Thread: I need a history lesson. What is this?

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This was on the car when I bought it. Everyone in his group was making a big deal out of it but in all the excitement of buying the car- I forgot what he said.
It's sterling silver & is suppose to be serial numbered on the backside.
At nearly every show I attend, someone will ask me what it is & I have no clue. They said they are valuable.

So, what is it & what's the story behind it?

I don't know, but it sure is neat looking.


Don

I think it looks terrible. You should remove it immediately, send it to me, and I'll get rid of it for you!

it's a Ford V8 emblem from an original '32 ford, it's not a reproduction, but I don't know from what model or anything, other than it had a v8. the Wings were somthing Ford started using in '32, maby earlier, but most notable in '32, for ornaments, radiator caps also had wings.

I've been trying to identify the source for that emblem for a few years now. I have seen 3 mounted on hot rods but I have never found out where they came from originally.

Matt, you need to do a little study on '32 Fords if this continues to be of interest to you. Though the V8 portion resembles that of a V8 '32 it's not an exact duplicate, and Ford didn't use that wing theme on any of it's cars, though aftermarket accessory providers did.

This sort of emblem is apparently becoming of increasing interest to those of us who admire the older cars. Here's a pic of a '29 roadster I saw at the LA Roadsters show earlier this year. This fellow used Indianapolis Motor Speedway logos on the dash and door panels.

It's not an original Ford emblem. It is a numbered aftermarket piece.

The first one I saw was on some cars in Arizona that were built by "Arizona Street Rods". I wanted one for my rpu as I was using a winged V-8 as a theme throughout the car. I'm not sure if A.S.R. was making them or getting them from another source, but they weren't too keen on letting me buy one, and that they were way pricey.

I decided I would make my own, so at the Grand National Roadster show there was a vendor selling some wings with their logo in the center.
I bought the wings and polished them, and carefully Dremelled their logo out,(don't tell them) painted the background red and glued in a sterling silver V-8 earring from "Motorhead Jewelry" and installed it like you would a button in my seat back.
Pictured is the emblem I did for my seat and the gold leaf V-8 on my cowl.

So, even tho they are an aftermarket item, they are very well made, and a exceptionally cool piece to have!

Mick

I am surprised that no one has yet to mention 'Thunderbird'.
That emblem has of course, been around thousands of years before Ford made the car but isn't that where the original idea came from,,,,the fable or ancient story of the thunderbird?
Archaeologists have found engravings of those wings dating back several thousand years.NOW,,,,,I know none of the Ford lovers on here made them so please don't tell me that,,,even though some of us may look," 3 days older than dirt"

The first one I saw was on some cars in Arizona that were built by "Arizona Street Rods".

Bingo!
While this car was built here at Strickler's Rod Shop in Laguna Beach- I have piles of receipts from Arizona Street rods too. The last 2 owners lived in Arizona. I have pics of the car when it was 1st finished & it doesn't have the wing emblem. It appeared after it went to Az.