VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions What good are cowl lights?

What good are cowl lights (or parking lights) anyway? What purpose do they really serve?

If you actually want to be able to SEE, you turn on the headlights.

I always figured the idea was so the car is more visible, when parked on the street at night for short periods of time? They remained optional until the early 30's. And then we got the "parking lights" position on the headlight switch. Still do, on brand new cars. I never saw the usefulness of them. But they look cool.

For that matter, who ever actually USES their "parking lights" in the more modern cars? I don't think in 46 years of driving every kind of car ever built from new to 100 years old, that I ever parked a car and put on the parking lights.

46 years of driving are not enough years behind the wheel to have enjoyed the option of using cowl lights / parking lights.

I put cowl lights from I & I repo, the 1933---1935 style on my 35 std 3 window coupe back in late 80's. I had them for about 8 years before one day I finally went out and put masking tape on the position where I thought they should be and drilled the holes , one each cowl side. I had done this mask and tape operation for 8 years before finally having the courage to drill the holes.

They have been on there ever since and I also have a pair for the 35 roadster I am doing. With the correct open car base mounts which change the mounting angle so the lights point forward.

I have them connected to the original headlight switch and they come on as parking or early dusk running lights. They are also wired up, as 4 way flashers and turn signal lights.

Personally I do not like the shiny finish and find them to bright for what I like , so the plan is to blast the body with crushed walnut shells to give the surface a bite for the paint surface a satin finish black to match the gloss black body paint. The trim ring will remain plated.

mike lynch......................