Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Has anyone mounted fog lights to the front of their car without having to drill directly into the bumper? I would rather not drill holes into the chrome on my '53 Clipper. I thought about using the license plate bracket that is already there but could only fit 1 in reality. Thanks in advance!

I would not drill any holes. I believe most all fog lights and driving lights had mounts that clamped to the bumper support brackets on the pre-war cars. Later models had sheet metal splash shields between the bumpers and the body, and some people mounted lights on these.

As TxGoat said, the Packard accessory lights or Unity reproductions attach to the bumper brackets which would mean holes through the splash panels but those are easy to replace should you want to remove the lights at some point.

Many post war cars and some pre-war ones may require drilling holes in the splash apron. Measure carefully.

Why are you adding them, is the better question? In the '30s,'40s, certainly '50s, you r a r e l y saw fog or driving lights on any cars, expensive ones included.

Hobbyists today think they need every factory and dealer option available, overlooking that most of the latter were simply a way of increasing the dealer's profit margin.

My '47 Super has driving lights (clear, fog are amber bulbs only difference) because dealers took advantage of a car-starved public by loading inventory with options.

Keep it simple. Cars look best with fewer distractions, gew gaws.

Make sure your grounds good. They make LED headlights for our 6-volt cars now. Also, consider a bolt-in (no butchering whatsoever) 6-volt, positive ground, 55-amp alternator if you want brighter head and tail lights, especially when idling at a light or at slow speed.

Jim's Battery Manufacturing, Youngstown, OH (707) 426-7580 has such 6-volt alternators. In the win-win-win, you're saving weight, as with using an 800-cold-cranking-amp Optima Red Top 6-volt battery. Something few old domestic car guys grasp: "Weight is the enemy" in any serious sport, GT, road car. A little here, a littler there, it adds up.

Tell Jim that Mike, '47 Super Clipper, Walnut Creek, CA, and the late Hans Edwards, '47 Custom Super, British Columbia, referred you.

The difference between driving lights and fog lights is the beam shape not the color. There are clear fog lights and French high beams were yellow for many years

Thanks. Live and learn. But they're still a silly affectation on most cars, esp. by the '50s. Less is more, certainly if the car has clean lines, the right color, a certain presence and g o e s, or at least looks ready to.

Jim's phone rings to an unhappy pre-recorded message.

Driving lights are a useful addition to pre-sealed beam headlight cars.

Some with vintage cars with fog/driving lights use them for daylight driving lights when out and about.