NEW START PRICE- $2,500.00Original listing was at $5,000 because I was still researching the value. Better safe than sorry...
This will be the rock bottom start price- $2,500.00BRAND... NEW...
This would be the only one on your block, I promise.YES! You read the title bar correctly !
This is an sale for an ultra rare piece of automotive history.
Alex Tremulis Illuminated Flying Saucer Hood Ornament. Also known as a \"Mascot\" back in the day-**It is BRAND NEW - and - In ORIGINAL, but rough, BOX.You won\'t see another one like this folks... not for a quite a while I\'m guessing. A true collector\'s piece.
I\'m looking for that true collector.If you do your own research on this item you will see that it is hard to come by in any condition. There are just a few documented sales of these ornaments- used & no spires- of $1500-$1700 and NONE of those were in this shape, much less, new.Alex Tremulis is best known for his design of the Tucker Automobile but he was also instrumental in the design of today\'s Space Shuttle. He also designed the Subaru Brat, of all things.
He worked for several auto manufacturers as a designer & went on to become Ford\'s Chief Of Futuristic Design.
He was working for Kaiser-Frazer in 1951 when this piece came about.
He worked with Fortune Manufacturing in Chicago to produce the ornament.
The target was over 100,000 to be made & sold.It was a huge hit but Tremulis only got to have around 4,000 of them made as the Koren War broke out & there was demand for zinc & chrome- the 2 main metals for hood ornaments back then. Fortune went out of business.Alex got his inspiration for the ornament because he was also the first known person to put UFO & flying saucer images on paper.
You have seen dozens of his famous drawings & not known it.
This flying saucer hood ornament is based off of a drawing he did in the 40\'s depicting a saucer headed toward earth.
This mascot is very Star Trek looking in nature.In my photos you will see the hood ornament as well as a file of original patent (not included in sale. Just for reference) & the UFO drawing by Alex Tremulis, also just for reference.Description:
It\'s brand new folks..what else can you say?
It was never mounted on a car & it rests in the ORIGINAL but ROUGH box in April 7th, 1949 Chicago Tribune newspaper.
That\'s another reason for the higher price.
It will only gain in valueThe Bakelite/plastic dome is perfect & that spire you see here is broken off of any of these you might find elsewhere.
I have had it for over 40 years & it was my grandfather\'s. So there is some sentimental value in here but I figure if a collector really wants it, it will be a reality. It needs a good home & I\'m raising funds for a project. Chrome is in very good shape, of course. The light bulb looks perfect & has never been lit. The whole saucer just looks grand.
The design is wonderful.
**In researching this, I found that they made 2 versions of this very short run- A two piece & a single piece construction.
My theory is that they started with the 2 piece & demand was so great they redesigned it as a single cast- using one machine to make the ornament instead of 2 machines casting each piece- to save time, money & turn out more ornaments. Then- everything went bust when the war came along.
**The single piece construction does not match the original patent look 100% & those all seem to have red plastic tail lights inserted in the \"engines\"
I believe this to be one of the early first run ornaments.
It is made in the 2 pieces plus the dome.
It matches the patent drawing.
Very heavy. Very cool. I collect space items & was always going to put this in the center of my rocket & spaceship display. I\'m so glad I have not done that at this point.
FREE SHIPPING.PLEASE READ-
US BUYERS ONLY - US BUYERS ONLY
PayPal onlyThank you for looking at this very rare- and you can\'t use that word in many true descriptions- hood ornament / mascot.It truly is almost one of a kind, given the 4,000 pc run & think how many were destroyed or ripped off a car.
I have no idea of the original selling price. 1951.. I have searched quite a bit for that info but have yet to turn it up.
