In Your Humble Opinion...Fog Lamps vs. Driving Lights!

[kcybr]

Let's discuss and have some fun with the topic of fog lamps vs. driving lights on 20's, 30's and 40's cars!  I'm sure they're folks out there that like neither, and that's great too!

 

Who likes what better? Do you like function of one, more than the other? How about aesthetics? What about the size lamp/light compared to the headlight size? What brand(s) are you familiar with and like the most? What brands were most desired for what cars? What are some of the rarest out there?

 

Again, this topic is for fun and everyone has their own opinion, let's respect that.

 

Post some photos too!

[28 Chrysler]

Some cars don;t look right with extra lights. With any added lighting it should be kept simple.

The 10' driving lights and the 12' running board mounted spot lights should left to fire trucks.

[Guest]

Good topic kcybr,

                                  I'm sure you'll get many varied opinions. This is only mine and may not agree with others.

I ran clear lens driving lights on my '36 Buick. I believe they had the 5 inch lens. Looked great (and correct) and really helped with the night visibility. I don't know where one might need true fog lamps these days, or how many might still drive their classic cars on deserted foggy roads at night. So the yellow lenses....not so much.

The larger lamps look fine on the 20's era cars, Packard, Pierce, Rolls, etc. The driving lamps are a nice dress up for the larger, more expensive class of cars.

Personally I always think it looks ridiculous when I see a little Ford or Plymouth all dressed up with the driving lights, fender skirts, white walls, visor, etc. (and this is from a guy who currently owns a '38 Plymouth coupe).

It's like bringing your finest dining silverware to eat at McDonalds. 

[SC38dls]

The fog lights help at night but clear lens may be better. These are original to the 38 Studebaker State Commander model.  I do not know if they were dealer or factory installed. 

[1935Packard]

I personally prefer the look without any extra lights.  It's cleaner.   

 

With that said, I've been thinking of adding some Trippe lights on my Packard because I like to drive at night and I could use the extra candles to see the road better.

[Curti]

I like extra lights that are factory approved.  L-29 Cords and 31-33 Auburns had Pilot Rays. 

I don't believe that any U.S. manufacturer had Trippe lights in their factory brochures.  

[1935Packard]

2 hours ago, Curti said:

I like extra lights that are factory approved.  L-29 Cords and 31-33 Auburns had Pilot Rays. 

I don't believe that any U.S. manufacturer had Trippe lights in their factory brochures.  

 

Interesting thread on what lights were available in factory brochures here: 

 

I have a 1951 photo of my car that had a spotlight added.  I decided to remove the spotlight because it likely wasn't original.  But when you're going back that far it's admittedly a little technical to talk about original versus very early.

[kcybr]

Thanks everyone who replied so far and what an interesting thread to read on the topic that was supplied by 1935Packard!

 

IMHO, seems like a lot of people go towards the clear driving lights for both aesthetics and function. For me, I like the rarity of the fog lamps, I just don't see a lot of cars equipped with them. 

[Gunsmoke]

Rummaging thru a garage sale up country 15 years ago, I came across a 6"'-7" dia fog light, nice chrome bucket with yellow lens, had a brass tag riveted on top saying "Packard Road and Fog Lamp". Guy wanted $2.00, SOLD! It was in excellent condition, fellow had no idea what it came from, after keeping for couple of years, confirmed it was for late 30's Packard and put it on eBay at $80US, sold in a week. Of course buyer wanted to know if I had a second one, apparently a rare item. My view is that such accessories should only be placed on vintage cars if they were period options by dealer for the car, or aftermarket items in that period that match other lights on car.  

[padgett]

All of my road cars from the 60s to the 80s had driving and fog lights, I have always wanted more even to halogens (from France) in the mid '60s.Today I use SilverStar Ultras and use fog lights for cornering lights. Around here we have maybe two days a year with foggy mornings and just do not drive until it clears.

[Fleetwood Meadow]

My ‘52 Cadillac came with fog lights in the grill. I think they look perfect and are very functional. I think on the right car additional lights on the grille or bumper can look very nice. I wanted to added 5” white fog lights to the bumper of my Meadowbrook. But if I did I’d have to remove the factory bumper guards. 

[Roger Zimmermann]

Cadillacs from the fifties had fog lamps as an option. My '56 de Ville had them too. One night, I tried to use only the fog lamps, on an empty road. Oh Boy! Driving without any illumination would be the same. They look good on the car, but they are totally inefficient! OK, they are fog lamps, not driving lamps. However, modern fog lamps are giving some light in front and on the side. Those? Almost othing!

