OK, I've got a question - what year, model, and make was the 1st car with dual headlights - 6 volts and 12 volts - and what size were the lights - 5" or 6" or?
Ack, as far as I know, 1958............BUT, now that I've said that, somebody will post up pics of a 1913 AzzKicker Deluxe *yah I made that up*, with dual head lights and I'll be educated. =O)
Mid year change, 1957. Chrysler corp.were factory equipped, and Ford I think was a dealer installed thing. All were 12V, no 6V quad lights. Stude too, and Packard.
I seem to remember reading that the reason there were not quad headlights is because a number of states had laws making them illegal and that changed midway through 1957. I know most mopars for 1957 were designed to have quad lights but had turn signals where the inboard lights would eventually be placed.
Cadillac did some prototypes with quad lamps as early as 1953. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2840841453_68a04863d3.jpg
State laws across the country, as well as Federal law, forbade quad headlights until 1956. The automakers wanted to utilize quads in the new styling, and lobbied to allow it. This is why you can see several 1957 models (as stated above) that had either dual OR single headlamps on each fender, depending on what State the car was to be sold in. Several States continued to outlaw them through the 1957 model year. So, by the time the 1958 model year cars rolled out, all States had repealed their prohibition of quad headlights. Yes, there were customs and prototypes that incorporated four headlights earlier, but legally, they were not available until the 1957 model year, and then only on certain models. They were all 12VDC by this time, and all were the smaller headlamp (that were quads).
That sounds about right, except I don't believe the quad option (or mid-year change) was available on any Plymouth model. I do remember the '57 Chryslers an Desotos with both single and duals. As a 13 year old then, I paid a lot of attention to these matters. We knew the future had arrived with 4 headlights and fins. And Dad didn't want any part of it!
Tuckers had 3. But I don't think anyone ever really rodded them. '58 is going to be the most commonly accepted answer to that question. I think they were all 6"
the factories always followed the custom trends. George Barris not only ran Quad lights, he had some rectangle bulbs special made. See George did Invent everything
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