The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Hood Ornament

This is kind of a survey question,

As you know I have a 1948 Chevy suburban, i'm at the point where I'd like to install a hood ornament. The Chevy 47–53 ornament is kind of blah the 47–55 GMC jet plane is cool.

What would you do?

Can I put the jet plane on the Chevy and not get the stink eye from the spectator?

Would anyone even notice?

It's your burb and you should do with it as you please. And your right the gmc emblem is way nicer to look at.i would put it on.

In my area back in the day, most of the Chevrolet Dealerships installed '49/50 Chevrolet car hood ornaments on the trucks. I kept my parts trucks in my dads best friends junk yard, & he had 50-60 AD trucks at the time. Most all of them had that same car ornament on them. I also went to my local library & did more research on this matter by looking through old micro film at Dealership press photos, & saw this same ornament on the trucks. I was told by a long time Chevy Dealer parts guy that the Chevy Truck hood ornament didn't actually become available until late 1952. Makes sense to me.

A non stock hood ornament such as a jet would almost certainly not be allowed in our jurisdiction.

I pulled a truck hood ornament from a pristine 1949 or earlier fire truck. I don't know if it was added after 1952, but I have my doubts.
Carl

The Chevrolet truck hood ornament is listed in Truck Data Book price lists as being available for 1949, 1950, and 1951 (it is not listed in 1947 and 1948).

No truck hood ornament is listed in 1952 & 1953 accessory lists (maybe because chrome and stainless were cut back in those Korean War years).

FYI, the '47-50 GMCs didn't use the jet. The one they used was the same as a '47 Oldsmobile ornament except it had clear plastic wings where the Olds had red wings.

I've done some digging and I think the hood ornament on my truck is from a 1941 Buick... It doesn't quite fit the curve of the hood, but it's grown on me and I like it.

It's your truck, pick what you want.

OMG !! I guess next you will changing the oil and adding air to the tires .......

Dan

They were thinking about it pretty hard in late 1952 & 1953 though


http://oi62.tinypic.com/16igwm8.jpg

http://oi57.tinypic.com/eocvd.jpg

http://oi57.tinypic.com/256h45d.jpg


http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/blog/index.php/tag/charging-bull-head/




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That horse head hood ornament might be the most unattractive one I have ever seen. Perhaps someone at GM with taste, pulled the plug on that particular gem, or maybe the Korean War wasn't over in time to allow for the use of the chrome.
Carl

I actually kind of like the bull head. I wonder if it ever made it to actual production, or was just a PR selling point for a while.

I would do what I wanted if i liked it. Or how about a bulldog from a Mack truch lol that would be an eye catcher.