Collectors Dashboard evaluates the collectibles sector as an alternative asset class. This might not mean that every single collectible should be considered an investment. It certainly does not mean that every collectible will generate a profit in the years ahead. Still, collectibles are competing against the same money that could have been invested into stocks, bonds, mutual funds or property.

Classic cars can be a source of passion for hobbyists and car collectors and can attract investors looking to make a profit. One step under collecting these classic cars is collecting the hood ornaments from classic cars.

Classic hood ornaments have been referenced in popular culture for years. The 2021 Allstate commercial uses The Pet Shop Boys song ‘Opportunities’ from 1985 as a duet between the driver and his hood ornament. The stylized aerodynamic features of the wind-swept female figure moving to the rhythm of the song while going down the road may back memories for those who remember.

Spending cash on a classic car can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars, and frankly the sky is the limit on what can be spent. Collectors who want to have the feeling of nostalgia without breaking the bank can easily create a large display of classic hood ornaments for a tiny fraction of the price and with zero upkeep and ongoing costs that a classic car has. And the classic hood ornaments from Mack Trucks, Cadillac, and Mercedes are quite easy to recognize.

As for whether hood ornaments are an investment will depend on who is buying and why. First and foremost, there is not a Hood Ornament Stock Exchange that has active Bid/Ask prices adjusting like some other sectors within collectibles. There are still buyers out there though, and some of the buyers may be those who have that endless urge to restore a classic car. This latter group may not even have any price sensitivity at all depending upon how bad they need or want a rare hood ornament.

Here’s what these classic ornaments go for today. The auction giant eBay is a melting pot of transportation collectibles, and while some Buy It Now or Best Offer prices may have transacted for different prices these are some of the recent sale prices for hood ornaments:

• June 22, 2021 Vintage 1931 1932 Chrysler Winged Gazelle Radiator Cap Hood Ornament Car Mascot sold for $200.00
• June 20, 2021 Vintage Cadillac Flying Lady Goddess Hood Ornament 1941 Chrome sold for $200.00
• June 19, 2021 Silver Swift Rare Vintage Hood ornament Vehicle Mascot Bonnet Mascot c1930 sold for $173.00
• June 19, 2021 Vintage Hood Ornament Emblem Flying Winged Eagle Bird 1934 ’34 Chevrolet sold for $175.00
• June 19, 2021 Official CCA Car Club of America Grill Badge Emblem Hood Ornament Vintage sold for $100.00
• June 19, 2021 Vtg Aluminum Hot Rat Rod Automobile Winged Hood Ornament? Indian Head Nickels US sold for $104.49
• June 18, 2021 Rare Vintage 1950’s Pontiac Chieftain Amber Hood Ornament w/Original w/Original Box sold for $449.44

The website 4statetrucks.com actually offers the winged goddess similar to the animated singing one in the Allstate commercial. For $108.99 the chrome ornament can be added to your truck or a restoration project. Chrome represents luxury and that was the original intention of the design.

Ford Model Ts and As were a barometer for an overheated radiator. What followed in the 1930s was a streamlined arms race according to Casey Williams of the Detroit News.

Highlighting the most desirable hood ornament is the classic “Spirit of Ecstasy” that has topped the grills of Rolls-Royces since 1922. The popular auction site eBay has sold several variations of the Rolls-Royce style including:

• June 21, 2021 Rolls Royce Ghost Wraith Spirit Of Ecstasy Grill Figure Emblem LOGO which sold for $1,500.00
• May 8, 2021 ROLLS ROYCE Spirit of Ecstasy on base 12 cm Mascot Hood ornament sold for $332.77

For Sale but not sold was an aftermarket Rolls Royce Wraith Uplift Spirit of Ecstasy Retrofit Hood Ornament Kit for $7,050.00. The concept is for when the car is stationary and in park the light will shine up and illuminate the classic figure. Luxury Parts Liquidators are factory authorized franchised dealers of parts for Rolls Royce. A solid silver Spirit of Ecstasy sells from them for $9,850.00, 24 carat gold plated variety costs $15,995.00.

While the cars were not the most commonly recognized, the Kovel’s Antiques & Collectibles Price Guides from 2020 and 2021 also indicated that hood ornament sales had been seen ($200 to $500) within their car section.

Car restoration or upgrading to an existing car creates value to the next owner. Inclusive in this value is the timeless style of a car’s hood ornament. While the hood ornaments themselves never went away, the more expensive the car made them a premium piece of any car of that price range. And just think about how minimalist a classic restored car would look if the owner decided that the hood ornament wasn’t worth the effort.

One reminder about classic car owners looking for their specific parts is that they generally prefer original items even if they are not in the best condition. That means that the new replacement hood ornaments being shipped from China might not quite be the same to vintage collectors.