The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Blue Dots on a 66 Fleet--WHAT D'YALL THINK???

Since I've got Peep mirrors I might as well consider blue dots. But a few questions: Are they tacky? Did they ever come as a stock option? Are they illegal in your state? If so, have you ever been picked up? What years of trucks do they fit (aesthetically) best on?

I think they're illegal just about anywhere on a vehicle that new.

Blue dots are "generally" illegal but I've never known anyone to get pulled over or ticketed for them. I've had them on my 34 chevy coupe for over 15 years and I've never had any problems with the law. They are usually found on 50's style hotrods, customs, and some motorcycles but that's not to say if you like them you can't put them on your truck. I have them on my 48 and personally don't give a hoot if someone else doesn't like them or think's they are tacky.
As far as stock option, I've heard that early 30's Packard V-12's and Cadillac V-12's and V-16's had blue lenses to identify them from lesser cars at night. I say if you like the look...go for it!

-Rich

I think that if you like them and they are not illegal then you should go for it. I considered putting them on my 61 when I got nre tailight lenses but decided against it because I am not going to go the hot rod route and didn't want to mix and match styles. Good Luck.

I don't care for them.. but had no idea they were illegal in some states.

I've always wondered if they were legal in my state, since I like them. Also, I've been planning to replace my crummy tail lights on the '54 this spring anyway.

So, I called our state HP and spoke to a Captain. He said in ND if the modification is "period correct" then it is legal. So, I could put blue-dots on my '54 and '59, but I couldn't put them on my '63.

I got the impression it depends a lot on the officer's knowledge. I mean, you'd have to be a real vintage vehicle guy to know that a blue dot is OK on the 54 but not the 63, and the officer I spoke to clearly didn't know the difference himself. Based on that conversation, I think you'd have to be getting pulled over for something more serious and then shoot your mouth off before they started picking on things like a blue dot tail light - at least in North Dakota.

In Colorado, they're illegal. Something to do with only an emergency vehicle is allowed to have a flashing blue light, (I believe).

However, I don't know of a single person that has ever been given a ticket for having them.

Kinda like front. license plates. On older vintage cars, hot/street rods, you're more likely to get away without running a front. plate, even though that's illegal here too.

My personal opinion, and only cause you asked... If you like them get them.

Myself, I can't see them on a 66, or most vehicles with large and/or plastic taillights, but different tastes keep things unique.

Not legal in this province but for the most part no one cares. I've seen cars driving for years minus a headlight!

the blue dot are legal in colorado as long as they are on a "street rod".

There illegal here in Calif. But like alot of you I dont think any friends of mine have gotten tickets. Im putting some on my 57. I remember years ago when I saw some on a 56 belair. It had a purple haze when it went away from you, pretty cool look.

I agree that they're likely not going to give you a ticket just for the dots. If a cop decides to get picky with you, though, it might end up on a list of infractions. Probably never have a problem.

I don't know what it's like elsewhere but most cops enjoy seeing an old bolt and don't bust your chops over the little stuff.

I got stopped recently by a cop who just wanted to check out the old truck!

If you like the blue dots, go for it. And don't call and ask permission first... beg forgiveness later! : )

Larry's right. The cops are probably glad to talk to someone who is not a jerk for a mid day pain break. I just hope they don't look at my tires!

Mike

Ok Boys and Girls, you got me there with "Peep mirrors" and "blue dots". Mirror I get that part, but peep :confused: ? Blue dots are lights? Any pictures handy?
As you can guess I'm not from the States, so I probably never seen them.
Thanks for helping out.

Richard

"Blue Dots" are just as the name implies.. a blue 'dot' in the center of the tail light lens.

From what i've read, at least where the 40's thru 60's chevrolet trucks are concerned, they were never a factory option.. they were something people got to 'dress up' or 'customise' their rides.

A 'peep mirror' is just a little round side view mirror.

Closest thing i've got to a 'peep' mirror is the factory Option 210 mirror on my '46 2 ton drivers door.

