1. GAZ
   DeSoto
2. Ford Mustang
   Willys Knight

The iconic Ford Mustang logo, featuring a mustang horse adorned the iconic muscle car from the 1960s onwards. Today, the horse runs to the left, but there were variants of the logo where the horse ran to the right. It's been modified several times over the year and has a more muscular look on modern vehicles.

1. Polestar
   Mercedes-Benz
2. DeSoto
   Volvo

Now a badge on modern vehicles more than a hood ornament, the Mercedes-Benz Tri-Star logo has been around since the company formed in 1926. The three points symbolize "domination of the land, the sea, and the air," as Mercedes made engines in all those spheres in its early years.

1. Subaru
   Aston Martin
2. Jawa
   Plymouth

The Subaru logo featured a representation of the Pleiades star cluster. The name "Subaru," in fact is the Japanese translation of "Pleiades." The large star represents Fuji Heavy Industries (the company's original parent company), with the smaller stars representing the subsidiaries, which the auto division was a part.

1. Horch
   Hyundai
2. Hispano-Suiza
   Hudson

Hyundai's logo, when it first was unveiled, was often confused with Honda's logo. As the company grew and became more familiar, however, people became used to the branding. Immediately noticeable is the oval shape encompassing the H. This indicates the company’s global expansion. The two arms of the H are connected, a "handshake" which symbolize the interaction and trust between the brand and its customers.

1. Rossion
   Cadillac
2. Avion Voisin
   Buick

Cadillac's logo has changed greatly over the years, but for almost 100 years, the logo has featured some form of a stylized "coat of arms," inspired by that of Antoine de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, the French explorer who is the company's namesake.

1. BMW
   Mercedes
2. Hispano-Suiza
   Honda

Most will recognize the BMW hood logo, the iconic blue and white quarters in a circle. Many believe this, in fact, symbolizes a propeller as the company did first start out by manufacturing aviation engines. The white and blue are the national colors of Bavaria.

1. Chevrolet
   Audi
2. Cadillac
   Porsche

The hood emblem design for Audi features the now-famous "Four Rings." Not many people know what these symbolize, however. In 1932 four different companies merged — Audi, Horch, Wanderer, and DKW. The rings symbolize this merger.

1. BMW
   Ford Mustang
2. Maybach
   Hyundai

Maybach, a luxury German car automaker and now part of Mercedes-Benz, has the double MM logo (standing for Maybach Motorenbau). The logo also appeared on vehicles as a hood ornament, as seen in this photo. The company was founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach.

1. Lamborghini
   Ferrari
2. Ikco
   Koenigsegg

Another extremely famous emblem that even those not interested in motor vehicles will be able to identify, Ferrari's Prancing Horse is the symbol of the Italian sports car company, Ferrari. It first appeared on Alfa Romeos in the 1920s when Enzo Ferrari raced for the company as a good luck charm.

1. Hyundai
   Toyota
2. BMW
   Koenigsegg

This Swedish hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg was founded in 1994. Since its inception, their badge has been a shield with red, blue and yellow within it. Founder Charles Koenigsegg made a starting point for the design using his own family logo as a base.

1. Mini
   BMW
2. Buick
   Bentley

The Flying B is one of the most famous hood ornaments in the world. It has adorned Bentley models since the company was started by W.O. Bentley with the first car produced in 1919. In 2010, Bentley was forced to recall cars and modify the hood ornament for fear that it could injure pedestrians in an accident.

1. Audi
   Chevrolet
2. Subaru
   Spyker

Dutch car manufacturer Spyker use the car wheel and propeller as its hood badge design. It first appeared in 1914 when the company and an aircraft manufacturer merged. The logo bears the Latin phrase "Nulla Tenaci invia est" ("For the tenacious no road is impassable").

1. Jaguar
   Bentley
2. Oldsmobile
   Tesla

Probably one of the most iconic hood ornaments in history, Jaguar's "The Leaper" adorned most early models of this British brand. Today, because of various safety laws, including a 2005 European Union regulation, the hood ornament is no longer a standard accessory.

1. Lamborghini
   Hyundai
2. Chevrolet
   Dodge

The Chevrolet "Bowtie" is instantly recognizable. But where does it come from? It is claimed that it was designed by one of the people who started the company, William Durant, and first appeared on vehicles in 1913. This may not be the entire story, however, as some historians believed he may have "borrowed" it from a company called Coalettes, a coal company.

1. Plymouth
   Maserati
2. BMW
   Toyota

The current Toyota logo was first used in around 1990. Previously, the car had only been adorned with signage with Toyota appearing on the hood. It comprises overlapping loops forming a T, each with a specific meaning. The two that form the T-shape signify a steering wheel, along with the relationship and trust between the brand and its customers while the encircling oval indicates the company’s expansion globally.

1. Koenigsegg
   Porsche
2. Alfa Romeo
   Plymouth

This emblem, which appears on the hood of all Porsche sports cars, is based on the coat of arms of the Free People's State of Wurttemberg, of which Stuttgart was the capital. The city has a history of being a horse farm. And those are not swords towards the top and bottom of the horse; they are antlers.

