Just wonderin' if you guys have any pictures of a 54 Chevy with spotlights? I gotta dumbshit buddy of mine who can't decide where they will look good...I told him the truck but he won't listen to me.
I don't get dummy spots. If you've got working spots, cool, but i don't get bolting fake stuff on. Goes for lakes pipes too.
[ QUOTE ] I don't get dummy spots. If you've got working spots, cool, but i don't get bolting fake stuff on. Goes for lakes pipes too. [/ QUOTE ] Dummy spots were the only way that you could have Appleton style spots after wrap-around windshields came out in '55. They were very popular for customizing in the late '50s - early '60s. Appletons were almost a requirement on a custom in the '50s, and when they wouldn't work on a new model, we adapted with fakes. And they were accepted on customs at shows. Lake pipes were a functional exhaust cutout that were also very popular, making the car look lower and giving you open exhaust at the strip, but capped for the street. Maybe you just had to be there to understand why some things were fads. Shrunken heads, beer tap shift knobs, dual exhaust that split behind the muffler, wolf whistles, bermuda bells, bongo drums, racing decals, baby moon caps - you could fill this board with stuff that people, who weren't there, wouldn't understand, or approve of - but the people who were there do. A lot of custom cars were ugly - but it was the beginning, and a lot of experimenting was going on. The factory cars changed styles COMPLETELY every three years or so, and the change was radical. I remember going to the Cheverolet plant in Norwood ohio, where I lived, and sneaking a peak at the new 1958 models (They kept them secret, covering them for delivery to dealers before the unveiling, and the fences on the storage lots had canvas up.), and we were shocked at the change from the '57 models! Anyway - you may not appreciate some of the things we did and liked, but we did it and liked it. It's part of the history, like it or not. Mutt
He bought the dummys already. The problem is that the lights have a triangular base plate that does not fit between any of the moldings on the post. To get the lights on the post he will need to cut the moldings (ouch!) and he doesn't want to do that. Any ideas? We were hoping to put them on this weekend so any picts or tips would be greatly appreciated! Adios!
This is pretty much the ultimate kustom 53-54; Duane Stecks Moonglow, -nothing gay about this in my book The spots are Appleton 112s.
Also These are the dummy-spots on a certain 58 Poncho Larry Watson put down a great deal of work on; -complete with some stripes and candypaint. You wouldnt do this to a pair of perfect 112s.. It all depends on the overall-style of the car. Dual spots and lakes on an otherwise stockish car looks lame, but on a lowered, nosed, decked 58 Impala on a rake with a rad paintjob, a pair of Cal-Custom dummy-spots and lakespipes is very cool in my book, -just like a pair of 112s is perfect on a Westergard-style 40 Merc..
It's all personal taste. Skirts, louvers, flames, scallops...everybody has a different idea of what looks good. For a lot of years I dreamed of having a "custom". '53 Buick headlights, Packard taillights, Desoto grille, spots, lake pipes, cruiser skirts, everything I thought a custom was suppose to have. When I recently got my mild custom '49 Fleetline I removed the visor, skirts and spots but left the lake pipes. I've since put the spots back on, but now I have a different perspective of what I like on a custom, or at least on mine. Recently someone told me I needed a pair of fuzzy dice. Been there, done that. Yeah, I had some in a '39 Chevy I had back in the mid-70s. If I had a red and white '57 Chevy and my wife and I had matching jackets with a picture of our car embriodered on the back I'd probably have some hanging from the mirror. To each his own.
very true about the reason why you needed dummy spots on those cars...i could have gotten a set of functional ones for my car,but that would have meant drilling a BIG hole threw the pillar,which i'd rather not do.i'm planning on putting some dumps and lakes on my car with some exhaust cut outs and make them functional.as for the dummies that are on my car,the bolts they gave me didnt work with how low i mounted them.i put them where i wanted (the actual metal piece OVER the molding), dented where the bolts went with a file and drilled.then i matched the bolts with bolts the length of the drill bit (with just enough length to put nuts on em) and put em on.i dont know how well you can see in my picture,but the chrome piece sits on top of the rain gutter/drip rail and the chrome around the windshield.i wouldnt suggest cutting the molding.. Creepy
My 53 Merc with a wrap around windshield has Appleton 552's on it. Here is a link to a pic of it at Donut derelicts http://photos.aaca.org/files/6/0/3/3/4/1953_mercury_monterey_ht_-_gray_-_fvl-med.jpg
Put them any place where it looks as if they were real, then the handle would go into the cab in a usable position. Check out some of the Bomba p/u. They look stupid 12" down the front fender, even seen some on the rear edge of the hood My 2bobs worth. Rod
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