I was wondering the same thing, Theo. Looks like that gear drives the rear wheels. Is it battery operated? Just going to look it up in my book. Ahh, I see now, here is what the Great Book of Cogi Says.
This has a most ingenious cam mechanism to operate the windscreen wipers. the wipers were made operational by an on/off switch. In fact, the wipers were clear discs with painted wipers, which operated inside very close to the front windscreen which was spotted with 'raindrops'. Note however that the rear screen was clear! The power for the operation of the wipers eminated from the rear axle via a clever system of cam and linkage, which operated when the vehicle was pushed along. The rear side windows opened and the radiator, bumpers and side trims were all carried on one, plated moulding. The box 'Splash' read "By Repeated Requests"
Taken from The Great Book of Corgi, 1956 - 1983, by Marcel R. Van Cleemput,First Edition, 1989 by New Cavendish Books