1. Lincoln
   Koenigsegg
2. Mercury
   Chevrolet

The four pointed star hood ornament appeared on Lincoln vehicles in 1958. Some say that the Lincoln star stands for the four corners of the earth, while others believe it a "celestial body" that stands for the brand's radiance and opulence. Others believe that there really is no meaning behind it, besides being a recognizable symbol for the company. Whatever the meaning, it has become an indelible part of this luxury car maker's identity.

1. Nash
   Alfa Romeo
2. Rolls Royce
   Rossion

A red cross and a snake eating a man… what’s not to like about the Alfa Romeo badge? Well, the red cross is actually part of the coat of arms for the Visconti family, the most influential family in the city of Milan, where the marque was born. The snake eating a man comes from the tale of an important Milan citizen who killed a knight during the crusades and brought the symbols he used on his shield back to the city. The man might actually be emerging from the snake — a new man, purified — if you'd like to see it that way.

1. Porsche
   DeSoto
2. Spyker
   Pontiac

Founded by Walter Chrysler, DeSoto manufactured vehicles between 1928 and 1961. On their Diplomat Model, they chose to have a Spanish conquistador as the hood ornament. Stylish, if politically incorrect.

1. Spyker
   Chevrolet
2. Maserati
   Toyota

The Maserati Trident was inspired by the Fountain of Neptune, located at the Plazza Magglore in Bologna, and denotes strength and vigor. It was introduced in 1926 on the company's Tipo 26 model.

1. Volvo
   Peugeot
2. Jeep
   Oldsmobile

Volvo — the Latin word "volvere" translates to "I Roll" — originally manufactured bearings for the automotive industry. The circle and arrow pointing up is actually an ancient symbol used to denote iron, and is used here to represent the strength of Swedish iron used in the company's vehicles.

1. Renault
   Land Rover
2. Jeep
   Mini

Jeep uses a clever design logo, with seven vertical lines flanked on either side by a circle, representing the classic radiator grille that forms the front of the vehicle. The vehicles themselves never have this design on them, however; they only have the word, "Jeep."

1. GAZ's Leaping Deer
   Jaguar's Leaper
2. Peugeot's Lion
   Bugatti's Dancing Elephant

Produced in the Soviet Union, GAZ automobiles have been in production since 1932. From 1950, models featured and elaborate Leaping Deer as a hood ornament. The first model to have this was the GAZ-12 ZIM, a limousine and first executive car produced by the company.

1. Porsche
   Koenigsegg
2. Ferrari
   Lamborghini

If you see this in your rearview mirror, best to pull over and let the car pass — unless you are driving a hypercar! Why a bull for Italian car manufacturer Lamborghini? It's the symbol power that translates to the sports car. Some believe it also bears a passing resemblance to the Ferrari logo because of the rivalry between Ferruccio Lamborghini and Enzo Ferrari.

1. Ford
   Acura
2. Nissan
   Daewoo

The cursive lettering of the Ford logo was devised by Henry Ford’s long-time friend, Childe Harold Wills, as an alternative to the long-winded Ford Motor Company. It first appeared, without the oval, on a 1903 Model A. It has been slightly modified over the century, but It is one of the most recognizable corporate symbols in the world today.

1. Mercedes-Benz
   Bentley
2. Pierce-Arrow
   Delahaye

A direct link to the name of the auto manufacturer, the Silver Archer — a kneeling man with a bow — appeared on Pierce-Arrow vehicles. The company made cars between 1901 and 1938.

1. Pontiac
   Buick
2. Maserati
   Koenigsegg

Pontiac is a manufacturer that has had a range of hood ornaments and other hood badges over the years. This includes the "dart" which in fact is an arrowhead, a natural progression from the Native American chief who formed part of their early logos.

1. Alfa Romeo
   Lotus
2. Mitsubishi
   Peugeot

The name Mitsubishi comes from two Japanese words: "Mitsu" ("three") and "hishi" ("rhombus" or "diamond"). The company says the three diamonds stand for integrity, reliability and success.

1. Rolls-Royce
   Pontiac
2. Bugatti
   Jaguar

Perhaps the most recognizable hood ornament in the world, Rolls-Royce's Spirit of Ecstasy (also called the Silver Lady or the Flying Lady) was designed by sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes and features a lady leaning forward with arms stretched behind her and clothes billowing in the wind. The design has changed slightly over the years and still appears on cars produced by the company today. It is spring loaded and will retract into the hood if the car is involved in a crash.

1. GAZ
   Dodge
2. Jaguar
   Rolls-Royce

Although you won’t find them on a Dodge now, the Leaping Ram was found on vehicles produced starting around 1932 by this American manufacturer. Eventually, it progressed to just a ram’s head in 1951 and then a ram on a badge. Now the ram is associated with a truck brand.

