Frenched Headlights

Bill Collins' 1951 Ford Two-Door Sedan of Dallas, Texas. Bill lived in the Oak Cliff part of Dallas, and he was one of the early hot rodders there in the 1950s. Bill bought the Ford as a stocker, and he restyled and repainted it in the mid 1950s. It featured frenched headlights.

Jerry Campbell's 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan of Portland, Oregon. Campbell was a member of the Ramblers of Portland car club, and he restyled the Chevy in the early 1950s. Known for its distinctive blend of elegance and power, Campbell's meticulous customization earned national recognition, with the car being featured in Hot Rod Magazine March 1955. The car featured frenched headlights.

Leroy Heinrichs' 1947 Plymouth Club Coupe of San Jose, California. Built by Axle Busters of San Jose member Leroy Heinrichs in the mid-1950s, this 1947 Plymouth was restyled in a late-1950s custom fashion. Shaved trim, frenched 1952 Ford headlight rims, electric solenoids, and a custom grille gave it a clean, modern look. By 1957, the coupe wore a scalloped paint job, likely applied by Leroy’s uncle, Bob Heinrichs, and appeared in the San Jose News, where Leroy valued it at $2,900. Later the same year, Leroy sold the car to Louie Stojanovich.

Jim Galvin's 1949 Ford Tudor of Ottawa, Illinois. Galvin is an original member of the Illinois Valley Mis-Fires car club. He built the Ford in his backyard, starting the build in 1958. By 1959, the car had been painted blue with a scallop paint job and a chopped top.

Louie Stojanovich's 1947 Plymouth Club Coupe of San Jose, California. Louie, who was a member of the San Jose Rod and Wheelers car club, purchased the already customized Plymouth from Leroy Heinrichs in 1957. Louie took the car to the next level, adding functional lakes pipes, a pleated white interior by Modern Upholstery, and a 1954 Chrysler six-cylinder engine with triple carbs. The coupe was finished in 18 coats of Candy Burgundy lacquer with gold outlines and debuted at the San Mateo show in 1959.

Art Jones' 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan of Portland, Oregon. Jones was a member of the Aristocrats of Portland car club, and his car was originally restyled by Jerry Campbell in the early 1950s. After buying the car, Jones had Gene Cargail of Gene's Custom Shop rebuild it. This second iteration, showcasing bold and unique styling, was featured in Car Craft October 1959, capturing national attention and admiration. The second iteration featured drenched 1953 Mercury headlight rings.

Cameron Ballanger's 1946 Ford Coupe of Anduze, France. Cameron came across the car for sale in Visalia, California in 2021. Modifications included frenched headlights done in lead.

Frenched Headlights are headlights that have been recessed into the body of the car, eliminating the factory bezel or trim ring for a smoother, more integrated look. This custom technique became popular in the late 1940s and 1950s, often seen on Mercurys, Fords, and Chevrolets. Builders would mold the headlight buckets into the fenders, sometimes using tunneled extensions or custom rings to create a deep, dramatic effect. Frenched headlights are a classic touch in traditional customizing, representing both craftsmanship and a desire to make factory cars look sleeker and more futuristic.

Cars Featuring Frenched Headlights

Cameron Ballanger's 1946 Ford Coupe
Leroy Heinrichs' 1947 Plymouth Club Coupe
Louie Stojanovich's 1947 Plymouth Club Coupe
Art Jones' 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan
Jerry Campbell's 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan
Jim Galvin's 1949 Ford Tudor
Bill Collins' 1951 Ford Two-Door Sedan