It’s a real shame cars and hood ornaments don’t mix like they used to. Sure, Jaguar still offers the “Leaper” as an option, and you can spec an E-Class with a hood-topping three-pointed star, but would you really want to? They look more like metallic warts than the final artistic flourish they once were. Rolls-Royce and Bentley may be exceptions, but at least they give you the option of hiding it.
Classic cars seem to have been built around their ornaments. In certain cases, the cars almost end up taking a backseat to what’s riding up front. From pre-war era cars all the way up to the Jet-age, the hood ornaments that garnished some cars were works of art. Whether it’s a signature figurine, a one-off or just a stepping stone in design somewhere along a brand’s history, these are the most beautiful hood ornaments of all time.
1951 Pontiac Chief
The Rembrandt Bugatti Designed Elephant
1936 Alvis Silver Eagle
1938 Dodge Ram
1933 Essex Terraplane
1938 Ford Deluxe Greyhound
1928 Isotta Fraschini
Rolls-Royce Spirit Of Ecstasy
Mack Trucks
1955 Nash Statesmen
1931 Packard Model 840 DeLuxe Eight
1933 McLaughlin Buick
1950 Jaguar MK V
1929 Duesenberg Model J
1951 DeSoto Deluxe
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
1931 Cadillac 370A V12
Hispano-Suiza Stork
1935 Plymouth Coupe
1926 Pierce-Arrow 80 Roadster
Any Lalique Design
