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

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