Sitting Pretty

By Tony Dokoupil
Car designers have always struggled to balance form and function, and it’s the creative tension between the two goals that lead to perhaps the most garish chapter in automotive history. In the early 20th century, cars required external radiator caps and temperature gauges on their hoods. In search of ways to dress them up, designers turned to miniature works of art--sleek beasts, winged women and model machines that captured the car’s identity. By 1930, when caps and temp gauges were moved under hoods and onto dashboards, the auto mascot had developed a life of its own: some sort of doppelganger topped most American cars made before 1950. Since then they have steadily dwindled in number, becoming the preserve of ultraluxury coupes and dictator-style sedans. Now even those are blinking out of existence. Mercedes, Jaguar, Cadillac, Mercury and Chrysler have all ditched or significantly cut back on hood ornaments in recent years. At the near-end of an era, here’s a look back at some of the best bonnet toppers of all time--starting with Bonnie Boddie, a "Human Hood Ornament" atop the 1973 Dodge Charger at the Chicago Car Show.