Man, you won’t believe what I got into this past weekend. I’ve been eyeing this Rolls Royce hood ornament, the “Spirit of Ecstasy,” for a while now. It’s that iconic flying lady, you know? Always thought it would be cool to have one, not for a car, just as a display piece. So, I finally decided to get my hands dirty and actually find one. Started off just browsing online, checking out some auction sites and forums.
I saw a couple, but they were way out of my price range or looked super fake. I wanted the real deal, not some cheap knockoff. Then I remembered there’s this antique store downtown that I used to visit with my grandpa. Figured it was worth a shot.
Drove down there on Saturday morning, and the place was packed. I started rummaging through all sorts of old stuff – vintage signs, old tools, you name it. After about an hour of searching, I was about to give up. Then, in a dusty corner, behind a stack of old books, I spotted something shiny.
I pulled it out, and bam! There it was. A genuine Rolls Royce hood ornament, a bit tarnished, but definitely authentic. I could see the details, the engravings, everything. I asked the owner about it, and he told me it came off an old 1930s model. My heart was racing! After a bit of haggling, we agreed on a price I was happy with.
I took it home and immediately got to work cleaning it up. Used some metal polish and a soft cloth, and man, did it shine! You wouldn’t believe the difference. I spent the rest of the afternoon just admiring it, turning it over in my hands. It felt heavy, solid, like a real piece of history.
Now, I needed to figure out how to display it. I didn’t want to just stick it on a shelf. I decided to build a small wooden base for it. Nothing fancy, just something to give it a bit of elevation and show it off properly.
I went out to my garage, found some scrap wood, and started cutting and sanding. After a few hours, I had a simple but elegant base. I stained it a dark brown to match the ornament’s aged look. Finally, I carefully attached the ornament to the base, making sure it was secure.
And there you have it! My very own Rolls Royce hood ornament, proudly displayed on my desk. It’s not just an object; it’s a story, a piece of automotive history that I rescued and brought back to life. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded of the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of a project well done. It’s amazing what you can find when you put your mind to it, right?
- Acquired: Rolls Royce “Spirit of Ecstasy” hood ornament.
- Source: Local antique store.
- Condition: Tarnished but authentic, likely from a 1930s model.
- Restoration: Cleaned with metal polish.
- Display: Custom-built wooden base.
The Result
One heck of a conversation starter! It’s more than just a cool object; it’s a testament to a little bit of persistence and a whole lot of elbow grease. Pretty proud of how this turned out.
