Hood and/or radiator orniments...

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

The Dodge Brothers commissioned some dude to dream up a new hood goody. He came in with a chrome plated BIGHORN SHEEP RAM!!! They looked at each other in complete amazement & confusion! Probably wondered what this guy was "ON!"
When finally asked, "Why a RAM?" The designer replied, "If you were hiking on a narrow mountain trail with a vertical cliff to your left and a STEEP canyon to the right and this Ram was runnin' 35 M.P.H.on this narrow trail, about to hit you HEAD-ON, what would you do?"
In complete, unrehearsed unison, The Dodge Brothers replied, "DODGE!" (And that's the rest of the story, Scout's Honor!) Bill W.

[CarlG]

Or the well known factory in Japan was about to come out with a new car. But didn't know what to name it. So they called up one of their friends at a well known German car maker and posed the question to him. The German asked "How soon do you need it?" The guy from Japan replied: "In less than a week". In astonishment, the German replied "Dat Soon?"

As Paul Harvey would say: "Now you know the rest of the story!"

[Ken B]

I have to vote for my avatar.

[Benson]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

What is the best looking hood and/or radiator orniment which you have seen on a car?

For me, it is the flying lady on the 1955 Nash Ramblers (not sure how long it was in production).

Pluck

54 Nash Ramblers had them also ... My Grandmother had one from '54 to '59.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Ken B

I have to vote for my avatar.

Ken,
Is that a Rat Terrier? I tried & tried to find one. Bill W.

[Big John]

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[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Ken,
Is that a Rat Terrier? I tried & tried to find one. Bill W.

It looks like NIPPER. Must have come from an RCA Victor automobile.

[johnsor]

My favorite is the "Flying Lady" on my 31 LaSalle Roadster that came originally with the car. It would bring a couple hundred bucks on eBay, but I'm going to hang onto the extra original one I have.

[CHuDWah]

Maybe it's too obvious but I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Quail - maybe not the "best" looking but certainly good-looking. Since I have a couple late-30s Plymouths, I'm also partial to the sailing ships:

[peters180a/170b]

You guys should hang around LARGE BRASS CARS.... Hands down the best radiator orniment !!! The THOMAS FLYER.....Bald eagle with its wings open on top of the globe all in Brass .That's gotta be the tallest one too...

[glenn in camino]

My favorite has always been the dounut pusher/motor meter, on the 28, 443, dietrick body, convertible coupe, Packard I had about 10 years ago. Shoulda kept it.

[Ken B]

Yes, that is NIPPER. I found it at a phonograph show a number of years ago. It came off of a delivery vehicle from a Victor phonograph dealer. I have only seen one other and bought that one too. I have a bucket list item to build a C-Cab delivery logoed with the famous NIPPER and phonograph. I have the chassis underway and hope to get to the body after that. I have been collecting phonographs for over 30 years and have had Model As for almost as long so it is a kind of apex of both hobbies to have a delivery vehicle. I saw some pictures of original C-Cab Model A delivery vehicles. UPS used them and I have pictures of a few others.

[montanafordman]

I recently went through the former Towe Ford museum in Deer Lodge, MT. I think they just call it the old prison complex museum. I was impressed with the collection they have there since I didn't know what to expect. I remember hearing about IRS troubles and most of the previous collection was repossesed or transferred to California but there were still several brass era cars, model T's, Model A's and much more. I saw this radiator ornament and thought it was a nice pose. Can't remember the make or year though..

[DGNY]

Some fine ones mentioned here. I am partial to the flying lady on the '41 Cadillac. Also the Mack Bulldog!

Regards,

Dyson