1952-59 Ford Lorraine Spotlight mounting

i would need some help, maybe someone can tell me wich way would be the best to mount spotlights on a '53 Ford, mine is a Club Coupe, at the GNRS i looked at Jimmie Vaughans '54 to figure out where is the best place to drill, but it seems the Victorias have wider posts, so maybe someone can give me some how-to-do-it instructions for the thinner sedan posts. I don't want to crack my windshield, so i ask before. And the other secret to me is, where will they stick out inside the car, through the dash, or just above the dash? And also very important, in wich angle do i have to drill, maybe someone has even an template? My spotlights are Lorraines, shaped like 112s.
I would be very glad if someone could help, i will post some pictures later.
Thanks a lot! Many greetings from germany! Michu

 

There's lots of info available through Unity, which still manufactures spotlights. They have an excellent website and tech department.

Unity mounting brackets are still available and show up on eBay occasionally. There are spotlight spe******ts who buy and sell regularly on eBay who can often source brackets and mounting kits - including templates - for specific makes and models. Email them directly with your questions.

Unity spotlights are quite a bit smaller than Appletons and were not nearly as popular with custom car enthusiasts back in the day. Appleton Loraines were the hot ticket, but as you are finding, could be difficult to install on some models. Clearance in the p***enger compartment was the biggest problem, the spotlight shaft and handle interfering with the steering wheel, the turn signal stalk and the driver's knees, depending upon shaft length and angle. This was especially true on the later model cars with wrap-around windshields and dashboards. This difficulty was responsible for the huge popularity of the Eastern Auto "dummy spots" on these hard-to-fit models.

There is a big difference in mounting between Ford hardtops and Ford sedans, at least as per the directions from Unity. Hardtops mount the spotlight in the door while sedans mount the spotlight in the windshield post of the body. Mounts and templates for each model are very different, so be sure any parts you buy are for a sedan and not for a hardtop.


(This photo shows the spotlight on the driver's door on my Merc. This particular spotlight is a FoMoCo accessory, but the Unity spotlights are very similar and mount in the same location. When it is rotated into the "parked" position it lays neatly on the fender without being in the way of the hood when it is opened. I've got a right side light and mount, too, but have yet to install it.)


(This photo shows the light as it p***es through the door just forward of the wind wing. When the door is closed the spotlight shaft is close to the dash, but with plenty of clearance to operate it through it's range of motion, with steering wheel, turn signal and driver's knuckle clearance as he steers the car.)


(The Unity spotlights on my old shoebox were mounted more like your Appletons would mount, through the windshield post of the body. Unity mounts and drilling templates are easily found for this application, but may take some serious searching for Appletons.)

I do not know how much difference there is between Unity mounts and Appleton mounts, but I'd suspect they are very different. I don't think I've ever seen Appletons, especially the large Loraines, mounted on the doors of a hardtop as mine are, as is recommended by Unity. I've only seen them mounted as per my shoebox. A little research on the main board should result in some solid answers.

I wish I could be of more specific help. Sorry.

 

This may seem like a stupid question and maybe it is just because I have never looked into it since I haven't been into the spot light look. But what was the purpose of these? I understand having them on police cars. Or was this just a look people adopted.

 

Honestly, 1hot, I never understood their popularity, either...

 

Thanks for the help, i will see if i can find some unity templates, or try to figure out myself what place would be best to drill.
Here is a picture of the Lorraines (Model 37):

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And a picture of my '53 (engine removed), with the not yet finished installing of the '54 Chevy grill, ...today i've shaved my door handles:

 

Thanks again for the infos missysdad1!

...i don't know the purpose for spotlights too, it just looks cool and is a must have in my opinion, what's the purpose for lowering a car? Just for the looks!
And here a picture of the rough interior of my Ford:

 

...and a picture i've made of the Jimmie Vaughan Ford, to see where he mounted the spotlights: