Appleton spotlight

thumb|Appleton spotlight on a 1956 Ford

'''Appleton spotlights''', or simply '''Appletons''', were a common feature in early automobiles, up to the muscle car era. The bullet-shaped spotlights (usually installed in pairs) included a handle which was mounted through the side window pillar of the cab (just above the hood) into the interior of the vehicle.<ref name="Custom" /> This allowed an occupant to maneuver the direction or focus of the spotlight beam with a simple twisting motion. Appleton spotlights, marked with an embossed oval around the brand name, Appleton, were often found on pre-1960 vehicles (especially on service vehicles—police, armed forces, mail vehicles, etc.), but were also an often-added, after-market automobile accessory. They became so popular during the 1940s and 1950s for custom car enthusiasts, that "dummy" spots were commonly installed.<ref name="Hotrod" />

== Weblinks == {{commonscat|Appleton spotlight}}

==References== <references>

<ref name="Custom">{{cite book |last=Ganahl |first=Pat |title=The American Custom Car |publisher=MotorBooks International |access-date=February 8, 2013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D6DbdIdPIIMC&dq=appleton+spots+spotlights&pg=PA167 |via=Google Books |date=September 1, 2001 |page=167}}</ref> <ref name="Hotrod">{{cite web |url=https://www.hotrod.com/how-to/hrxp-1111-how-to-install-spotlights |title=How to Install Traditional Spotlights |website=HotRod.com |date=April 12, 2012 |access-date=June 26, 2025}}</ref>

</references>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Appleton spotlights}} Category:Automotive lamps Category:Lighting brands