Greyhound Radiator Caps

[mercman from oz]

What is the real story about these Accessory Greyhound Radiator Caps? The top picture show my Reproduction 1934 Ford Greyhound Radiator Cap, that was made back in the early Seventies by Don Sommer in full Stainless Steel. You will notice that it has a free standing Tail, which I was led to believe was a true copy of the original. Compare the Don Sommer 34 Cap with the reproduction 1932 Ford Greyhound Radiator Cap and you will see that the constructions are vastly different. For added strength the Tail on the 1932 Cap is joined to the Legs. Now this Chrome plated Diecast 1932 Cap was much more economical that the full Stainless Steel variety manufactured by Don Sommer. Observing Accessory Radiator Caps on various 1934 Fords, there seems to be a great lot of varieties? Was the Original made with a free standing tail like the Don Sommer reproduction, or was it joined to the legs?

[mercman from oz]

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Here are some pictures of the different types of Greyhound Caps for the 1934 Fords. You can see that there are variations in this lot. The one illustrated in the bottom photo has a free standing tail.

[koates]

Hi there, The ONLY AUTHOURISED FORD MOTOR Co. greyhound radiator cap produced during 1934 only for the 1934 Ford passenger cars was made by STANT in Connersville Indiana. It was sold as an accessory only at ford dealers for $2.75 each. That greyhound has the free standing tail. Other companies made greyhound caps for fords back in 1933 to 1936 but were not authorised by ford although many ford dealers sold them. No others except "STANT" at that time had a free standing tail. I don't believe there was ever a 1932 ford greyhound cap made back in those times and that they were only made from the 1960s on as an aftermarket accessory. The other most popular greyhound cap made in 1933 & 1934 was by Franklin die casting co. in Chicago ILL. Its tail was not free standing. Another greyhound cap was made In 1933 and possibly 1934 by Rupert diecasting corp in Kansas City MO. and called "THE MURPHY CAP". These are very rare today. Another rare greyhound cap with a temperature gauge tube in its base was the "orna-meter" made by Central States Mfg. Co. St Lois Mo. The Don Sommer stainless steel 1933 & 1934 ford greyhounds have been made from the late 1960s until the present day. They are a very accurate reproduction of the original STANT dog with a free standing tail and today cost $600.00 each. More recently a brass reproduction of the free standing tail STANT greyhound is being reproduced. Many other zinc diecast greyhounds (1932 to 1936)with fixed tails have been available over the last 40 years but at the moment they have stopped producing them it seems. One could go on forever about Ford greyhound caps but one thing is for sure :- The only authentic Ford listed cap is the one made by "STANT" for the 1934 Ford passenger cars, part number 40-18385. Regards, Kevin.

[Digger]

Here are the 34 caps I am reproducing cast from an original. I also have them for 33. $675 each includes insured shipping and new mounting kit. Thank you
831-375-7363

[blucar]

I seem to recall that the original Greyhound Radiator Caps were anatomically correct, having male genitalia for all the world to see.
Reputedly Clara Ford objected, stating that she was not going to ride in a car having to look at the genitals of a dog.. The Greyhounds were quickly neutered...

[V8COOPMAN]

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Originally Posted by blucar

I seem to recall that the original Greyhound Radiator Caps were anatomically correct, having male genitalia for all the world to see.
Reputedly Clara Ford objected, stating that she was not going to ride in a car having to look at the genitals of a dog.. The Greyhounds were quickly neutered...

........which might suggest that Clara was a prude of sorts, and may explain rumors that Henry might have had a "lady" or three on the side. DD

[mercman from oz]

Digger, that is a very nice Greyhound that you make. Looks very similar to my Don Sommer full Stainless Steel example, complete with free standing tail.

[Lawson Cox]

I love it? 'Ya gonna make one for 35-36 pickup?

[DavidG]

Given that the greyhounds complete with genitals graced the family's Lincolns since the mid-1920s and continued to do so through 1939 kind of puts a dent in that bit of folklore.

[koates]

DavidG, I agree with you on that score. Just an old wives tale. Can some one show proof that Clara had an issue with the greyhounds. Was it written up in one of the Ford history publications in the past ? Regards, Kevin.

[mercman from oz]

Question - Is the Don Sommer Stainless Steel Reproduction an exact copy or very close to the original and only authorized Stant Greyhound Radiator Cap?

[deuce lover]

IMO the Don Sommer repo is close to the original.The ribs of the Sommer repo are cut in whereas the original are embossed.I bought one of the Sommer SS repos when he first started making them in the mid '70s ($110 at the time) and noticed the detail of the ribs then.

[mercman from oz]

I see that Don Sommer is still in the business making Hood Ornaments etc for our old cars. See Link.

http://www.americanarrowcorp.com/

[Brian]

Kevin Koates, I have previously seen, on here as well as else where, Ford Canada literature detailing Genuine Ford approved accessories for 1936 Ford, which clearly shows a greyhound as being available for said model.

[koates]

Brian, In the USA STANT made free standing tail greyhound mascots (not caps) for 35 & 36 Fords. I don't think they were approved by Ford Motor Company and had no Ford part number as did the 1934 Ford greyhound caps. In Canada I believe there was a locally made greyhound for the 36 ford and approved by Ford as it is shown in a Canada brochure but I have never actually seen one of those dogs. One could devote a lot of time and money studying, and collecting Ford greyhounds, and Lincoln dogs as well. Regards, Kevin.

[FrankWest]

Isn't this a greyhound radiator cap on a 1932 ford? Maybe not a ford? But who noticed the radiator cap?
I bought a greyhound cap for my 1933 but don't like it. Makes my car remined me of a vw with rolls grill that were common in the 60's. I think the plain radiator cap is more becoming for a ford. I think you need more car behind the hood element otherwise it looks too much like the VW bug with rolls royce grill. Anybody want to buy mine.

[DavidG]

It's a Lincoln, probably a '29 or '30. A greyhound cap or ornament (once the radiator cap was moved to under the hood) by Gorham, the jewelers, was standard equipment on Lincolns from the mid-20s through 1939. A plain cap was optional (very rare however).

[FrankWest]

Are parts hard to get for those Lincolns? I remember looking for an essex terraplane and parts were Non existant, same with Packard. That is the great thing about common Fords they seem to make a lot of the parts and there is a large supple of original parts too.

[Bruce Lancaster]

On that Lincoln cap, notice that the cap itself is entirely different from '32 Ford, standing way up from the flange.
I've got an original '34 with PN and it has the tip of the tail gone, like all others I've seen! It's location and fragility pretty much doom the tip...
I agree that plain is better on Fords...they are very well styled in their basic lines and do not benefit from the clutter of accessories.

[mercman from oz]

Granted, It is hard to notice that Greyhound Mascot with all those pretty ladies posing with the Lincoln.