When did spotlights show up on customs and why?

I could never figure why the people would pull over for my brother since he was driving a 34 Phaeton.
Gary

 

My timing was a bit off. Here is a Cal Custom ad from a 1958 Car Craft magazine, introducing the new dummy spots.

 

Cool, its Barris the DEAN of customizers.

 

Naw, We use to use them at the "Drive-In" before the movie started. We would play tag on the big screen. (Boy, that really sounds dumb now, but it was Cool then)

 

I wasn't around in the 50's, but I always thought spots were ugly. And today I think airbags are stupid.

Maybe 50 years from now those rubber steering wheel covers, or the "tattoo" seat covers they sell at checker will be "trad". (puke)

Maybe folks were into "shining deer" or something back in the day, I don't know. Is that why it's illegal now?

 

Thanks for the memory, I wonder how many reading this post actually know what a tire boot is ?

CC

 

good replies...i was talking to a friend of mine yesterday and he brought up the old shining them on the movie screen also. that was a great story gary would love to hear more of them! thanks for your input guys!

_T

 

god i love the kopper kart.

 

Not if you ask him....

 

Some of the wilder ones "might" have used the spot lights to see when they turned off their lights while running from the cops.
Ol Blue

 

I'm 50 and can remember the spotlight wars at the drive in movies, but I've never cared for them on a custom. They always looked like little zits to me.

Like anything done to cars today, 20 years ago, or 60 years ago, none of it is new. It was already done to death to model Ts back in the teens and 20's. Custom bodies, wheels, lowering, overhead cams, blowers, roller cams, high compression heads, Magnetos, dry sump systems, it was all done first to Henrys banger, even spotlights. It's all a rehash except for electronics. I'm just glad to be around today to enjoy it all, customs, drags, hot rods, gow jobs, street rods, boats, bobbers...they shouldn't even be categorized, they're all under the same umbrella to me.

 

I read this whole thread, couldn't believe it took this long to mention "Drive in Movies" I had a 41 chev club coupe in 57 lowered in the back, Skirts, dual antenna's, A real light flat mint green, full custom Green Burlap interior (bought it from my uhpolsterer uncle for 50 bucks) it was old school ride in 57 and I couldn't afford to change it.(making 65 cents an hour as a bus boy at a drive in resturant) the cool cars were dropped in the front and V-8's
I hated that car then. Vac***e shift six cylinder dropped in the back with a single spotlight (I did add a second one) the only time I ever used the spotlight was intermission at the Drive in's it was better with the single spot light, my girl friends had to lean across me to play screen tag making it legal to cop a feel. Oh to be 16 again!!

 

Screw spotlights, why did '50s-early 60s custom cars have PADDED TELEPHONES in them?!??

 

to answer THIS question,customs and some regular cars had telephone handsets in them because that's what came on some of the old CB radios instead of the little hand unit,and the reason they were padded on customs was to be more luxurious,if this makes any sense.i always thought they looked cool and wanted one in my car,too.i think i'm just gonna get one of those handsets you plug into your cell phone and mount it somewhere in the car and use it while i'm driving to freak people out! to answer the original question,when did they start appearing on customs?well,when did customs start appearing? and 2nd question,why? well,because they were a stock/aftermarket accessory item back then and people just hung onto them,that's all.
creepy

 

those weren't CB's the early mobile phones were just a 2 way radio that went thru an operator that took up half the trunk. used to work for a guy (with money) that had three lines had a chrysler wagon took up the whole spare tire well and part of the back. they were a pain in *** you had to say "over" after each message. and they were party lines so you could monitor other calls. more like marine or air planes used.
those and the little tv screens were mega luxury items of the day and show cars were the same. some of those Kustoms could cost a whopping 5-10,000 dollars for the big name cars

 

came in handy when the greasers were out stealing **** forom the hot rodders.......

 

I had twin spots on my 53 Plymouth. It was lowered in the back, twin attena's and twin spots. Cool back in the old days. This was in 55 though.

 

back in the day, here in the pine barrens, things were tough. many a man fed his family by outlawing venison. if one was caught with a gun or even just a spotlight in the car it was time for court and a fine (or a bribe). the mounted spot light was part of the car and the wardens couldn't take them.
During the 50&60's in the east, we started our rides by first taking every thing that was extra off. just like every one else. we all read the same mags and seen the same movies.

 

From what I recall they became popular in the '50s.

The way it was told to me by someone older than myself was that they kind of represented ****s and it was supposed to be the smooth thing to do to cruise with your hand on one. I guess you'd have to have pretty long arms for that but that's what I was told.

 

Well if they were supposed to be ****S, I think I'd have them mounted in my FACE.

 

I am currently working on a 57 Lincon, with FACTORY Spots. Mirror (that you cant see **** out of) on one side, spot on the other. they are kinda goofy, but....

While backing the car up, I noticed something cool. you can aim the mirror so you can see the bottom half of the car. I'm 6'3, and no amount of hanging out the door to make sure you don't catch the curb helps at all... it's like trying to look around a bowling ball.

cool.

and even with the brights on, you can't see ****. however, you can turn the spots on (which I would imagine is highly illegal while driving) and it is a serious help to navigate a parking lot as packed as mine in the dark. I can say that when it got here, I thought they were quirky add ons from the factory...but after driving this "radiant Magenta" Land yacht in and out for a couple of days, I can see where they would be a mojor benifit to the owner- especially if he (or she) were stacked to 5'8 or shorter.