VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 cowl lights and privacy curtains

What function did cowl lights perform? I would imagine if you were an oncoming vehicle you could never see them over the brightness of your headlights. I guess just a "designer option" of the day? Also, the same question with the privacy curtains in the Special Sedan. To keep the sun out or to close when the snoopy kids put their nose to the window?

The cowl lights are for parking lights. If there are no cowl lights the reflectors in the headlights have two bulbs. The small bulb toward the top is the parking light. If you have cowl lights you should have single bulb reflectors in your headlights and use the cowl lights as parking lights. It is not unusual to see that someone has added cowl lights to a car that did not have them as original equipment and they didn't change the headlight reflectors.

As for the curtains, I don't know. A five window coupe has a curtain in the back window. Only thing I could think of is to keep the ones in the rumble seat from seeing what you are doing up front or it might be to keep the headlights from shining in your rear view mirror. If you find out let me know.

See you down the Back Roads

I added cowl lights to my 31 standard sedan to use as turn signals,Parking lights are in the headlights,put on a second tail light and have built in turn signals it looks much better than add on lights.The rear curtain keeps the glare off the flat windshield,The side curtains I have found no real use for but they look cool.

The side and rear curtains in the Special Sedan were for privacy for the back seat passengers, like the richer folks enjoyed in their more expensive limousines. Also, the curtains helped to shield out the sun when needed as well.

If cowl lights were factory installed like Deluxe models, Special Sedan, etc. then the headlights would have a single bulb. If the cowl lights were dealer installed then the headlights would have both bulbs. So it is possible to have double bulb headlights with cowl lights that would be correct installation of an accessory. Astute judges would know the difference. Most judges would not. Doubt that many cowl lights were dealer installed but also sure that some were.

I love my cowl lamps, they look so cool, at dusk, waiting at the curb for milady to attend the auto. Cowl lamp do not come on with the headlamps, like modern cars. They come on with the park switch setting, tail, dash and cowl lights. My 1913 Buick has oil lamps attached to the cowl, the ultimate in cool.
Regards, GAry

Thanks for the explanation. You know, I have been driving since the 60's and I don't think I have ever used parking lights. What the heck are they for anyway?

In California it is illegal to use only parking lights while moving. They were used much as emergency flashers are used now, to show that you are parked in, or close to the road. In some countries they were called city lights, and it was illegal to drive in cities with your headlights on.

Illegal in Florida also, "parking lights" are for when you are parked, hence the name. Even tho some people have not figured that out yet...

There is still a law in Jersey that states "when an automobile is equipped with parking lamps, the operator is required to leave the lamps on while the the vehicle is parked on a public road". That means overnight fellas!

The rear shade in my Coupe will keep the sun off my neck. (and help stiffle the in-laws in the rumble seat).

I have a /29 Cabriolet with cowl lamps used as turn signals.Too often other drivers are so interested in an antique that they need something to jog their attention before they run into you.Hand signals are still legal in Canada but only old guys like me know what they mean.Chevriolet's advertising at this time was geared to demonstrate that their product was "a cut above"other comparable manufacturers,(larger Fisher bodys,six cylinder motors,foot rests and side curtains,etc.),all hinting at elegance.They were right.