American automobiles of the 1950s had more elegant chrome that included the hood ornament, as well as more glass and more horsepower. The chrome was called “brightwork.” So if you would ever forget ...

In the early days of automobiles, hood ornaments were not merely decorative; they served a functional purpose that might surprise modern car enthusiasts. Originally designed to indicate the status of ...

Hood ornaments are long gone from most automobiles, a victim of pedestrian safety regulations keen on keeping people from being impaled by steel and chrome in the event of a collision. With a few ...