The picture is from my '56 Biarritz. The de Ville had the same configuration; the '57 Brougham I have has similar fog lamps.

Edited September 30, 2018 by Roger Zimmermann (see edit history)

[Scott Bonesteel]

To some extent I agree with GregLaR that either fog or running lights look odd/overkill on a simple Plymouth--which is true, IMHO, of any car that is 'over-accessorized', a look that a friend of mine used to describe as a car that drove through Pep Boys with a magnet attached.  Despite this, I have always run Super 7 Fog Lamps on my 34 PE Plymouth (photo attached) as it has a fairly fancy look anyway, 4-dr sedan with dual sidemounts and trunk rack.  I simply wired them with dual filament bulbs and use them as running lights/turn signals, which, again IMHO, look period and better than modern turn signals mounted on the bumper/bumper brackets.  I have a set of similar lamps that are going to go on my 34 PE Plymouth convertible when completed, again to serve the purpose of turn signals.  They don't help to see the road better but certainly help others know when I am planning on turning.

[Curti]

7 hours ago, Roger Zimmermann said:

Cadillacs from the fifties had fog lamps as an option. My '56 de Ville had them too. One night, I tried to use only the fog lamps, on an empty road. Oh Boy! Driving without any illumination would be the same. They look good on the car, but they are totally inefficient! OK, they are fog lamps, not driving lamps. However, modern fog lamps are giving some light in front and on the side. Those? Almost othing!

The picture is from my '56 Biarritz. The de Ville had the same configuration; the '57 Brougham I have has similar fog lamps.

 

This Cadillac is exceptionally good looking. The designers got just right.  If it were mine, I would run sans front license plate and round medallion.  The LEO's have never bothered me about a front plate on any collector car.

[Curti]

This is mine, smooth and clean, just the way it rolled off the line in 1936.  

[Frank DuVal]

Roger, the fog lamp is in the turn signal housing/lense?

[Roger Zimmermann]

12 hours ago, Curti said:

 

This Cadillac is exceptionally good looking. The designers got just right.  If it were mine, I would run sans front license plate and round medallion.  The LEO's have never bothered me about a front plate on any collector car.

I would not dare to do that in Switzerland!

[Roger Zimmermann]

2 hours ago, Frank DuVal said:

Roger, the fog lamp is in the turn signal housing/lense?

Yes. Fog lamp & turn signal with a 1044 bulb, plus a parking bulb.

[8E45E]

Quote

 

FOG lamps are for when there is FOG present; night or day.

 

DRIVING, ROAD, or RUNNING lights are for when the car is moving forward on the road regardless of the weather; night or day.  Starting in Canada with the 1990 model year, daytime running lights became mandatory.  Sweden had that law in place many years previous.  In the 1960's a RUNNING light was a somewhat popular option, and my dad's 1964 Plymouth had one.  Full-size 1969 & '70 Dodge Monacos had a built-in running light they referred to as a 'Superlight'.  Mustang offered a light-up accessory horse running light on 1967-68 models which is worth a fortune now.

 

Craig

[Walt G]

Trippe lights are ok but it seems they are fitted( currently not during the era the cars were made)  to everything from 4 cylinder Plymouths of  1928-32  to larger CCCA classics; "junior" or "senior" Trippe lights ( smaller or largerer) are ok but I like to take the time to find an accessory catalog for the particular make of car I have and try to learn what was offered  as I think that perhaps the factory would look at their cars and determine what looked best. My biggest objection visually , is when the lamps are to large; (huge fog lights on  the Plymouth, DeSoto, Chevy etc) and are about the same size as the headlamps on the car in the 1934 and earlier era , they just look awkward .

I like single pilot ray lights over the pair as well, also if a windshield post spot lamp has to be mounted , one looks better. The more lights you add the more it looks like a fire engine.

In the late 1920s into the early 1930s Packard used Saf de Lites.  These do not look like trippe lights nor any  other lamp of the era but I wanted factory suggested  period lamps on my 1930 model 733. I have them wired up but for use as directional signals. the headlamps give me enough light at night if I drive then. Amber ( yellow) ribbed lens lamps started to appear about 1934-35. I do have driving /fog lights on my 1940 Buick but they are much smaller ( but not tiny) appearing then what Trippe lights would look like if I had those mounted. Do your homework and research to seek period photographs or a sales /accessory catalog for your car. If there was a factory monthly magazine sent to car owners by the car company  during the era look in there as well . Nil Melior was an accessory store in NY City from ca. 1928 up thru about 1940 that had a variety of accessory lamps and at one time had their auto accessory store in the south lobby of the Waldorf Astoria hotel!  Tell that to your friends - "did you know that the famous Waldorf Astoria hotel in NY City had an auto parts store in the lobby?"

