I know there are several threads about these, but I have a few questions I couldn't find the answer too:

- Does anyone have a good picture of these in the accessory catalog?

- What does the bottom side of the repops look like? Pictures?

- Any ideas on what they are currently worth in decent shape?

Thanks.

 

this brochure shows the hood bird
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-Ford-Car-Truck-Accessories-Brochure-/141000389950?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item20d447353e&vxp=mtr

 

this one shows it well too http://www.ebay.com/itm/1954-Ford-Truck-Accessories-Confidential-Facts-Booklets-NOS-Unused-Original-/280837660150?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item41633a9df6&vxp=mtr

 

The original ones aren't worth terribly much since they made the reproductions came out. They're originally cheap pot metal and usually quite pitted. I had one that I thought id be getting big money for. However, pot metal is hard and time consuming to repair, and the results are not guaranteed to be any good. If you must have one in decent shape you might be better off paying the $450 for a brand new one in stainless.. I can post a picture of the bottom of mine if I can find it, I believe the repops are from a cast of an original..

 

The 2 brochures I posted do not show the bird in the auctions but its inside those, I have both of those and they show the bird well. I could get copies for you just not in the near future.


The problem I have with the repops is the finer details missing from the head of the eagle. The mold was made from one of my birds that had been rechromed and when they rechrome they grind off a layer and in that layer was the finer details of the eagles head.
I have never owned a repop but I have seen them in person and they are nice, just not like the original.

 

Thanks bigwin56f100 I know that there's pictures in those I was just hoping someone might have a scan already or could get one quick. I used to have scans of the '54 catalog from someone, but I can no longer find them.

My big question on the repops are if they look like the originals on the bottom side - i.e. hollow, part numbers, etc.

Also I have a really nice original. It just seems like whenever I find these the cost is all over the place. I was just wondering what a good solid price for them is.

 

Do yo u have any pictures? I'm sure it'll be anywhere from 2-300 if its as good as you say. But you have to find someone who really wants it.

 

Why would an original be worth less than a repop?

 

Pit free, nice chrome, original is worth way more than a repoop, just saying

 

Yup, but you didn't say mint or perfect condition. Pot metal is very time consuming to repair. You have to ground out each one of those pits, then fill it with a special solder, and a few steps I think I'm missing. And even if you did an awesome job with all that work, there's no guarantee the chrome will turn out any good or not pit immediately. Not very many people want to deal with all that. I talked to someone who knew a guy who had a NOS in the box one that he wanted $600 for. This was before the repop even came out, and probably the most money anyone could get for one of these in any condition. Wish I could tell you it was worth a lot more. I really do, they just don't fetch the premium they used to..

 

I have a NOS one in the box and $600 wouldnt buy the box! The one I sold that was used for the mold went for $501 on ebay and it wasnt perfect but that was before the repoops

 

Can someone post a picture of one?

I don't think I have ever seen one.

 

 

There was a bumper car on Am. Pickers last night with a bird on the hood!

 

Anyone have a pic of the re-pop to compare the detail between the two?
Why did all the hood ornaments disappear from the vehicles? I was once told it was because too many pedestrians were serious hurt from them .Not sure if that was the real reason.