She’s just a substitute bowsprit. Cars carried on a nautical tradition with their radiator caps and hood ornaments. A pretty girl or a noble warrior or a bird of prey, arching forward to lead the way into adventure. By ’58 most of the bowsprits were gone, so there was a space that needed filling.
(Plymouth’s sailing-ship bowsprit was sort of redundant, but nobody seemed to notice.)
3. Oh, there’s a girl on the hood; I hope she didn’t dent it.
Not to worry, that’s when automotive sheet metal was sterner stuff. It may well start to rust within six months of production but the metal itself was nice and thick. Unlike some of today’s vehicles which might well be permanently dented if a small cat walked across the hood.
Having trouble editing, so will amend. Actually early December 1956. Her name is Jean Littleton; original photo of her (and others from the event) are in LIFE magazine, 12/17/56.
Interesting picture.
But why is Young Sheldon wearing a dress?
Dude, you wrecked this post with the first comment.
Rehearsal for later life?
She’s just a substitute bowsprit. Cars carried on a nautical tradition with their radiator caps and hood ornaments. A pretty girl or a noble warrior or a bird of prey, arching forward to lead the way into adventure. By ’58 most of the bowsprits were gone, so there was a space that needed filling.
(Plymouth’s sailing-ship bowsprit was sort of redundant, but nobody seemed to notice.)
A scene that should be recreated for a music video. Fantastic shot and well-shared.
+1
Something that would be in a Madonna video or live performance.
Tawney Kitaen, when are you when you’re needed. There’s more things in life than Jaguars to grace to hood.
Considering today’s social agenda, its strange to still see ladies on the cat walk at auto shows.
It’s all fun and games until someone pulls into the car wash.
QOTD.
Proof that I’m getting old is, when I saw this photo, my first 3 thoughts were:
1. Wow, a 1957 Desoto Fireflite convertible, one of my all time favorites and one in which I savored my first teenage road experiences.
2. It might also be an Adventurer, even better!
3. Oh, there’s a girl on the hood; I hope she didn’t dent it.
3. Oh, there’s a girl on the hood; I hope she didn’t dent it.
Not to worry, that’s when automotive sheet metal was sterner stuff. It may well start to rust within six months of production but the metal itself was nice and thick. Unlike some of today’s vehicles which might well be permanently dented if a small cat walked across the hood.
f she comes with the car, I`ll buy it!
JC Whitney sure used to have some good hood ornaments.
Indeed. But the mind boggles as to where it is in this shot.
I’m still waiting for this version for my car.
https://www.si.com/swimsuit/model/kate-upton
New York Auto Show, 1957 (Coliseum).
The model appears at the very beginning of this newsreel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4DnyPtZBmM
I’ll guess she’s 19 (b. 1938), so about 81 years if still with us.
Having trouble editing, so will amend. Actually early December 1956. Her name is Jean Littleton; original photo of her (and others from the event) are in LIFE magazine, 12/17/56.