[Mark Shaw]

In my humble opinion, it is better to be seen at night in your vintage car with original headlights than trying to see like others driving much faster than you  with their modern headlights.  Just don't try to drive faster than you can see with your original headlights & add reflectors to help others to see you from behind.

[Doug Novak]

My thinking is on today's cars Driving lights are to help make cars seen during the day and times of day when Headlights are not necessarily on. The exception now is most new car's seem to have their Headlights on automatically at all times of the day. You don't see factory fog lights on newer cars normally. All that being said, Driving Lights would help on older cars to be seen to prevent accidents, BUT at the same time Fog Lights should serve two functions, acting as the only lights to be used in  fog but also can be used to be seen during the day when there is no fog.

 

Sometimes I think I over think things. 

Edited October 1, 2018 by Doug Novak (see edit history)

[zeke01]

Speaking of driving lights, I have a set of Dietz 510 New York 6 volt lights that I am not going to get around to installing. They appear to be NOS slightly pitted with mounting brackets. The lights have been tested and work. But wait, that's not all! I will include another matching 510 light with working bulb, also NOS but without mounting brackets. But wait, that’s not all! Included in this offer is a NOS Niehoff “lite” switch! But wait, that’s not all. For a limited time I will include free delivery to Hershey next week!  All this for $70.00. P.M. if interested. Zeke

[JRA]

Were Dietz fog lamps used during the same period of Pilot-Ray and Trippe lights? Were they contemporaries?

[Captain Harley]

18 hours ago, JRA said:

Were Dietz fog lamps used during the same period of Pilot-Ray and Trippe lights? Were they contemporaries?

I believe the Dietz 510 lights were probably first issued in the late 40's, maybe!?!  They use seal beams which first came out in 1940 and were called "glaseal" bulbs.

At least that is what Unity called them in 1940.  I have a pair of S-4 Unity road lights in their original cardboard case proclaiming this. 

 

I've studied the design of "auxiliary" automotive lights for some years now.  The first auxiliary or road lights were drum shaped like a lot of early car headlights, but only smaller in design.  Once headlights became more commonly "teardrop" (parabolic ?) shaped the accessory lights followed suite.  I have a 1929 Western Auto catalog showing both styles being offered for sale.  Oblong shaped road lights were also available.  Around 1932-33, like headlight lenses the lenses of the road/driving/fog/auxiliary lights/lamps started becoming more convex and not flat.  From what I have been able to discover 1936 was the first year for yellow fog light lenses.

 

The above info is just what I have found or made an educated guess on.  By studying original photos, catalogs and sales pamphlets.

 

Capt. Harley😉

 

Skirts are for women and not car fenders!

 

Note:  If anybody is interested as to why Unity called their early spot lights "Sportlite" .  It is because in an early (mid 1920's) Unity catalog a drawing is shown.  Showing a

sedan backing into an unlighted dark garage with the car driver shinning his mounted spot light on his dog saying:  "Here, 'Sport' !"  followed by "Would you have seen him without the SPORTLITE ?"  And last but not least:  Pilot-Ray lights were offered in 8" lens senior models and 7" lens standard models.

[JRA]

Great info, Captain Harley!  If possible, could you please share images of the pages of the Western Auto catalog, or any other material? Tks

[hook]

On 10/1/2018 at 8:16 AM, Walt G said:

Trippe lights are ok but it seems they are fitted( currently not during the era the cars were made)  to everything from 4 cylinder Plymouths of  1928-32  to larger CCCA classics; "junior" or "senior" Trippe lights ( smaller or largerer) are ok but I like to take the time to find an accessory catalog for the particular make of car I have and try to learn what was offered  as I think that perhaps the factory would look at their cars and determine what looked best. My biggest objection visually , is when the lamps are to large; (huge fog lights on  the Plymouth, DeSoto, Chevy etc) and are about the same size as the headlamps on the car in the 1934 and earlier era , they just look awkward .

I like single pilot ray lights over the pair as well, also if a windshield post spot lamp has to be mounted , one looks better. The more lights you add the more it looks like a fire engine.

