We Boomers saw the decline, fall, and disappearance of many things during our lifetimes. One of these once-familiar sights that has become much more rare is the hood ornament.
Once upon a time, hood ornaments graced the exposed radiator caps of cars built in the 30's and 40's. They were often exquisite art deco creations, and are, of course, avidly sought after by collectors.
But as radiator caps disappeared, hood ornaments continued to hold a proud position on the cars our parents drove. And we kids of the 50's and 60's were used to seeing twenty-year-old automobiles, complete with hood ornaments that defined the era.
For example, flying ladies typified the 30's and 40's. Airplanes began to appear in the 40's, to be displaced by jets in the 50's.
As the 60's debuted and wore on, hood ornaments began to vanish from mainstream automobiles. Where once every model of car seemed to be graced by one, now they were by and large becoming status symbols of cars with a reputation for luxury.
The 1958 Chevy Bel-Air, beginning to show the longer, sleeker lines that would typify the 60's, was released with a hood ornament conspicuously absent. It was a sign of things to come.
By the time I was around and beginning to remember things, my father's Plymouth had nothing but smooth metal on its hood. Ornaments were found on those funny looking fat cars from the 50's.
Buick, for one, continued to put ornaments on many of its models. So did Cadillac. The writing was on the wall: hood ornaments were no longer for the general masses. Now, they would have a home on more prestigious automobiles.
Somewhere along the line, litigation reared its hideous head. Pedestrians who were hit by cars with hood ornaments were badly injured. The few hood-mounted sculptures installed at the factory were either removed by automakers, or spring-loaded.
It seems to me that if a pedestrian is hit by a car, the issue of whether or not a hood ornament is present is among the more minor worries that he has. But lawyers have gotten wealthy by exploiting the damage specifically done by the device, so things have changed as a response.
But hood ornaments have never disappeared. Of course, the Beemers, Mecedes',and Rolls Royces of the world are still adorned, but more mundane vehicles also might spot the occasional piece of metallic art, thanks to aftermarket producers.
J.C. Whitney in particular has a large variety of affordable hood ornaments. For the more luxury-minded, you can get an ornament from mascots unlimited, the same folks who supply decorations to the automobiles that British royalty motor around in on the wrong side of the road.
But try as you might, you just can't return to the days when cars were huge, boxy, and sported sleek, jet-shaped hood ornaments.
Comments (5)
I can remember aggravating my father by turning his hood ornament when I walked by. Don't know why it bothered him so much. I did it to be a brat now and then because his reaction was funny.
Posted by Amy Chevalier | March 4, 2008 3:16 PM
Posted on March 4, 2008 15:16
Back home I see guys mount deer antlers on their pickups sometimes. Really.
Posted by russell | March 14, 2008 12:34 PM
Posted on March 14, 2008 12:34
My husband has always been a car nut. Over the years we've owned many makes and models. He started collecting hood ornaments when I worked with a lady whose son owned a junk yard. I arranged to get a Jaguar ornament and had it fastened to a Jaguar hunter's green piece of marble. Later he shopped on ebay, building an impressive collection of fine ornaments and radiator caps. At retirement (or so we thought), we planned to sell the ornaments if we needed the money. So far we don't need money-- he sells cars (BMWs and Audis) and I am building a boomer/senior website!
Posted by Susan Levine | March 25, 2008 10:49 PM
Posted on March 25, 2008 22:49
I am looking to purchase the Marlin hood ornament.
Where can I buy this item?
Posted by Santo Musumeci | April 15, 2009 10:06 PM
Posted on April 15, 2009 22:06
I put this out to ponder. Did car styles change because our tastes changed and lifestyles changed, or was it the companies who changed cars to make them more difficult to fix and more expensive to fix as well, and adding more gizmos to also justify more price, even as software is continually “upgraded” (i.e. an interface change to take more money) to justify giving them more money.
Cars offer far more comfort and last longer, both engine and body, but prices also went sky high. Or is it that we are fickle and are never satisfied with what we have and always want something new and different, even if the old still works. I wonder. I suppose both are factors.
Posted by Scott I | May 14, 2009 5:24 PM
Posted on May 14, 2009 17:24