Photos by Larry Edsall
Once upon a time, radiators that provided coolant to a car’s engine sat proudly out front in the open air. Often, that radiator was topped not merely by a cap, but by a decorative piece that included a temperature indicator to warn the driver of approaching the boiling point.
Along came engineers with wind-cheating aerodynamics and designers who added style to the automotive equation and instead of exposed parts cars had sleek bodywork that enclosed the radiator behind a sometimes decorative grille and beneath a hood.
But how would the driver know the temperature of the coolant? Now there was a gauge on the vehicle’s dashboard.
And what of the ornate radiator cap? Well, that space now could be used for any sort of decorative ornament, usually designed by the car company to portray its mascot, but sometimes car owners would find, commission or create their own hood ornaments.
For your nostalgic viewing pleasure, these are some of the hood ornaments we’ve seen as we’ve visited classic car shows and auctions in the past few months.
Very nice,……however, could you identify them…….
Tap on them and you can see what they are. Nice photos!
I would like to buy a 1940 Packard 120 hood ornament (see above).
[email protected]
Anyone know where I can get one as a gift for my John. He has a 1957 Pontiac Superchief
Hood ornaments often are sold at automotive “flea” markets and at automobillia sales and by some of the vendors at classic car auctions. The new Automobilia Scottsdale sale is coming up later this month (there’s a story on the blog about it).
If you like hood ornaments, you might really like this: http://www.blurb.ca/b/4831213-ornaments Editor’s note: the comment author is the book’s author.
36 Buick ?? or is it a 56 Buick ??
There are hundreds for sale on Ebay. But there’s no guantee that they got the model correct.