Car emblems have become so familiar that they allow us to identify a car’s brand at a glance. But if we look back, we can recall another symbol of automobile manufacturers that once adorned the hoods of cars—the hood ornament. Over time, these were replaced by flat logos for safety reasons, but it’s one of those cases where the world lost a bit of beauty. Let’s reminisce about the most famous hood ornaments in our TOP list!
1 Stylized Bird on Avions Voisin 
Avions Voisin existed for only half a century, but it gave us one of the most recognizable hood ornaments. The wings on the car were no accident—the brand’s founder previously worked in aviation. Avions Voisin cars participated in Grand Prix races and won awards, but production soon ceased. Today, these cars are among the most expensive vintage cars in the world.
2 Winged “B” on Bentley 
The luxury Bentley is well-known and valued for its elegance and quality. Naturally, the emblem on the hood is just as famous. However, older models featured another emblem—a protruding, seemingly flying “B” with wings. The meaning is the same, but the execution is different!
3 Crest and Laurel Wreath on Cadillac 
Cadillac’s hood ornament is quite complex for this type of car identification: a multicolored crest and a laurel wreath. But it all makes sense: the crest is a reminder of the founder of Detroit, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac, and the laurel wreath symbolizes the company’s leadership. Who could argue with that?
4 Winged Globe on Horch 
Audi’s founder, August Horch, was also the “father” of three other, less successful, car manufacturing companies. Like Audi, they all had the right to bear the famous four-ring emblem, symbolizing their unity. But Horch cars also had their own emblem—a winged globe.
5 Leaping Jaguar on Jaguar 
Jaguar was one of the last car manufacturers to hold onto the tradition of hood ornaments. The ornament was even repositioned to enhance safety without losing the beautiful leaping cat. However, the figurine was eventually replaced by a flat emblem.
6 Three-Pointed Star on Mercedes-Benz 
The three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz, which was removed not only for safety reasons but also because it was a tempting target for vandals, symbolizes the company’s achievements in three areas: land, sea, and air transportation. Did you know?
7 Rocket on Oldsmobile 
In most cases, the hood ornament was meant to emphasize the car’s speed and reliability. In this sense, the rocket ornament on Oldsmobile was perfect. Naturally, it didn’t appear right away, as when the company was founded in 1897, rockets weren’t even a concept yet!
8 Lion on Peugeot 
The lion on the hood of a Peugeot isn’t a direct reference to power and speed. The figurine of the king of beasts appeared on the car’s hood due to historical reasons—it was borrowed from the coat of arms of the province where the Peugeot factory was located.
9 “Spirit of Ecstasy” on Rolls-Royce 
The goddess Nike, whom Rolls-Royce owners wished to see on their cars, must be seriously offended. She’s been called everything from the “Spirit of Ecstasy” or “Spirit of Delight” to the “Embodiment of Speed” and “Flying Lady,” and even the less flattering “Ellie in her nightgown!”
10 Deer on GAZ-21 
The deer on the GAZ also has heraldic roots, as it is the symbol of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Over the years, it has undergone many changes, from highly detailed to stylized figurines. In fact, the first deer figurines were so intricate that different parts (body, antlers) were cast separately!
