Hood Ornaments: Cruising in Vintage Style

I am always on a photo safari. I carry my camera wherever I go in my hometown of Fort Scott Kansas because the town is a mecca for classic cars. This 1936 Plymouth sitting out in front of La Hacienda was no exception. Photos don't do this beautiful vintage lady justice. 

1936 Plymouth, Fort Scott Kansas: (c) Terri Lynn Coop

However, while a customizer might be curious about what is under the hood, I am a geek for the trim and accessories. This car had a stunning hood ornament in the classic Plymouth sailing ship style. 

Plymouth adopted the sailing ship style in 1935: (c) Terri Lynn Coop

The hood ornament matched the badge on the grille, keeping the sailing ship theme. Plymouth ornaments morphed into airplanes in the 1950s.

When it comes to hood ornaments and chrome, I am more of a virtual collector. I like photographing the chrome on the cars in good natural light. I don't have to worry about them breaking or rusting and I don't have to use my limited display place. Also, price. Hood ornaments can sell for $2.00 to $2000.00 (and more) depending on the rarity. That's a lot of mini-discs for my camera. So, if you see someone in cargo shorts leaning over a classic car on your street, don't call the cops, it's just me and I know to look, but not touch.

Luxury Car Memorabilia Auction August 16 - 18, 2012

Enzo Ferrari Prancing Horse Sculpture (c) Russo & Steele 2012

Russo and Steele, home to classic collector automobile auctions will be holding its 12th Annual Sports and Muscle auction in Monterey California on August 16 - 18, 2012.

Along with 250 automobiles, the sale will include a spectacular array of automotive memorabilia including the famed Ferrari "Prancing Horse" (Cavallino Rampante) sculpture that graced Enzo Ferrari's office for twenty-five years. This is a one-of-a-kind piece and the king of Ferrari collectibles will be sold without reserve. It is scheduled to be lot number one and sold before the automobiles.

Starting at 5:00 PM each day there will be a huge selection of certified ephemera bearing the signatures of some of automobile history's greatest figures including Ford, Bentley, Chrysler, Ferrari, and Howard Hughes. All sales are without reserve.

Art of Advertising

Car and Driver Magazine, Photo (c) Terri Lynn Coop

For a car enthusiast and memorabilia collector, a gallery of art and photography lurks in every automotive magazine. New magazines have slick full-color spreads of what is new and hot.

However, in my opinion, the real treasures are between the covers of the vintage hot rod rags from the 1960s and 1970s. 

The 1960s is when advertising changed emphasis from line drawing to photography and is considered to be the "Creative Revolution" and the birth of branding. For the first time, cars and products were sold as lifestyle choices as much as products. 

And it worked. The Corvette and the Cadillac are both cars. Four wheels, seats, and chrome. However, they represent very different outlooks on life and driving. This branding is what makes advertising art fun to collect.   

Car and Driver magazine is one of my favorites. Founded in 1955 and originally called "Sports Cars Illustrated," Car and Driver showcases the best in American cars and a solid sampling of foreign cars in every issue. The magazine is a combination of reviews, buying guides, photo spreads, and advertisements printed on nice quality glossy stock.

Individual vintage issues in decent "reader" condition typically run $3 - $5 online and at collector shows. However, the key is to always check through the boxes of magazines at garage sales, especially if the sale includes tools or car stuff. I've picked up new car magazines for a dime a piece and vintage 1960s beauties for $2 for a foot-thick stack. Always check under the Popular Mechanic issues for the hidden hot rod treasures.

Don't leave inexpensive vintage magazines behind because they aren't pristine. You have to take the good with the bad. Crumpled pages, water damage, and missing covers are common. However, the prizes, the singlepage advertisements (tear sheets) are often intact and can be turned into high quality collectible art.

What is your favorite vintage automotive advertising? The indestructible VW Bug? The sophisticated luxury cars? The untamed hot rods? Let me know and I'll see what I can dig up for pictures.

Bobby Nolan – Hollywood Death Cheater

1938 Event Poster: Photo (c) Terri Lynn Coop

One of the best parts of going to garage sales is finding something odd and unusual for your collection that also absolutely stumps you. A few years ago, I came across a promotional poster for daredevil driver, “Bobby Nolan – Hollywood Death Cheater.” From July 25 to July 31, 1938, you could see Bobby “Crashing 24 Inch Brick Wall At A Mile A Minute [sic].” He also did the “Death Defying Ski Jump” and “Alternate Ski Jump” and it was all “FREE-FREE-FREE.”

My Internet search for information turned up that Chippewa Lake Park was an amusement park in Medina County Ohio. It operated continuously from 1878 until it closed down for good in 1978. Fire scarred the structures and the park has been completely demolished. 

However, I can’t find our anything about Bobby Nolan – Hollywood Death Cheater. So, not only does this poster add an interesting vintage touch to my car memorabilia collection, it also adds a mystery that keeps me guessing every time I look at it.