A Brief History of Hood Ornaments. Hood ornaments were popular in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s with many auto manufacturers fitting them to their vehicles. Now hood ornaments are widely used on cars, pickups, and semi-trucks as a way to add a personal touch!

Images and descriptions of the different Peterbilt emblems since 1939 and the dates each type was used. Based upon independent research.

Check out the stories behind 10 of the most iconic hood ornaments of all time. The robed lady arched forward at the leading edge of a Rolls-Royce hood might seem as though it has been there...

Fun Fact: The Model 358 was the first Peterbilt truck to wear the bird hood ornament that’s still featured on Peterbilt trucks produced today. To expand its production capabilities and better serve its customers on the East Coast, Peterbilt opened a new facility in Madison, Tennessee, in 1969.

In the 1960s, Peterbilt updated models with lightweight aluminum cabs and bird hood ornaments. The hood ornament craze began when cars began to have radiator caps outside the hood. This made it easier for drivers to pour coolant into the radiator as the engine heated.