Car Culture

by Mark Llewellyn

Remembering the “Hood”

Way before “Al Capone” and the “Crypts”, the only thing that ruled the hood was a hood ornament!

They were the decedents of the motometer. The motometer was a thermometer that screwed into the top of the radiator cap. The driver could see the mercury rise in the motometer and knew if the car was running hot. Over time, the motometer became a work of art. But with the invention of dash gauges, the motometer was no longer needed.

In an effort to keep the artistic look in the automotive design, hood ornaments were developed as a replacement to the motometer. In Europe, the hood ornaments were referred to as a “Mascot”. Much effort was put into the design and creation of the hood ornament. The 20’s thru the 40’s saw “art deco” works of art created for the ornamentation of the automobile. Designs included things such as winged goddesses and graceful birds. Soon these designs became logos for the manufacturer. Remember the Indian Chief on the Pontiacs? The longest lasting design is the “Spirit of Ecstasy” which sculptor Charles Sykes created in 1911 for Rolls Royce, and is still used today.

The 50’s saw the auto maker’s move to a more smooth design for the hoods. The hood ornament resembled things like jet planes and rockets.

The 60’s saw the decline of the hood ornament. Today they now are reserved for large luxury vehicles, whether foreign or domestic. The ornaments themselves have become collector’s items. An original Bugatti Elephant is worth over $3,000!