Blue Dot History - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

El Bombero · 12-15-2007, 12:50 PM

Here is what I know about the blue dot in the tail light lens. Its some old-school hot rod thing- thats all i know. Can anyone give me a quick history lesson on how these came around? I have heard they are Illegal? Is that true? Thanks fellas!

Ben IV · 12-15-2007, 12:57 PM

Yes they are illegal in most states, I still see people running them though guess it depends on the cop. It is illegal to have Blue lights facing the front or back of a vehicle.

ChevLoRay · 12-15-2007, 01:31 PM

I have memories of them from my youth, i.e., the 50's. They have been around many, many years. They're made of glass with metal frames and they are installed by drilling a hole in the lens, then inserting the blue dot into the hole.

Whether or not the law is enforced is more an issue with the officer.

**special-K** · 12-15-2007, 01:50 PM

Used to call the "Purple Glows".That`s what`s so funny about them being illegal.They may be of blue material,but the effect is a pinkish purple light.Nothing blue or simular to cop lights about them.

Bus Ted Knuckle · 12-15-2007, 02:02 PM

Back in the day, the undercover police cars in L.A. were all equipped with blue dot tail lights so marked police cars could recognize them. The hot rodders caught on and the rest is history.

Info added by me:
That is the story as told to me by a neighbor we had while I was growing up. He was a retired long time L.A. county sherriff's deputy.

**special-K** · 12-15-2007, 02:35 PM

T h a n k y o u B i l l !!!This,I did not know.That there`s your history.Kind of antiquates the law a bit,though.

*Shane* · 12-15-2007, 02:53 PM

Here ya go ... from the HAMB and these guys usually know their stuff when it comes to traditional hot rodding.

1Ton · 12-15-2007, 02:59 PM

Never knew that. My history lesson for the day.

BCOWANWHEELS · 12-15-2007, 03:15 PM

and you install them exactly behind the bulb in the tail or parking light or you wont get the affect. i run them and havent had a problem but i,am a old dude and behave myself when driving. virginia is a bugger of a state and definatly will get ya. cant even lower a truck in that sates, same with exhaust, has to be as it came from the factory....
wonder why they call it the comunist state ??????

*b-rad* · 12-15-2007, 03:18 PM

va laws sucks

72 CustomCamper · 12-15-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCOWANWHEELS

virginia is a bugger of a state and definatly will get ya. cant even lower a truck in that sates, same with exhaust, has to be as it came from the factory....
wonder why they call it the comunist state ??????

You can lower a vehicle here in Va, you just can't have it scraping the pavement. You can also mod the exhaust, but if the vehicle came with cats you have to keep them. We do have a few strict laws though...

Chuck

72BlckButy · 12-16-2007, 03:55 AM

Great history lesson...

63 & 64 Bowties · 12-16-2007, 04:19 AM

49 Fords came from the factory with them, not all though, maybe it was an option. But, the 49's had glass taillights and the blue-dot taillights on them had a "raised" ridge around the hole where the blue dot was installed.

12-15-2007, 12:50 PM	#1
El Bombero Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fremont, Ca Posts: 40	Blue Dot History Here is what I know about the blue dot in the tail light lens. Its some old-school hot rod thing- thats all i know. Can anyone give me a quick history lesson on how these came around? I have heard they are Illegal? Is that true? Thanks fellas! __________________ They sure don't make 'em like that anymore

12-15-2007, 12:57 PM	#2
Ben IV Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Glenpool OK Posts: 255	Re: Blue Dot History Yes they are illegal in most states, I still see people running them though guess it depends on the cop. It is illegal to have Blue lights facing the front or back of a vehicle. __________________ 70 GMC custom short bed conversion 69 GMC panel truck

12-15-2007, 01:31 PM	#3
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Blue Dot History I have memories of them from my youth, i.e., the 50's. They have been around many, many years. They're made of glass with metal frames and they are installed by drilling a hole in the lens, then inserting the blue dot into the hole. Whether or not the law is enforced is more an issue with the officer. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

12-15-2007, 01:50 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Blue Dot History Used to call the "Purple Glows".That`s what`s so funny about them being illegal.They may be of blue material,but the effect is a pinkish purple light.Nothing blue or simular to cop lights about them. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-15-2007, 02:02 PM	#5
Bus Ted Knuckle Son of a gun Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas Posts: 1,636	Re: Blue Dot History Back in the day, the undercover police cars in L.A. were all equipped with blue dot tail lights so marked police cars could recognize them. The hot rodders caught on and the rest is history. Info added by me: That is the story as told to me by a neighbor we had while I was growing up. He was a retired long time L.A. county sherriff's deputy. __________________ Bill BEATERS ARE NEATER Last edited by Bus Ted Knuckle; 12-15-2007 at 04:55 PM.

12-15-2007, 02:35 PM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Blue Dot History T h a n k y o u B i l l !!!This,I did not know.That there`s your history.Kind of antiquates the law a bit,though. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-15-2007, 02:53 PM	#7
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	Re: Blue Dot History Here ya go ... from the HAMB and these guys usually know their stuff when it comes to traditional hot rodding.

12-15-2007, 02:59 PM	#8
1Ton Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Jamestown NY Posts: 731	Re: Blue Dot History Never knew that. My history lesson for the day. __________________ Support your local search and rescue team.... GET LOST! Originally Posted by DURRTY if some is good more is better too much ought to be enough........

12-15-2007, 03:15 PM	#9
BCOWANWHEELS Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: KINGSPORT,TN. Posts: 3,035	Re: Blue Dot History and you install them exactly behind the bulb in the tail or parking light or you wont get the affect. i run them and havent had a problem but i,am a old dude and behave myself when driving. virginia is a bugger of a state and definatly will get ya. cant even lower a truck in that sates, same with exhaust, has to be as it came from the factory.... wonder why they call it the comunist state ?????? __________________ I BELIEVE IN JOHN 3:16

12-15-2007, 03:18 PM	#10
b-rad Account Suspended Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: FT STEWART GA Posts: 509	Re: Blue Dot History va laws sucks

12-16-2007, 03:55 AM	#12
72BlckButy Tot Roddin' Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 24,461	Re: Blue Dot History Great history lesson... __________________ -Nate 1969 CST SWB - Project Blank Slate (4.5/6" ECE Static Drop, 6-lug disc brake upgrade (manual), Billet Specialties Vintec 20x8.5 255/40 (F) 20x10 295/40 (R), 250 I-6) 1960 AMF Skylark - Tot Roddin' (Lowered with custom frame; soon to include custom push bar and interior) 2008 Silverado CrewCab 1LT (5.3L, 3:73, 4x4, LT1, Z-71, Towing Package)

12-16-2007, 04:19 AM	#13
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: Blue Dot History 49 Fords came from the factory with them, not all though, maybe it was an option. But, the 49's had glass taillights and the blue-dot taillights on them had a "raised" ridge around the hole where the blue dot was installed. __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi

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