I've seen so many old customs over the years with spotlights installed, or even fakes. Never understood the reason. Did they have a purpose or was it just more shiney shit? Devin
they were just one of those things that happened like stinkbug stances, mini trucks, wheel sticking out past the body shag carpet etc
my 55 has a factory spotlight with the glass on the back so you have a rear view mirror i love spots. a good sled has spots, period
Regular everyday people had spot lights on cars or trucks to see stuff at night. Of course, when the teenagers took the car, they went out and shined the light on their buddies (or strangers) out parking. Some people had two spots plus a pair of fog lamps on the front bumper. So, the spots carried over to the custom cars as something the builders evidently considered a kool accessory. The dummy teardrop fake spots are modeled after the Appleton brand spotlights, many of which were the teardrop type. Some spotlights in the 50's came with rearview mirrors attached......
People who dont know shit about customs should not start a thread about customs. After reading the first two posts on this thread,one guy who dont know shit about about customs surely shouldnt be answering another guy's questions.Stink bug stance , minitrucks ?? Are you fuc**ng serious ??
Keep in mind that head lights were not as bright as now and yes it was some what of a fade thing,but at custom car shows it was extra points to have two,like having two or more radio airels ect,point sheets started showing up vary early 60's or late 50's,Iliked it better when there was no point sheet.
hahahahaha...you crack me up, Jeff! I'm not sure of their exact functional use other than finding adresses at night or having spotlight chases on the screen at the drive-ins, but spotlights just look great...maybe that's why. Cadillacs, Packards, older Deusenbergs, Hudsons, etc. etc. had them from the factory, and I think Barris/Westergard/Winfield and others were adding them to better resemble the higher class makes and models with their kustoms. I do agree some cars look better without them, and some of the stuff the Ayala Bros. did is proof of that. But for the most part, an Appleton 112 or 552 is simply the icing on the cake for any kustom- chopped or not.
not only that but its not as hard a fall when your slightly enibriated, and fall out of your car....... lol
I guess the guy from in the second post from Hamilton Ohio never went to the KKOA shows there a few years back. Remember, money was tight back then and spotlights were exspensive.
The dummy spots were invented to give the higher class look and were made so that they could be adapted to any vehicle regardless of make. An actual Appleton takes a little work to fit and operate correctly for various makes.
I have been told that the spots are also to get the look of the old early ChrisCraft boats. Look at the way a ChrisCraft goes thru the water with the ass down and the front end up,a lot of them boats from the 40s & 50s had spots on them.Guys wanted the "Speedboat" look back then and spotlights and stance just helped the flow to look as close to a Beautiful boat going thru the water with ass draggin in the water.
I remember my Dad telling me that between movies at the drive in they put a moving spot up on the screen and people would follow it with their spotlites.
They sure can ask.. but they better do it without the attitude. Then they will get what they are looking for...
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