Appleton Spotlights

Glen Wall's 1935 Ford Phaeton of Huntington Park, California. Glen bought the car in the late 1930s, and he restyled it mildly, dressing it up with fenderskirts, flipper hubcaps and Appletons.

Delwyn Triska’s 1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe of Kagel Canyon, California. Del's coupe was restyled in the late 1940 or the early 1950s, and it featured dual Appleton spotlights.

Fred Crellar's 1940 Chevrolet convertible of Concord, California. The build was started in 1948, and completed around 1951-1952 featuring dual Appleton spotlights.

Al Andril's 1940 Mercury Coupe of Maywood, California. Al's Merc was restyled by Barris Kustoms in 1948 at their Compton Avenue shop. Al had noticed that Sam Barris ran Appleton spotlights on his Merc, so he wanted a pair on his as well.

Sam Barris' 1940 Mercury

Frank Livingston's 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline

Sam Barris' 1950 Buick Sedanette, restyled by Sam Barris of Barris Kustoms, was completed in 1953. The car was fit with dual Appleton spotlights.

Jerry Campbell's 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan of Portland, Oregon. Campbell was a member of the Ramblers of Portland car club, and he restyled the Chevy in the early 1950s. Known for its distinctive blend of elegance and power, Campbell's meticulous customization earned national recognition, with the car being featured in Hot Rod Magazine March 1955. At the time, it was dressed up with dual Appleton Spotlights.

Jerry Silvester's 1950 Ford of Inglewood, California. Jerry's Ford was restyled by Alex & West Body Shop circa 1957. It ran dual Appleton spotlights.

Wayne Christensen's 1957 Ford Ranchero of Norwalk, California. Wayne purchased the Ranchero in 1957. It was a pristine powder blue, a sight to behold and a canvas ready for the youthful ingenuity of the Christensen brothers. Without missing a beat, Wayne and his older brother Keith immediately lowered it to the ground. It was then adorned with real Appleton spotlights and Oldsmobile fiesta hubcaps that added a touch of elegance. In 2023, Keith told Kustomrama that having the Ranchero lowered "on the ground" was "the most a kid in high school could afford back then." Photo from The Keith Christensen Collection.

Appleton Advertisement from Car Craft June 1957

Larry Ernst's 1951 Chevrolet - The Bel Air Royal

Evelyn Wright's 1953 Ford

Bob Schremp's 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air, of Norwalk, California was restyled by Branson's Custom Shop in the mid 1950s

Tom McNamara's 1955 Chevrolet

R. E. Miller's 1955 Ford Pickup

Jack James' 1957 Buick Special

Lauralee Dobbel's 1957 Chevrolet, of the Rod Benders of Hayward, California was restyled by Bob McNulty.

Andy Southard's 1958 Chevrolet Impala

Nick Phillips' 1955 Chevrolet convertible was restyled by Bo Huff at Bo Huff Customs. Completed in 2004, the car is a clone of Sam Barris' 1955 Chevrolet convertible as it appeared while Stan Robles owned it.

Art Jones' 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan of Portland, Oregon. Jones was a member of the Aristocrats of Portland car club, and his car was originally restyled by Jerry Campbell in the early 1950s. After buying the car, Jones had Gene Cargail of Gene's Custom Shop rebuild it. This second iteration, showcasing bold and unique styling, was featured in Car Craft October 1959, capturing national attention and admiration. Both iterations ran dual Appleton spotlights.

Bruce McClellan’s 1956 Chevrolet of Pontiac, Michigan. Bruce bought the Chevy brand new in 1956. George Halpin helped restyle the car, and in 1958 it was ready for a scallop paint job by Paul Hatton. The completed build was shown at the 1959 Detroit Autorama. It was dressed up with dual Appleton spotlights.

Larry Watson's 1958 Ford Thunderbird. Larry bought the Thunderbird brand new in 1958, and he told a seller at Downey Ford to give him a call as soon as the first car with a tuck n' roll interior arrived. Larry brought it almost directly to Barris Kustoms for a mild job before he gave it a burgundy and silver panel paint job. Larry's Thunderbird was known as "Vino Pasiano" and "The Burgundy Bird," and the first iteration was completed in 1958.

John Guenther's 1959 Ford Galaxie Sunliner of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Restyled in 1960, the car was shown as "The Beach Boy."

Danny Leonette's 1960 Chevrolet Impala of Norwalk, California. Danny was one of the original members of the Seagrams of Norwalk car club, and he bought the Impala brand new. After buying it he dropped it in the front and back and added Appleton spotlights.

Bernie Mordawski's 1940 Mercury Convertible of Mundelein, Illinis. William Day of New Albany, Indiana bought the channeled custom from Bernie in 1971. Back then he was told that the car was built by Barris in 1956. It came with dual Appleton Spotlights.

Cars Featuring Appleton Spotlights

Glen Wall's 1935 Ford Phaeton
Delwyn Triska’s 1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe
Gene Garret's 1936 Ford
Jack McNeil's 1936 Ford 3-Window Coupe
Fred Crellar's 1940 Chevrolet Convertible
Tom Hocker's 1940 Ford Coupe
Al Andril's 1940 Mercury Coupe
Bernie Mordawski's 1940 Mercury Convertible
Butler Rugard's 1940 Mercury
Gerry Huth's 1940 Mercury
John Vara's 1941 Ford
O.H. Hooker's 1941 Pontiac
Anne De Valle's 1942 Ford
Ken Norrena's 1946 Ford
Art Jones' 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan
Jerry Campbell's 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan
Frank Livingston's 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline - The Caribbean
Sam Barris' 1950 Buick Sedanette
Fred Calvin's 1950 Ford
Jerry Silvester's 1950 Ford
Frank Sonzogni's 1950 Mercury
Sonny Morris' 1950 Mercury
Wally Welch's 1950 Mercury
Keith Ashley's 1951 Chevrolet - The Bel Air Royal Clone
Dave Bugarin's 1951 Mercury
Fred Rowe's 1951 Mercury Convertible
Mandy Holder's 1951 Mercury
Joe Crisafulli's 1951 Oldsmobile
The Blue Danube
Evelyn Wright's 1953 Ford
Ed Sloan's 1953 Plymouth
Bob Schremp's 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air
Nick Phillips' 1955 Chevrolet Convertible
Tom McNamara's 1955 Chevrolet
George Contaoi's 1955 Ford F-100
R. E. Miller's 1955 Ford Pickup
R. M. Weber's 1956 Cadillac
Bruce McClellan’s 1956 Chevrolet
Fred Markley's 1956 Chevrolet
Jack James' 1957 Buick Special
Lauralee Dobbel's 1957 Chevrolet
Richard Lee Tiago's 1957 Ford Ranchero
Wayne Christensen's 1957 Ford Ranchero
Andy Southard's 1958 Chevrolet Impala
Larry Watson's 1958 Ford Thunderbird - Vino Pasiano / The Burgundy Bird
John Guenther's 1959 Ford Galaxie Sunliner - "The Beach Boy"
Danny Leonette's 1960 Chevrolet Impala