An unusual, human face ornament on a car with blue raised "stripes" of sky blue.
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#BlueTue
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A #PontiacStreamliner #Chieftan hood ornament glows with a bit of strobe at the Chicago “Low and Slow Festival” at Navy Pier.
@gregoryrothman.bsky.social
Origins of the Chieftain Hood Ornament (Late 1940s) When Pontiac introduced the Chieftain line in 1949, the hood ornament featured a stylized Native American chief’s head. This was part of Pontiac’s broader branding: the marque had used imagery of Chief Pontiac — an 18th-century Ottawa leader — since its founding in 1926. The ornament quickly became a signature design element, often referred to simply as “the Indian head.” Early versions were made of chrome with amber-colored plastic forming the face of the chief. Introduction of the Glowing Feature-Early 1950s (This car was not turned on. I don’t know if it had this feature) By the early 1950s, Pontiac added a lighting element inside the hood ornament. A small 6-volt bulb (tied into the vehicle’s parking light circuit) was mounted behind the translucent amber head. • When the headlights or parking lights were turned on, the chief’s head softly glowed—a warm orange or amber light. • The effect was both decorative and symbolic, intended to emphasize the car’s identity and modern styling. This illuminated mascot was particularly eye-catching at night and became a hallmark of Pontiacs of the period. Factory vs. Aftermarket Variants Pontiac originally used amber-tinted Lucite as standard on most production cars between 1949–1954. However, some ornaments — especially in later runs or for special dealer promotions — were molded or tinted in deeper ruby red. • Amber (standard): most common on U.S. production Chieftains. • Ruby red (optional or aftermarket): often installed by dealers or owners for a custom look. Some original red versions were actually sold over the counter as accessories. Others came from Canadian Pontiacs or export models, where suppliers sometimes used different Lucite batches.
A #PontiacStreamliner #Chieftan Hood ornament glows with a bit of strobe at the Chicago “Low and Slow Festival” at Navy Pier.
#Eastcoastkin #PhotoOfTheDay #PhotoHour #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersOfBluesky #Photography #RedWednesday #ColorOfTheDay #smArtist #LowandSlow #ClassicCars
Today, RÚV English #Radio is back at #Hrafnseyri, learning about #Hrafn Sveinbjarnarson, a #chieftan and a #doctor, killed there in the early 13th century.
https://www.ruv.is/english
