1937 DeSoto Hood ornament - resolution at last!

1937 hood ornament for the Desoto:
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Thanks for posting the picture. I am just praying someone has one out there. It's not a part we can do without as it also serves as the hood release. Can't believe this happened...we had everything for this car and now have to find this. Makes us just sick! If anyone needs more pictures, we do have pictures of our original that we took before handing it over to the chrome shop. This is for a 37 Rumble Seat Coupe that we are restoring to original.

Ask your plater to check the bottom of their tank! Things sometimes fall off the rack.

Already tried that. One of the guys in the shop remembers finishing it and putting on the 'done' shelves in the front office. It apparently took legs from there. You are right though, it is supposed to be fun...and this took a little wind out of our sails! Just hoping and praying we find another one, and although nobody else will know the difference, we will always know this one part is no longer the original on a car full of all original parts. Sad but we still love the car and will move on and enjoy it.

I just recently struggled to find a set of chrome headlight bezels for the '56 Firedome we are currently restoring, and got out the club roster and looked up all the club members that listed owning a '56 Firedome in #6 condition (parts car)

I contacted several, and was able to purchase a pair from a member in NV that were very nice for a reasonable price that should plate very nicely.

For other readers that aren't club members, there's a good reason to become one! Access to the club roster.

I'd get your roster out and see if you can find any club members that list #6 condition cars and maybe you can find someone willing to part with one. There's really on a small minority of club members that participate here regularly.

I assume your plating shop is going to cover your replacement expenses, right?

Will do, thanks for the tip.

He says he is going to cover the cost and we told him it's not going to be cheap if/when we find one. He was not exactly up front about losing it in the first place...long story...so this may turn into a real battle. Thanks again for your tips....we are getting the directory out today to start making calls and have already sent some email feelers out.

hopefully you'll find one.

There's a ('39, I think) on ebay and it looks like a stationary hood ornament, but otherwise looks like yours.... I know, that's a big assumption.... I was trying to figure out if one like that could be modified if necessary.

That's going the hard way......

The chrome shop is legally bound to replace it. This includes finding a model and casting a duplicate then plating it.

Good Luck
Steve

Try Moores Auto Salvage In the Dakotas, they have 3 36's and 2 38's available for parts. Hopefully one of those will have an ornament.
605-348-4926
Chris

Moore's had a 37 but it's gone. Been calling and emailing everyone we can think of including those with 37's in the club roster. No luck so far but will keep trying. Thank you all for your ideas.

Another scenario to have the chrome shop consider is that they sent it to someone else. Can they think of any other customer's stuff that went out at the same time as they were finishing your stuff?

Once or twice I've had an item that wasn't mine show up to the shop. And... the plating shop has lost some stuff, too.

If the scenario gets to the point where there's just not an "extra" to be had, you might have to change your inquiry to "can I at least borrow one and have a new casting made?"