Have a feeling that the older guys will say "yes". Younger guys more likely "no". Just a generalization though. I'm old...I say "yes". I like 'em. Again, generally speaking...Traditionally, an attempt was made to emulate the shape of a teardrop...heavy at the front, and tapered toward the rear. Spotlights add to this look. Lowering the rear does too, among other treatments. Your car is lookin' gooood.
SURE....put 'em on....makes a good conversation piece for anyone who doesn't get it....I get asked all the time if my Chevy was an old cop car
Of coarse you need them if you are going for the early 50's look, and by the looks of how the car appears in the photo your are going for that look. (perhaps you could raise the front an inch or so to get the perfect speed boat look) So yes Spotlights on your car... but before you do – study the cars from the early 50's. Look carefully how they where mounted. There is nothing so bad as Spotlights put on the wrong way, thats why most people don't like spots. They only see the bad samples. When done right, just look at the old Barris and Ayala Customs (among many others) the Spotlights add to the whole package, and not distract like poorly shaped dummy spots or wrongly positioned spots. If you can't find the real Appletons (S-112 or S-552) there are dummy units that have at least the same bowl as the Appletons. These units below are dummy's but they look like the real units. (from the outside, they don't have the interior handles) I forgot who makes them.. but if you do a search on the hamb you will find them being mentioned in a older post. EDIT: Here is a LINK to the Dummy Spotlights that have the same (or near identical) bodies as the Appleton S-112 Spotlights. But as you can see there is no interior handle. And whatever you do DO NOT instal a pair of these things!!!! These are the things that have given Spotlights a BAD name... the real DUMMY spotlights... ugly shaped cones. Who ever thought out this product should be.... well you can fill in what ever you like! Apologies about posting the image below (from the Hamb) but sometimes bad things have to be shown in order to make a point.
Spots on. Sorry, Rik. I don't think I've ever disagreed with you before, but those Cal Custom style dummy spots you're dissing on were everywhere in the late fifties & early sixties. I think they look just fine when installed in the right place. I agree the S112 spots look better, but they are 3 times the $. That being said, thanks for everthing you do to keep tradional kustoms alive. Your website is da balls. Hope to see you at GNRS. Rick
I vote no. I'd just do something with that gas filler if you elect to keep an external one. I did a Hudson filler door on my Mercury.
Not to hijack, but what is your rear bumper? (In the photo it doesn't look original, but that might just be a trick of the light?)
Ya the Hirohata chop sucked....good thing they put those spots on it or it would have not become the legend it has!!!! Your right the spots saved it!
The really great thing about dummy spots at this stage of your buildis that you can try them out, then if you decide you don't like them and want to take them off you only have four small holes to fill, whereas if you go for the full on real McCoy you can have a lot of cutting to reverse if you change your mind at a later date. Besides, dummy spots are about as traditional as you can get, I mean easily as traditional as the real thing. Good luck whichever you choose. Paul oh yeah, that's right on about hot Rod guys joining in on a Kustom discussion
Looks so coooooooooooooooooool now.......tough question......guess I would think about a long time before doing it. Big Bad John
thats a bitchen car nice work,i say yes,on appletons if budget allows if not go with the dummys i think they look cool
Laughs, I was just about to write the same thing as Rik and post the same photo of that parkin lot! The only thing I would like to add is that the S-552 would be the correct spotlights. Series 112 are a bit older, but well, they would be OK (not perfect...) on a 51 but not on a car newer than that! As I see it, the car will not look complete without the correct spots. And concering the mentioned dummies, they where ugly back then and they will never look look good. Building a custom on a budget... Well, of course I understand that money is important, but rather wait some time than make it look bad with wrong spots. Just my five cents...
there is not a custom car ever built that looks better with chrome blobs mounted somewhere around the windshield posts. none. nada. zip. and dummy spots... if they are so cool why not get a bunch and mount some on the trunk and roof as well. dummy spots now come in a "lost in the 50's" kit. you get the dummy spots, non functional lakes pipes, a car hop tray with plastic food, a drive in theater speaker, a poodle skirt and saddle shoes for the wife and an Elvis wig for you. also included will be a "lost in the 50's" sticker for your quarter panel. order now and get 3 musical note stickers at no extra charge. REAL spots are cool.... but only on stockers.
I've never been a huge fan of the dummy spots, but on some cars they just make sense (Watson comes to mind). That car has a beautiful profile, I think spots (real or dummy) would be a nice touch forsure.
He already knows he can do what he wants without asking us. What he wants is our opinions. Why not cast your vote? Bob
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