I was talking to a 70 year-old colleague of mine outside next to his car, and he asked me if I knew the "real purpose" of hood ornaments, the kind you find on Rolls Royces and Benzes, i.e., the ones that protrude out of the hood at the front (flying woman for RR, 3-pointed star for MB, a jaguar on Jaguars, etc).

I said well, they are just their symbols. He said yeah, but there is a "real purpose" behind them. He even said he would give me a $10 note if I found out the answer!

So, anybody know?

P.S. Googled, but nothing. I actually want to know for the sake of knowing it, because I am really curious and puzzled now. I mean, what could the reason be???

Thanks!

10/30/2006 7:30:52 PM

In the early years automobiles had their radiator caps outside of the hood and on top of the grille. The hood ornament was born as a way of decorating the cap. Hood ornaments (or car mascots as they are known in the UK) were very popular in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s with many car manufacturers fitting them to their vehicles.

Can I get $5 via paypal?

10/30/2006 7:33:50 PM

target scope.

10/30/2006 7:34:19 PM

on old wooden ships they used to carve ornamental figures out of the thing in the front

10/30/2006 7:39:28 PM

^^^ Is right.

Some people use them to line up their car when driving. Yeah, I know.

10/30/2006 7:51:21 PM

thank god for wikipedia.

10/30/2006 7:59:10 PM

like sand santa said...

hitler drove a lot of mercedes benz cars and had the tripoint circle on the hood as a scope to shoot the jews.

untrue story..

10/30/2006 8:44:20 PM

not related to cars, but people put hood ornaments on tractors to help line up at the end of the field to make straight rows. a lot of them have peaks built into the hood for that reason too.

10/30/2006 8:50:52 PM

not related but people put sights on the end of gun barrels to line up their shots

10/30/2006 10:00:07 PM

your posting is great. top notch.

10/30/2006 10:02:29 PM

my grandpa lines his up with the handle on the garage door to make it in because he is legally blind in one eye

10/30/2006 10:07:22 PM

Quote :

"flying woman for RR"

yea... um, thats not what shes called. you fucking idiot.

[Edited on October 30, 2006 at 10:43 PM. Reason : *]

10/30/2006 10:43:19 PM

^ oh wow, i am sorry i don't know the official technical name of the rolls royce hood ornament, you fucking slut

oh, it is called the flying lady, not flying woman, woopte fucking do. now shove it up your ass.

10/31/2006 8:01:25 AM

ha that was great

10/31/2006 11:04:33 AM

damn, i've actually confused the two of you for the same person. thanks for clearing that up.

10/31/2006 11:28:07 AM

Quote :

"In the early years automobiles had their radiator caps outside of the hood and on top of the grille. The hood ornament was born as a way of decorating the cap. Hood ornaments (or car mascots as they are known in the UK) were very popular in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s with many car manufacturers fitting them to their vehicles. As well as the car makers themselves, a very healthy business was created in the supply of accessory mascots available to anyone who wanted to fit a hood ornament or car mascot to their automobile. Most companies like Desmo and Smiths are now out of business with only Louis Lejeune in England surviving."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hood_ornament

10/31/2006 12:00:48 PM

The MB hood ornament was placed their for the purpose of aiming at old folk on the side of the rode so you can run them over with ease.

10/31/2006 12:31:10 PM

Quote :

"side of the rode "

10/31/2006 4:49:17 PM

HAHA...i'm a n00b...can't beleive i rote rode like that.

10/31/2006 4:51:10 PM

*wrote

10/31/2006 4:53:40 PM

^n00b...why do you think i 'wrote' it in italics

10/31/2006 4:54:02 PM

I wrote your mom in italics

-Ahmet

10/31/2006 4:58:38 PM

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooO

10/31/2006 4:59:29 PM

Quote :

"Can I get $5 via paypal?"

The old fart held out on me!

I gave him the reason, but he said he didn't know that one! He had something else on his mind:

For parking purposes. He said if you are parking next to the sidewalk, if you align the mascot (or hood crease) with the sidewalk from your line of sight, then you will be like a foot from the sidewalk and can just drive straight until your are parked.

He specifically asked me about hood ornaments, and not about creases.

Anyway, that's that!

P.S. Now he has given me a logic puzzle to solve, and he said he would treat me to lunch if I solve it. I was like, yeah I have heard that before!

11/1/2006 8:03:44 AM

I don't really want the $5. It was just a test of character.

11/1/2006 10:58:25 AM

did you tell him what i told him

11/1/2006 11:27:23 AM

leave no thread behind
you silly assholes

12/9/2006 6:52:35 PM

what the fuck, how did you meet a jolly old man who gives you puzzles and riddles? Is this a fairy tale or something?

12/10/2006 5:13:27 PM

i<3pandas

12/10/2006 5:24:40 PM

Hood ornaments are for gutting people as you run over them.

Really if you are going to hit them you want to make sure they stay down.

12/10/2006 5:25:44 PM

Quote :

"what the fuck, how did you meet a jolly old man who gives you puzzles and riddles? Is this a fairy tale or something?"

No, it is not a fairytale, but a reading class:

I was talking to a 70 year-old colleague of mine

And what's so unusual about meeting a jolly old man? There are millions of jolly old men in the world. It is not like I met 70-year old transsexual transvestite or something. You lead a sheltered life.

12/10/2006 6:38:17 PM

most of the 70 year old people I know aren't jolly... Most are bitter, old, and really don't give a shit anymore.

12/10/2006 6:45:54 PM

^ 70 year-old Americans (Westerners in general) are bitter and old and don't give a shit anymore.

70 year-old Eastern people are jolly.

Yes, generalization, but true.

12/10/2006 7:06:40 PM