Sport-Lite

[packick]

I was browsing through my new 1955 Buick Chassis and Body Parts Book and ran across two pages dedicated to something called "Sport-Lite." The parts referenced are handles, housing, pinion and bearing, fuse, rack and knob.

OK, I give. What is a "Sport-Lite?"

[Guest 36chev]

If this is the same as the "Sport Lite" used on the Chevrolet from the 1930's, then it is a spotlight. Inside the car, a knob on the handle rotated the light. So perhaps that is the reference to the pinion and bearing.

[packick]

I used to call those "spot lights." We used them to shine them on the drive-in movie screens when we were much younger.

[Guest Rob McDonald]

A 57 year-old typo, maybe?

[Guest John Linden]

Joe:

I saw your post about a 1955 Buick Sport - Lite. You got my interest because I buy and sell spotlights and I have what I think is an NOS 1955 Buick Spotlight for the Super and Roadmaster models which I want to sell. But I have never been able to confirm for certain that it is 55 Buick -- or maybe 55 & 56.

Concerning your question, Unity Mfg from Chicago has made spotlights for many years. They used the term Sportlite for their early 30s spotlights. Starting in the mid 1930s, Unity changed from the word Sportlite the term to Safetylight. The term Safetylight carried forward into the 40s and 50s for sure. Unity sold spotlights to GM in the 40s 50s and 60s and beyond. I often see the term Safetylight used to describe a spotlight in the Chevrolet parts books in the 1950s but I am not familiar with Buick. I have never seen the term Sportlite used since the 1930s.

Unity was not the only spotlight maker for GM. The Guide Lamp Division of GM made spotlights used on GM cars and trucks. Starting in 1955, the new Guide Model S2-55 spotlight was introduced. I am certain that Guide made spotlights for the 1954 / 1955 Buick because I had an NOS Guide S2-55 spotlight in the original Buick factory box set up for mounting on the 54 / 55 Buick Special, Century and Skylark. But I don't recall seeing the word Sportlight or Sport Lite in that literature. The NOS 55 Buick Spotlight I have now is identical to the one I had in the original box but the shaft is longer and it has different brackets. I think it is for the larger Roadmaster & Super models. If you have any part numbers or any other info you can share about 1955 Buick spotlights, I am very interested. Thanks John Linden jlinden374@sbcglobal.net

[packick]

John: Thanks for the information. As the saying goes, "You learn something new everyday." According to my parts manual, the Sport-Lite has a part number of 451645 (for 981544-981545), and 273227 (for 981654-981655). The second one is the factory installed version. I have no idea what the numbers in parentheses refer to. Maybe someone can help there.

Joe

[Kosage Chavis]

Did the 55 Buick have some cars with the Unity spotlights and others with S2-55 Guide lamp?

[1953mack]

Unity and Appleton were competitors of Guide Lamp Company during your 1955 Buick's era. Guide was a division of GMC. Buick dealers offered two variations of the GUIDE sealed-beam spotlight according to a 1953 Salesman's Facts Book:

-  HANDY SPOT.....the portable one with a long cord that you plug into the cigar lighter and used for a trouble light and small enough that you can store it in your glove compartment. It has the BUICK name cast into the handle.

-  SAFETY LIGHT.....a combination spotlight with rear view mirror that is installed on the driver's side of the car and is adjustable from inside the car after poking holes in your door's exterior sheet metal and interior door trim panels. The GUIDE name is cast in the assembly.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/54-55-BUICK-ROADMASTER-CENTURY-SUPER-SKYLARK-GUIDE-SPOTLIGHT-SURVIVOR/370989568268?hash=item5660b3910c:g:5uYAAMXQVT9S2rUx&vxp=mtr-    

 

Al Malachowski

BCA #8965

"500 Miles West of Flint"

[Kosage Chavis]

Thank you for that explanation.  But what about prior to 54/55 for Buicks?  Was Buick using the Unity brand then?  Or did Buick always have its own spotlight manufacturer (Guide) even before that period?  Thank you again.

[Joseph P. Indusi]

I have a Handy Spot for my 53 Special that is 6 volt and made by Guide.   Not sure on the exterior mounted Safety Light.

Joe, BCA 33493

[1953mack]

21 hours ago, Kosage Chavis said:

.....But what about prior to 54/55 for Buicks?  Was Buick using the Unity brand then?  Or did Buick always have its own spotlight manufacturer (Guide) even before that period?.....

 

Guide Lamp was a division of GMC from 1928-1998. My thinking is that if you see a Unity light on a Buick, it was most likely not installed by a Buick dealer.

 

The picture below (eBay pic) is of a Guide Safety Light for an early-50s era Cadillac. Note the mirror behind the sealed beam. 1953-1954 Buicks were similar.  

 

 

Al Malachowski

BCA #8965

"500 Miles West of Flint"

 

[Kosage Chavis]

Here's a pair of spotlights I am very interested in purchasing.  They are Unity, model HI-CH...They need some work but are in decent condition.

[1953mack]

I would be concerned about the profile of the mounting bracket that gets screwed to your door's exterior. Differences usually occur in this part for different Marques/years depending on the curvature of the door skin. You might want to check it out. Some brackets were made to be mounted on the A pillar.

 

Al Malachowski

BCA #8965

"500 Miles West of Flint"

Edited December 19, 2017 by 1953mack (see edit history)