As an eighteen year old growing up in the Detroit  suburbs, I was very close to the automotive scene. We usually got to see the new models, sneaking around town, before they were introduced to the public. And, as an eighteen years old with a Chevy convertible, I realized that a stock car of this type is strictly for the old men (over 30) out there. Naturally, to enhance my image, a little modification was in order.

    I know that not everyone was into that sort of thing, so I'll list what was done to the car and list in parentheses, the terms as we called them then.

       First, off came the hood and trunk ornaments and the  holes were filled (leaded in, or nosed and decked).

      The car already had a dual exhaust system so all that was
needed was some nice sounding glass pack mufflers (pipes).

       The tailpipes naturally had to look nice, so on went some chrome exhaust tips on the end (cans).

       Now the 1956 Chevy hubcaps were very well designed and good looking, but this car just begged for 1956 Oldsmobile deluxe spinner type wheel covers (spinners, or flippers). NOTE: Although stealing these type hubcaps was
very common back then, a practice known as the "five finger discount", these were obtained legally).

        This car came equipped with dual spotlights (twin spots), a common accessory at the time, so nothing had to be added there.

         So what does all this have to do with the title above? I
just wanted to set the stage so you can picture the car and
understand the next item.

          I drove this car until I sold it in 1962 (for $650.00) and during this period I was stopped several times by the local law enforcement types who thought their main mission was to give hot rodders like me a hard time. It seems that having parking lights other than clear, was reserved for emergency vehicles only. They insisted that the lights were RED. I guess this was the color that was generated while looking through GREENcolored sun glasses.

      I tried being very careful when turning, usually resorting to the then still recognizable hand signals. For a time, I even put tin foil between the lens and the bulb so that no light came through at all. I was able to escape detection until one evening in 1962. I was making a left turn, east onto 10 Mile Road from Jefferson in St. Clair Shores. The left turn signal was flashing, AMBER of course, right in the face of the officer facing me, turning west. I could almost see the reflection of my turn signal in his Green sunglasses as no doubt, he saw RED.

      We completed our turns but as I looked in my rear view mirror, I could see him whip around and head back after me. Since I was on a dead end street, I had no recourse but to stop and engage in friendly conversation.

      We exchanged a few pleasantries and he left me with a little token of the city's appreciation for my willingness to contribute to the treasury. I sold the car a few months later after re-installing the clear parking light lenses. That ruined the car's appearance.

       I guess some young styling genius, probably working for
Ford, must have seen my 1956 Chevy and decided that I had a "better idea". He probably received a nice fat bonus for his styling suggestion. All I got was a traffic ticket to the tune of five beans ($5.00).

        So, 40 years later, the story is now out on how I came up with the idea of the AMBER parking light. You probably have never given it a second thought, but for me, it didn't pay to be ahead of my time.