1. Mercedes
   Kia
2. Datsun
   Lotus

British car manufacturer Lotus used a simple badge design with the words Lotus inside a triangular shape, itself within a circle. The predominant color is British racing green, a favorite among car manufacturers in the 1950s and 1960s. The letters "A C B C" in the logo stand for the company's founder, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman.

1. Bugatti
   Jaguar
2. Ferrari
   Subaru

The Dancing Elephant appeared on Bugatti vehicles. It was designed by Rembrandt Bugatti, a sculptor, and brother to the owner, Ettore Bugatti. But he never saw it appear on and Bugattis, having taken his life years earlier.

1. Renault
   Porsche
2. Maserati
   Citroen

French manufacturer Renault certainly liked to change its logo in the early years. A few of the early designs include a tank and a car grille among others. In 1925, they used the diamond; we still see a modified version of it on their vehicles today.

1. Jeep
   Lamborghini
2. Duesenberg
   DeSoto

Duisenberg produced a range of hood ornaments between 1913 and 1937. One particular favorite was the Duesenbird, a sharp, angular design, definitely different from what other manufacturers used at the time. It would never get past health and safety today, however.

1. Rolls-Royce
   Jaguar
2. Benz & Cie.
   Pierce-Arrow

Karl Benz co-founded Benz & Companie Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik (commonly known as Benz & Cie.). In 1926, that company merged with Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft to form Mercedes-Benz,

1. Willys Knight
   Packard
2. Maserati
   Auto Union

A predecessor of Audi, Auto Union was the result of a merger between four German automobile manufacturers — Audi, Horch, DKW, Wanderer — in 1932. The company we know now as Audi was formed in 1985.

1. Cadillac
   Duesenberg
2. Hispano-Suiza
   Buick

Another flight-themed ornament, the Flying Stork appeared on Hispano-Suiza vehicles, a Spanish luxury brand often compared with Rolls Royce. The stork itself (shown head-on in this photo) is in a downward flap, with the wings attaching it to a base, both incredibly beautiful and striking.

1. Maybach
   Ferrari
2. Plymouth
   Cadillac

This incredible design from Plymouth looks nothing like a ship until you take a closer look. It is then that you see a sailing ship within the borders of the hood ornament. Strikingly beautiful and yet simple. Plymouth also changed the design from time to time.

1. Hispano Suiza
   Cadillac
2. Lincoln
   Avion Voisin

Started by Gabriel B. Voisin, Avion Voisin was founded in 1905 as an aviation manufacturer. The French company started producing cars in 1919, adorned with the "Steel Bird" hood ornament. Known for its uncompromising engineering and design, the company was nationalized after World War II and never regained its luster.

1. Mack Truck
   Citroen
2. Renault
   Peugeot

The Peugeot Lion has formed part of the French brand's logo and hood badges since its inception. In fact, it was used even before the company got into auto manufacturing. It first appeared on the saw blades the company produced in 1847 (symbolizing the sharp teeth) and​ was registered in 1858.

1. GAZ
   Packard
2. Dodge
   Delahaye

Packard certainly had a variety of hood ornaments during its history. One of the designs was the Goddess of Speed, essentially an angel figure with wings facing towards the rear and outstretched arms holding a car wheel. It certainly added a certain grace to the Packards it adorned.

1. Lobini
   Mack
2. Jaguar
   Ford

An alternative emblem to their other famous hood ornament, the Leaper, this Jaguar badge is commonly known as the Growler. A new version of the Growler, with a silver ring and a red background, is being used on the grilles of the company's vehicles.

1. Plymouth
   Auburn
2. Colani Horch
   Lincoln

The winged theme is certainly a favorite among many car manufacturers, including Auburn. The company originated in 1900 before it went bankrupt in 1937. The hood ornament on this Auburn featured a winged man with his chest out and wings sweeping backward. The figure was female in some versions.

1. Auburn
   Chevrolet
2. Alfa Romeo
   Pontiac

This hood ornament appeared on Pontiac vehicles in its early years and certainly into the 1950s. It was redesigned over the years, with some of them even lighting up! In 1957, the arrowhead, or dart, logo was introduced.

1. Chevrolet
   Ferrari
2. Plymouth
   Maserati

Certainly one of the most striking hood ornaments ever designed, the Jet Bird featured on the Chevrolet Bel Air in the 1950s. It’s beautifully patriotic as well, although not officially a bald eagle it would seem.

1. Packard
   Susse Freres
2. Willys
   GAZ

These appeared on cars with the Willys-Knight nameplate, which ended in 1933. Willys-Overland Motors would later make the Jeep for the United States military in World War II. more than 650,000 Jeeps were made.

1. Packard
   Duisenberg
2. Lincoln
   Pierce-Arrow

Lincoln, the luxury division of Ford, used the leaping greyhound as a hood ornament on its vehicles from 1927 into the 1930s. It was chosen as a mascot by Edsel Ford who wanted an animal with speed, stamina, and beauty.

1. Peugeot
   Delahaye
2. Duisenberg
   Packard

Packard likes hood ornaments — so much so, they change them often. One of its designs was the Reclining Woman, said to be the Greek nymph, Daphne.