Looking for a '50's hood ornament pic

[paintim613]

My '53 Studebird hood ornament was lost by inept restoration guy. It looked like a large bird and probably was a Stude. It had 4 mounting holes in a 7''x 10" cross shape. Can anyone identify the year or give me a visual website to search?

Tim in Yuma, AZ

[Roscomacaw]

Well, they did have a sorta "Rocket-age Biplane" hood ornament as an option for '53. I think I can safely speak for most of us in asking why you'd want such clutter on the hood of an otherwise sleek car?
Calling it a "bird" isn't exactly how I'd term it. It's a chromed projectile with a gold-colored, squashed oval of a wing about a 1/4th of the way back from the front of it.
Frankly, if my '53 had come with one, I'd be filling in the holes that it used to fit up! In 53, all Studes had either a tri-star or a Vee on the hood as well as an S or an 8 as standard ornamentation. Anything else was optional (and detrimental IMHO).

IF it was truly a "bird", it wasn't/isn't Stude issue. Not for that era anyways. And there were LOTS of aftermarket hood ornaments to be had in the 50s!

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

Well, they did have a sorta "Rocket-age Biplane" hood ornament as an option for '53. I think I can safely speak for most of us in asking why you'd want such clutter on the hood of an otherwise sleek car?
Calling it a "bird" isn't exactly how I'd term it. It's a chromed projectile with a gold-colored, squashed oval of a wing about a 1/4th of the way back from the front of it.
Frankly, if my '53 had come with one, I'd be filling in the holes that it used to fit up! In 53, all Studes had either a tri-star or a Vee on the hood as well as an S or an 8 as standard ornamentation. Anything else was optional (and detrimental IMHO).

IF it was truly a "bird", it wasn't/isn't Stude issue. Not for that era anyways. And there were LOTS of aftermarket hood ornaments to be had in the 50s!

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[paintim613]

Mr. Biggs, you have already urged me to chuck the hood ornament in the past. As I mentioned several times on the forum I am preserving custom work done by my father-in-law and his brother about 50 years ago. That includes a hood ornament. I purchased the one you described from Chuck Collins but saw one on a Scott Cawley car yesterday on My Classic Car on Speed Channel that may be the one that was lost. I will get a closeup look at it this weekend in Phoenix gathering of local chapter of SDC. In the meantime I asked for some help which you gave in your somewhat opinionated reply. Thanks for that.

[paintim613]

Mr. Biggs, you have already urged me to chuck the hood ornament in the past. As I mentioned several times on the forum I am preserving custom work done by my father-in-law and his brother about 50 years ago. That includes a hood ornament. I purchased the one you described from Chuck Collins but saw one on a Scott Cawley car yesterday on My Classic Car on Speed Channel that may be the one that was lost. I will get a closeup look at it this weekend in Phoenix gathering of local chapter of SDC. In the meantime I asked for some help which you gave in your somewhat opinionated reply. Thanks for that.

[Roscomacaw]

I apologise for answering.[B)]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

I apologise for answering.[B)]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[JDP]

I'm glad Bob beat me to the comment about hood ornaments on a 53, I had enough turns in the barrel.

JDP/Maryland
64 R2 GT cost to date $55046.57
64 Daytona HT/R2 clone
63 Lark 2 door
58 Scotsman
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander
39 Coupe express
39 Coupe express (rod)

[JDP]

I'm glad Bob beat me to the comment about hood ornaments on a 53, I had enough turns in the barrel.

JDP/Maryland
64 R2 GT cost to date $55046.57
64 Daytona HT/R2 clone
63 Lark 2 door
58 Scotsman
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander
39 Coupe express
39 Coupe express (rod)

[studegary]

I agree about the hood ornaments on '53-'54 C/K models, but I also understand what you are trying to accomplish.

The optional 1953 hood ornament (Strato-Styled AC-2344) is all chrome, not chrome and gold as MrBiggs/Bob mentioned. The chrome and gold ornament was available in 1954.

From your description, it sounds like your '53 had a hood ornament from an aftermarket source or, more likely, from another car. From the description and holes I would guess Oldsmobile.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[studegary]

I agree about the hood ornaments on '53-'54 C/K models, but I also understand what you are trying to accomplish.

The optional 1953 hood ornament (Strato-Styled AC-2344) is all chrome, not chrome and gold as MrBiggs/Bob mentioned. The chrome and gold ornament was available in 1954.

From your description, it sounds like your '53 had a hood ornament from an aftermarket source or, more likely, from another car. From the description and holes I would guess Oldsmobile.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Roscomacaw]

I've got the 53-54 body parts catalog in my lap as I type this, Gary. There's a number of optional hood ornaments listed, but no AC-2304.
BTW, the "wing" portions of the ornament I described are listed seperately and there's a gold one and a chrome one. The gold one's listed for '54 but the chrome one's listed for BOTH years.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

I've got the 53-54 body parts catalog in my lap as I type this, Gary. There's a number of optional hood ornaments listed, but no AC-2304.
BTW, the "wing" portions of the ornament I described are listed seperately and there's a gold one and a chrome one. The gold one's listed for '54 but the chrome one's listed for BOTH years.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

I've got the 53-54 body parts catalog in my lap as I type this, Gary. There's a number of optional hood ornaments listed, but no AC-2304.
BTW, the "wing" portions of the ornament I described are listed seperately and there's a gold one and a chrome one. The gold one's listed for '54 but the chrome one's listed for BOTH years.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle

MrBiggs/Bob - As you know, the later parts books often list what may be used on earlier models, even though those items were not originally available on those earlier models.

The AC number was my typo. The number for 1953 should be; AC-2344. This is from the "Dealer's Confidential Price List February 10, 1953."

From the "1953 Motoring Accessories for Your Studebaker", only one "Strato-Styled hood ornament" is listed and it is "In highly polished chromium."

Yes, the all chrome hood ornament was available in both 1953 and 1954. The chrome and gold was only available in 1954.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

I've got the 53-54 body parts catalog in my lap as I type this, Gary. There's a number of optional hood ornaments listed, but no AC-2304.
BTW, the "wing" portions of the ornament I described are listed seperately and there's a gold one and a chrome one. The gold one's listed for '54 but the chrome one's listed for BOTH years.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle

MrBiggs/Bob - As you know, the later parts books often list what may be used on earlier models, even though those items were not originally available on those earlier models.

The AC number was my typo. The number for 1953 should be; AC-2344. This is from the "Dealer's Confidential Price List February 10, 1953."

From the "1953 Motoring Accessories for Your Studebaker", only one "Strato-Styled hood ornament" is listed and it is "In highly polished chromium."

Yes, the all chrome hood ornament was available in both 1953 and 1954. The chrome and gold was only available in 1954.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer