Hi, My 1929 Chevy Coupe came with a wrong hood ornament. I have seen many variations on pics - cars with ornament, cars without... Does anyone know if all cars came out of factory with hood ornament or was this an option?
I think it depends on the car and the year of the car but I am going to guess that most of the cars built for the common man like say fords and Chevys didn't come with hood ornaments. Until after the war anyway.
The standard models had a simple cap, but a lot of owners optioned to have an ornament. A lot of makes had at least two types available.
Just a question, wouldn't the hood ornament have been a dealer option? In my mind it doesn't stand to reason that cars would have shipped from the factory that way.
Aftermarket hood ornaments were common from almost the start of m***-produced cars up through the early 50s, with literally hundreds (if not thousands) of types/styles available over the years. But prior to the mid/late 30s, 'factory' ornaments were relatively rare or fairly basic on lower-priced cars. Chevrolet started installing more elaborate ornaments in '33. Yours was added somewhere along the line.
There were literately hundreds of Ornaments available during the era where the radiators were the crowning glory of the car,from the simple Quail & Greyhound ornaments offer by Ford to the elaborate Lalique Crystal ornaments offered for the high end cars that cost more than the Fords at that time. HRP
I made one for one of my Ot's. Its from a dance trophy I got out of the trash while helping a friend move. He's "dipping" her. All I did was paint her shoes red. Everyone thinks its a nice touch. If it breaks, I have other trophies.
Depending on the model, I believe that some of the upper end, higher priced models came from the factory with an elaborate ornament. The lessor models would have had the ornament added at the dealer. Just a WAG from my research since most of us were not there to know the facts.
LOL well it was ask you or my dad and my new carrier doesn't cover the great beyond. Some of the research is difficult and anyone on the board that would remember the early '30s would be in their 90s anyway wouldn't they.
Here view to your hearts content: http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_32/contents.html Prices and etc from 1929
As far as Chevys go, Hood Ornaments were not a option but standard on all chevy cars at least starting in the late 30s. The 57 Chevy was the last to have Hood Ornaments. Of course, you could buy aftermarket Hood Ornaments from places like JC Whitney and they were still selling them well into the 80s. My favorite was the guy thumbing his nose (with light up eyes) As for the cars of the 20s and early 30s, they had radiator caps, not hood ornaments.
Radiator Cap! Thank you,jcmarz. I did not know the difference. And thanks porkn****** for the pricelist! Very interesting. What about the radiator caps, when I check the price list: " Radator Cap, with Gasket, Eagle–Non-Locking Type–INSTALLED" does this mean the came as an standard equipment out of the factory for all 1931 Chevys?
Standard was just a round fluted cap. The cap like yours was the optional cap and that is probably why it is listed. I laugh about the price being installed, how much work is to put a radiator cap on.
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