Art & Inspiration Cool Vintage Radiator Caps

Just as the Cars, Coachbuilts, Hotrods, Customs and Racers of the earlier Hamb era were Stylish so were many of the components some of them being aftermarket creations of artistic engineers. This thread is to showcase these very upfront additions that still adorn many treasured vehicles to this day adding to the reminder of a past that was very ornate and beautiful and not so much.

Many actually functioned as well as looked cool...lit up, measured things, made noise, rotated and many other well thought ideas...So I'll get the ball rolling. Share your cool Radiator caps and stories...
and don't be shy you can post it with the rest of the car...














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Credit to Photographer, Owner


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http://www.hotrod.com/articles/a-di...lac-v-8-powers-this-1934-ford-5-window-coupe/

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Got any tech on how you mounted your cap to your existing ride...post a pic and shed some tech...

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/14459838897

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http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog...v8-hot-rod-anyone-know-who-made-the-manifold/

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1928 Chrysler, it sits on a shelf to the left of this keyboard an extra from the Roadster Bill Oexle restored in 1968. He showed me how to do body and restoration work when I was 16, that Chrysler Roadster in in the Nethercutt Collection today. Bob

 

So awesome!

 

Rene' Lalique designed glass radiator caps for the well healed in the early 20's and 30's,and were expensive at that time at around 50 bucks,today some of the works of art sell at auction for as much as 300,000.00 dollars. HRP

 

An older friend of mine gave me this after market Greyhound that he took off a '36 Ford in the 50's. Ford never offered a Greyhound in '36.
36Greyhound1 by TagMan, on Flickr

 

I had a few good ones.... View attachment 3858762

 

I have always LOVED this one....OK....it's a hood ornament, not a radiator cap, but I had to show it.

 

Definitely not Lalique.....
But a little art deco 8N Ford. Comes in chrome, but it's worse than cheap.

 

Hilarious!
Is this one-off piece of art?​

 

I'm not sure I just thought it was cool and relevant since Ford is a pretty popular Hotrod material around here. The link below is I think the fella who shot it...
There may be a patent for it...if it was for Henry that would make it even more of a
conversation piece...and pricey

https://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/14459838897

It seems it may have been aftermarket which is no surprise...

http://driving.ca/auto-shows/toronto-cias/these-exquisite-hood-ornaments-were-early-car-bling

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/238404.html?1317370635

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Awesome Hot Rod that is!
Had to google the cap; Even if the Ford is Cadillac powered, the radiator cap comes from Buick

 

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Kind of the essence of the word Jalopy in a way...if it fits and works use it...if it looks cool even better...Making it go faster well thats a given...

That is a work of art for sure and yes the 34 with it is a nice Hotrod...Thanks @tinsled ​

 

German Adler car from early 30's. (Adler is "Eagle" in german)

Isn't it "3rd Reich-style", bold and aggressive?

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/seemonterey/4889613800

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Being an appreciator of art the Eagle/Hawk is no matter where it was applied is
a symbol of strength and power and its shape no matter how it is depicted
is visually stunning. So yes the Thirties were a very incredible time artistically. This being
on a German vehicle the designers there were creating deco styles
much like North America.

Its easy to relate it but I think it would look alright on the
right type of vehicle without connecting it to that.

That said there are things that are no doubt directly related
to negative things which really have no place here.
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http://www.normansgarage.com/35-ford-2/​

 

My 1931 Dodge cap....6-month run only in 1931 then Dodge Brothers switched to the leaping ram....

 

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https://journal.classiccars.com/2015/01/25/hood-ornaments-concours/
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