The Top 5 Car Hood Ornaments of All Time

Hood ornaments started out as stylistic decorations for radiator caps but eventually became purely ornamental once their function was rendered obsolete. There was a point when even the decorative hood ornaments were almost a necessity for any luxury carmaker and they were even common place among the more mass market brands, as well. These days, they have mostly fallen out of fashion due to streamline design aesthetics but a couple of the brands on this list still carry on the heralded tradition of proper hood ornaments.

5) Lincoln. The Lincoln ‘gun sight’ no longer adorns the storied American carmaker’s vehicles, but this iconic hood dress was once one of the most coveted items in the motoring world. The Lincoln ‘gun sight’ was seen at the end of many a long bonnet of iconic cars such as the Continental with suicide doors and also provided a nice topper to the baroque styling cues of Lincoln Town Cars with their upright grills and opera windows.

4) Jaguar. The Jaguar brand itself carries connotations of elegance, speed and agility with an air of exoticness so it should come as no surprise that we find a beautifully sculpted “leaping cat” hood ornament on these fine pieces of machinery. The brand has since done away with the “leaping cat” hood ornament, but the memories of these finely shaped ornamental pieces will not soon fade away. The marque was the hood ornament and they both suited the product they adorned in such a beautifully marketed way that Don Draper would no doubt approve. In fact, he did.

3) Cadillac. Nothing has been as synonymous with American luxury cars like the wreathed crest of Cadillac. For many Americans, Cadillac was considered the “standard of the world” and the emblem’s aristocratic, albeit slightly gaudy, styling cues suited the brand perfectly. Countless miles of American roadways were covered while staring at this beautiful hood ornament. It is rather sad that Cadillac has done away with its iconic hood ornaments, but the logo still remains on the trunk lid and flush with the grill on their modern models like the CTS and ATS.

2) Rolls Royce. There is perhaps no more luxurious hood ornament than the “spirit of ecstasy” that adorns Rolls Royce’s bespoke motor cars. The hood ornament exudes elegance and timelessness with an air of sophistication than is unparalleled in the world of luxury goods, not just cars. Rolls Royce’s hood ornament exudes a sense of aristocratic style that brings envy to just about every other luxury car’s marketing department. Don Draper might have fought hard for the Jaguar account, but can you imagine what he would do for the Rolls Royce account?

1) Mercedes Benz. While the Mercedes Benz brand does not carry the level of exclusivity and cachet of Rolls Royce, it is still widely regarded as the standard for German engineering and attainable luxury. The Mercedes three-pointed star is recognized the world over for being a symbol of luxury and engineering quality. What really makes this hood ornament stand out is the fact that the hood ornament is the brand’s corporate logo, as well, which cannot be said for Rolls Royce. The minimalist styling of the Mercedes hood ornament also reflects the brand’s commitment to Teutonic styling and reserved luxury. Mercedes still equips a good number of its vehicles with the iconic three-pointed star hood ornament to this very day.

The contributor proudly cruises the roadways behind the hood ornament of his Mercedes Benz.