Customs spotlights or no spotlights?

As some of you know, my brother and I finished my dad's car for him in 2005. We have tried to finish it the way he had invisioned it back in 1957 when he first started building it. One of the things he wanted back then, that we have not done yet, is putting spotlights on it. I am torn about putting them on. I think they would look good but I also think the lines of the hood and cowl look good just the way it is. My dad said I can do what ever I want, he's just glad the car is finally finished and I can take him for rides in it. I decided to post photos of the car as it is and ask for opinions. So what do you all think? Spotlights or no spotlights? Maybe one of you photoshop wizards can add them in so I can see what they would look like.

Also, we put a quickly sewn black tonneau cover behind the seat until we had time to make a real one. But now the black one has really grown on me. I have enough white pleated material to make a cover to match the seat and door panels. Should I change to white pleats or stay with the black canvas?

 

I like it clean and smooth just like it sits. If you put spots on it they would have to be period correct for the car and not the fake ones.

 

The white pleats and spots would surely be "period correct", but it's got to be hard to mess with something that beautiful. Yeah, I know...no help at all.

 

i say add them, it needs a little more chrome to accent the upper half of the car, and if they are also a period correct item for the car i think it would overal go great with the car.

 

I think it looks good without. definitly don't put dummy spots on it whatever you do.

go with the white pleats.

 

It's a kustom isn't it, well treat it like one and put some spots on it man. Rags

 

I say put on some real ones, if you put them on with the same quaility as the rest of the car they well look sweeeeet!

 

I have been debating to put them on my f100 or not. I believe only certain cars and trucks look goot with spots. I say for that car, put them on it.

 

Only if they are real spots....I despise the fake ones!!

 

Fuck it...Were bein Westerguarded to death!Slap some good ol dummys on that bitch!

 

Man it's YOUR call, either way that '36 FUCKIN' ROCKS!

Nick.

 

your lookin at $1K-$2K to do it right.

 

do it for your pop...

 

The 36 looks good the way it is, I vote NO for the spotlights either real or dummy, the dummies only look good on fifties customs. Also the white tonneau I think would look better.

 

I hate 'em all. No spots for me, ever. They ruin the line of the body.

But it's your car.

 

Looks great as it sits!

 

Cool car! I'm no help either, its you call

 

Fake or not, I agree with Karl Childers, more chrome. also, I like the caps but i would go with 56 caddy caps. my 2. bitchhin custom!

 

White pleats, forget the spots. It's your Dad's ride, so ask him.

 

I could see it with spots or without, I think it'd look good either way.

As for the tonneau cover, I like it in black just fine, the white pleats would look good too, but I would put some kind of bows in it underneath (like a headliner) to give it a bit more shape.

 

i think you should go with your gut,,,,,you managed to do pretty damn well so far!!!
beautiful looking 36,,,i really love it...........if you do decide to use spots,,,,that car deserves REAL appletons,,,,don't use dummies...

 

I agree with Kustom, Sweet car.. use the real deal Spots if you decide.. I think its Nice the way it is though..

 

Looks damn good as is but you gotta do what works for you.

 

Looks good the way it is.
Also think about opening the hood and not remembering that the spots have to be moved
It does happen ,
The guys with the 49-51 mercs know about this.
Don't we.
FRANK

 

Thanks for all of your opinions on this. It's exactly what I was looking for when I posted. I think we are going to go with the pleated white tonneau cover as that was the original plan for the interior.
Still not sure about the spotlights as I like it both with and without them. Definately Appletons if we decide to go with spots. What model # Appletons do you suggest? I am a little concerned about the spots and making big holes in the windshield posts for them. Once I do that I am committed and there's no truning back. And again, can anyone photoshop some spots on the photos?
Gotta stay with the one bar hubcaps. I found a photo at my dad's from 1960 and he was running the one bars on it back then.

 

My opinion,I would put real Appletons on anything.But,if your Dad didn't have them on in 1960,then I wouldn't put any on in 2009.What I would get rid of,is the lake pipes.A white pleated tonneau cover would look better than the black one.

 

+ 1 on loosing the pipes ... got any running boards ?

 

Dad wanted the spots, lake pipes and LaSalle grill back in 1960, he just did not have them or could not afford them back then. The grill were changed in the late 80's when I found one at a swap meet. I also built the lake pipes for him about the same time frame. He chopped and channeled the car in 1958 and also removed the running boards and sculpltured the fenders at the same time. I gotta leave the pipes and fenders alone as that's what he wanted it to look like from day one.

 

I think it looks clean without the spots.. I wouldnt do it if I owned it..

 

Personally...I like REAL spots on Customs. Don't care for the side pipes either.
White,pleated boot,but it needs to sit flush with the door. Looks like an after-thought sitting flat like that. Cool car,BTW!