Here\'s a link to an eBay auction for some BlueDot tail light lenses

Richard,
Blue Dots are regular tail light lenses that have a small circle of blue plastic or glass in the lens. When the brakes are applied, the lens "lights up" like with any other tail light. The blue insert gives it a unique purple glow. Most of the parts catalogs have pictures of both. If you go to www.chevyduty.com you can type "blue dot" into the search window. A picture pulls right up. You can also type in the word "peep" and pictures of peep mirrors pull up too.

blue dots - ol timey hot rodders item - makes the tail/brake lite look purple - after market modification of any type lens

California has a kind of don't ask don't tell thing with blue dots. You can get the occasional hard nose cop that will pull you over for looking at him and that type will write you up for everything they can find. Mostly they won't bother you if you are driving sanely. I have had one on my Harley for about 13 years and have never had it mentioned when stopped for not driving sanely, but also have unbaffled exhaust (read LOUD) and when ticketed for speeding never mentioned the loud pipes or blue dots - go figure.

Does anybody have a picture of blue dot tail lights on at night?
Richard, I sent you a picture of the peep mirrors on my truck.
Thanks.
Colin

Hey Thanks,Colin, chevman32, red58, Kimberly and fumblin46, that simple, but I was thinking blue lights? brake lights? I don't want those. When I brake I want them to know, it will be serious. My brakepads on the Dodge 1/2 ton standard I drive now do 195.000 km and are still doing fine, I got new ones ready, but no need for them yet. I never brake, so when.. It's for real and I want them to know behind me.
Colin I got the picture while typing this, Thanks.
And I found the pictures of the Blue Dots, cute, different, I can see why you would put those on. Now I'm thinking of other color combinations to brighten up the rear end.
Thanks Gang have a good one.

Truck'26,

A good glass blue-dot tail lense will certainly let someone behind you know "it's for real". However, the true effect is only seen at night.

When that stop lamp bulb behind the blue-dot lights up it emits a pretty and bright purple glow off of the lense.

If you've not seen one, it's hard to explain, but they are nice on the right applications.

My experience with Canadian drivers is that they brake all the time to adjust speed, for a corner or going down hill, an automatic transmission wont slow you down, so now I have learnt to use my brake lights to make them aware of my speed change, but I just tip-touch it (if that's any English) and I have had no rear-end encounters with the truck since that time. I would like a full width brake light or lights, but I don’t want to change the glass all the time, this truck is being used to haul stuff, so we do it original. I’ll start looking for those Blue Dot lights, but with 2 cars passing my home per day, I’ll have to talk my neighbour in to it or the school bus driver, the horses keep me close to home so I might never see one.
Thanks for the help, drive safe

Richard

You can go to www.semasan.com to find info on pending laws and on blue dot for your state.

i could be wrong, and this is JUST an opinion, but as i remember the package says "not for highway use". that implies some sort of federal D.O.T. standard. at least to me. looking over local law the emphasis seems to be more on red to the rear, and having some sort of reflective device to the rear.

around here (indiana) most cops are appreciative of the work it takes to restore/rod a vehicle, and a few of the guys i work with have classic cars of their own. (a yellow blown and injected camaro street rod owned by a local police officer comes to mind). i don't think i would sweat the blue dots. i have a set for the cabover 51. personally i like the brightness it gives brake lights and causes them to be more noticible. makes me think they might be safer than just red.

i like safe. no reports to write.

I like blue dots but dont have them on either of my trucks.
The police around here like the old trucks and I dont believe they would stop you for such a minor violations. A lot of the hotrodders have them on 50s and back vehicles and I have never heard of anyone getting ticketed for them.
I say if you like them then go for it!!
Hobert

Here's a pic of the back of my truck with the blue dots.... go here and the pic is further down the column of photos:

http://www.fernscountrystore.com/foto_chevy.htm

From the 2006 Utah State Safety Manual, page 52, Section 7:
J. STOP LAMPS
1. Check stop lamps for proper color
a. REJECT when:
1) Stop lamp lenses are not red in color. (Blue dot taillights are illegal).

it's your truck
have fun