proace on the other hand is pretty rare – while the original PSA cars are well-established. All a matter of timing, when peddling basically the same car?
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The French diesel engine and Japanese petrol engine are both very reliable.
The petrol had a few cases of leaking waterpumps. All have rattling exhausts.
No brakedowns. Door-rubbers are crappy causing water-intrusions.
Quality of the plastics in the interior are cheap, but they don’t fall off.
I drove tousands of kilometers with the C1 and the 107 petrol versions.
Cheap and cheerfull small cars, fun to drive, I like them and TopGear too!
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Microcars make for very low hanging fruit. Twizzy!
http://www.eco-drive.co.uk/images/twizy4.jpg-
Wow, Twizzy has been a correct answer two weeks in a row!
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A ZIL-135. It’s quite possible only 1 of the 3 work.
http://fotoarchiv-kunkel.startbilder.de/1024/zil-135-mobile-raketenstartrampe-9p113-86333.jpg-
Oh Disqus…you’re a fickle bitch.
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ZIL 135. Though, it’s quite possible only 1 of the 3 work.
http://fotoarchiv-kunkel.startbilder.de/1024/zil-135-mobile-raketenstartrampe-9p113-86333.jpg-
No matter. I suppose that you don’t really need to see all that well anyway. Very little will impede your progress.
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Of course, the LeTourneau VC-25 TournaTrain electric arctic land train had 3 windows with only one wiper.
http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2009/11/landtrain_01_750-700×293.jpg-
Where we’re going, we don’t need roads, or forward visibility.
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What are the chances of there being inclement weather in the arctic?
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Starting with the XJ40 where the body shell centre started.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/1989.jaguar.xj6.arp.jpg/1024px-1989.jaguar.xj6.arp.jpg
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180° off topic…
http://www.jeff-young-design.com/WorldWideWagons/Images/1995-Toyota-Camry-Wagon.jpg
How about two in the rear?-
How about four in the rear, two outside and two inside ? Meet the sedan version of the Lancia Flaminia
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Interior rear window wipers? Either the seals were terrible, or they were very confident in the car’s ability to pull dates.
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Sounds uncomfortable.
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What, like the back of a Volkswagen?
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It’s tight, yo!
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Ferrari F40
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Koenigsegg always seemed like a middle finger to everything. -
http://archive.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/newyork/highlights/images/acura-tl114.jpg
The 2004 Acura TL Concept car had no wipers, but instead a series of high powered air jets that would be used to clean the windshield.
It must not have worked too well because the TL had two wipers when it reached production.
You’ll also notice the lack of rearview mirrors, they were replaced by cameras that had screens located in the cabin.-
Other than those 2 changes, this concept looks very similar to the production TL (down to the wheels!)
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The tail was a little less than 100% the same, but the metal seemed to be finished for the concept, not many changes there.
http://archive.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/newyork/highlights/images/acura-tl125.jpg -
Honda doesn’t seem to really do concept cars — they only show cars they haven’t yet released.
And the cameras have sort of made it to production now, haven’t they? Just in addition to, not replacing, the standard mirrors.-
Honda usually saves their concepts for Tokyo, they’ve done all sorts of stuff, some of it really bizarre. Like the Unibox.
http://archive.cardesignnews.com/features/2001/011231concepts2001/honda-unibox/images/honda-unibox12-1387.jpg-
I stand corrected — they do concept cars, but apparently only in Tokyo. You can almost guarantee that a “concept” shown anywhere else is really just a preview of a production vehicle.
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Here. Also, is there a way I can make the pictures I put on disqus smaller.
And any other Lotus ever (nearly) -
The Chevrolet XT-2 concept pickup from 1989.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3633/3357103002_fa20619525_o.jpg-
Wiper arm length measured in walking distance? Crazy concept!
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The Morgan Plus 8 has three.
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3 windshields, no waiting.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/M559_Caterpillar_Goer,_Amphibious_Fuel_Tanker_pic2.JPG -
‘I come from an engineering dimension you may not understand’ difficulty: Mercedes-Benz R129. Uneven number of windshield wipers -and- more wipers on the headlights than on the windshield. Because your visibility is more important than your visibility!
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Model T’s generally had one, if any.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/1916_Ford_Model_T_touring_car.JPG -
Abarth SE031 (the prototype for Fiat 131 Abarth: to make sure that the body and drivetrain was strong enough for the rally stage, the standard four-cylinder twin-cam was replaced by a 3.5 liter 270 hp V6 derived that of the Fiat 130 Coupe. It ultimately worked, as the 131 Abarth won the manufacturers’ World Rally Championship three times.)
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VW Scirocco, 1st & 2nd generations both had a single front wiper for part of their production runs.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Volkswagen_Scirocco_I_%28post_facelift%29_in_%28almost%29_profile_arriving_at_Schaffen-Diest.JPG/1024px-Volkswagen_Scirocco_I_%28post_facelift%29_in_%28almost%29_profile_arriving_at_Schaffen-Diest.JPG
Gen 1 76-81 and Gen 2 82-83 had single wipers, early Gen 1 and late Gen 2 went back to 2 wipers. -
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And while we’re at it… http://images5.alphacoders.com/449/449743.jpg
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Also the Mercedes “jumping wiper” of the 80s
W201
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/W201.jpg
and W124
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/W124_Front_3QView.jpg/1280px-W124_Front_3QView.jpg -
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV comes with either 1 or 2 wipers
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When I was little I used to judge the exotic-ness of a car using this index:
A/B where “A” is the number of windscreen wipers and “B” is the number of exhaust outlets. The lower the ratio the more awesome the car.
E.G a Lambo Countach has an index of 0.25, an Toyota Camry 2.2 Estate has an index of 4.0.-
But headlight wipers!
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Funny that the MG Midget, such a small car with such a tiny windshield would need 3 wipers!
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Russian military machinery is good at odd wiper numbers:
http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/e1/pd/77374810001/77374810001_2000901094001_crazy-russian-military-machine.jpg
http://englishrussia.com/images/newpictures/weird-russian-car–zip-army-car/2.jpg
http://www.armyrecognition.com/images/stories/east_europe/russia/light_armoured/dt-30_vityaz/DT-30_Vityaz_articulated_tracked_vehicle_Russia_Russian_army_defence_industry_military_technology_640.jpg
Also: Canadian Bombardier snowmobile – still in service all over Norway:
http://https://tce-live.s3.amazonaws.com/media/media/75604e26-c578-4028-bf78-8e27cfd12092.jpg -
Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Ferrari_Berlinetta_Boxer.jpg -
Two windshields and 4 wipers, but a 3-1 distribution.
http://images.pa1.cn:90/upload/0004413100/20120630/1341017793703d07fa845.jpg -
A triple, from the top, no less. UMM 4×4.
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It’s got two, but they’re mounted back-to-front. And upside-down. And they’re more for dust or snow than water–if it’s raining, it’s time to head back to the shed.
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