In the late 1920s into the early 1930s Packard used Saf de Lites.  These do not look like trippe lights nor any  other lamp of the era but I wanted factory suggested  period lamps on my 1930 model 733. I have them wired up but for use as directional signals. the headlamps give me enough light at night if I drive then. Amber ( yellow) ribbed lens lamps started to appear about 1934-35. I do have driving /fog lights on my 1940 Buick but they are much smaller ( but not tiny) appearing then what Trippe lights would look like if I had those mounted. Do your homework and research to seek period photographs or a sales /accessory catalog for your car. If there was a factory monthly magazine sent to car owners by the car company  during the era look in there as well . Nil Melior was an accessory store in NY City from ca. 1928 up thru about 1940 that had a variety of accessory lamps and at one time had their auto accessory store in the south lobby of the Waldorf Astoria hotel!  Tell that to your friends - "did you know that the famous Waldorf Astoria hotel in NY City had an auto parts store in the lobby?"

I like Trippe Lights.

[alsancle]

For some reason I never weighed in on this topic.  I remove all doodads from every car I have ever bought within 24 hours of it showing up.  That included any kind of driving light you can name.

 

 

[Walt G]

I don't use the driving lights on my Packard for that - replaced what was there with the ones that are shown in the 1930 factory accessory catalog and had them hooked up for directional signals - modern drivers when you use hand signals think you are waving hello at them , not trying to make a turn and avoid having them smash into you. I could wave back to them ( which wouldn't help what I want to do) but don't because if I did it may be with a naughty gesture. 😬

[Matt Harwood]

I, for one, like fog lights/driving lights. However, they should be appropriate to the car. Little lights on a big Classic don't look right any more than big Pilot Rays on a Model A do. Modern lights always look silly and guys who install both driving lights AND fog lights need to be kicked. That said, I prefer yellow fog lights simply for the contrast. I added a pair of interesting vintage fog lights with V-shaped lenses to the '35 Lincoln when I first got it simply because I thought it was a little plain (note: I have since removed the front license plate to cut down on clutter).

 

   

 

I do not like spotlights at all, despite two of my cars (now just one) having them. I try not to over-accessorize, but fog lights appeal to me for some reason.

[alsancle]

3 minutes ago, Matt Harwood said:

I, for one, like fog lights/driving lights. However, they should be appropriate to the car. Little lights on a big Classic don't look right any more than big Pilot Rays on a Model A do. Modern lights always look silly and guys who install both driving lights AND fog lights need to be kicked. That said, I prefer yellow fog lights simply for the contrast. I added a pair of interesting vintage fog lights with V-shaped lenses to the '35 Lincoln when I first got it simply because I thought it was a little plain (note: I have since removed the front license plate to cut down on clutter).

 

   

 

I do not like spotlights at all, despite two of my cars (now just one) having them. I try not to over-accessorize, but fog lights appeal to me for some reason.

Those don’t look too bad.  The problem with spotlights is that depending how they are mounted you are talking thousands to fix the holes.

 

I still regret my dad talking me in to them on my Mercedes 20 years ago.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:

..... guys who install both driving lights AND fog lights need to be kicked. 

 

 

Repeatedly.  

[JRA]

I admit to like these extra lights...good visual effect at night, but poor lighting in the 6V system, unfortunately.

[Ken_P]

Another Lazarus thread!

 

I don’t like any extra lights. Too often people seem to think if you have a big classic, or a mid range sedan like mine, you have to throw the accessory catalog at it! I like to key the lines of the car do the talking

 

I don’t drive my car at night often, and if I do, it’s typically for short distances, in more populated areas (well-lit).

 

If I was going to tour at night, I might to try to find a way to temporarily mount a 6v LED light bar or driving lights just for driving, and remove them the rest of the time.

[Captain Harley]

20 hours ago, JRA said:

Great info, Captain Harley!  If possible, could you please share images of the pages of the Western Auto catalog, or any other material? Tks

JRA,  I'm not much of a computer nerd and have somewhat old PC equipment.  I'll get back with you later on if I can come up with something.🤪

 

Capt. Harley😉

 

Skirts are for women and not car fenders!

[Str8-8-Dave]

1931 Buick 8-66S, Trippe Jr's purchased from Steve Moskowitz

[Buick35]

I installed a pair of driving lights on my MGB.I wired it to my overdrive switch since its not an overdrive transmission but still has the switch to power it.P.s.It's for sale of anyone's interested $6500?Greg

Edited June 8, 2021 by Buick35
Add more text (see edit history)