Swallow / Thunderbird bonnet mascot - what is this ?

[Zippyworld]

Not sure where on here to post this.

Take a gander at the picture.

The mascot is about 7" long and 5" wide,dates back to pre 1965 when my Dad bought it for a fiver.

I remember him showing it to me when I was about 7, I knew then it was special and I always wanted it. He had a Capri 3.0 GXL at the time and it certainly didn't go on the bonnet of that.....

Its now been passed on to me, but the question is what is it and what could it be off ?

My Dad said its a Thunderbird and bought it a such around 1965.
I am not sure, as it looks a lot like a swallow and there was a manufacturer of the Swallow in days gone by.

I am not looking for a value to sell it, it has far too greater sentimental value, but i would like help to identify it and a valuation would be useful.

Any ideas

Thanks

[Zippyworld]

[Zippyworld]

[Zippyworld]

Not sure where on here to post this.

Take a gander at the picture.

The mascot is about 7" long and 5" wide,dates back to pre 1965 when my Dad bought it for a fiver.

I remember him showing it to me when I was about 7, I knew then it was special and I always wanted it. He had a Capri 3.0 GXL at the time and it certainly didn't go on the bonnet of that.....

Its now been passed on to me, but the question is what is it and what could it be off ?

My Dad said its a Thunderbird and bought it a such around 1965.
I am not sure, as it looks a lot like a swallow and there was a manufacturer of the Swallow in days gone by.

I am not looking for a value to sell it, it has far too greater sentimental value, but i would like help to identify it and a valuation would be useful.

Any ideas

Thanks

[Zippyworld]

[Zippyworld]

[LordBretSinclair]

Probably produced by Desmo who made mascots in different forms/birds/animals.

[The Surveyor]

Could it be a Swift, not a Swallow?

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Swift_Motor_Co#Cars

Paul

[Slidingpillar]

Forgetting the point about what it is, if fitted to a car, probably illegal unless the car is older 1934 (think that's the year, but it'll be close). The law was changed to consider the pedestrian you hit.

It's true I have a pointy mascot, but the car it's affixed to is a 1930 one.

The above being said, it's not a testable item on a MOT test, and wisely the police don't worry too much about minor construction and use violations as it is a legal minefield.

[Zippyworld]

At least it looks like we can rule a Thunderbird out, which my Dad thought it was.

I will persue Swallow, Bluebird and Swift......

Thankyou for your comments, any further input would be appreciated

[Zippyworld]

Its an Austin 7 swallow !

[tapkaJohnD]

Swallow Sidecars were the founding company of Jagaur! They expanded into car coachbuilding - the A7 Swallow and then SS cars that became Jaguars.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow_Sidecar_Compa...
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Cars_Ltd

See several other swallow mascots here: http://www.jaguarautomobilia.com/jac_2009cat.php?q...

I don't think SS Cars or even early jags ahd a swallow mascot - they weren't 'official' but personal.

JOhn

[Zippyworld]

Very useful information. Nice to know its local history.

[crankedup]

Slidingpillar said:

Forgetting the point about what it is, if fitted to a car, probably illegal unless the car is older 1934 (think that's the year, but it'll be close). The law was changed to consider the pedestrian you hit.

It's true I have a pointy mascot, but the car it's affixed to is a 1930 one.

The above being said, it's not a testable item on a MOT test, and wisely the police don't worry too much about minor construction and use violations as it is a legal minefield.

Only the other day I spotted a Jag', which was less than ten years old, sporting a very nice chrome mascot on the front middle of the bonnet! I cannot recall seeing any other modern car fitted with any style of mascot, save the Rolls Royce of course. The jag' owner will surely get a tug? or is it considered a very minor transgression? Looked lethal!

[Zippyworld]

Ha ha wonder if I could put it on the bonnet of my XJR

[Zippyworld]

I am now thinking its pre SS days so circa 1930

[Slidingpillar]

crankedup said:

Only the other day I spotted a Jag', which was less than ten years old, sporting a very nice chrome mascot on the front middle of the bonnet! I cannot recall seeing any other modern car fitted with any style of mascot, save the Rolls Royce of course. The jag' owner will surely get a tug? or is it considered a very minor transgression? Looked lethal!

I think at that location the driver would get away with it, although if the mascot is not pointed, nothing to get away with really. The royals have a thing about mascots and Prince Charles' Aston Martin has one in, I think, a similar position.

The mascot posted though has a pointed beak, as has my stork. Unkind folk say it looks more like a pterodactyl but I don't care.

[Zippyworld]

As a member of the Royal Family I Shall put it on the front of ones Jagwaah then...

[RichB]

You are assuming it was put on a specific car by a manufacturer but as has been said you could buy these type of mascots up into the 60s so it may nit be as old as you think.

[Zippyworld]

So are we saying that you could buy one new up until the sixties then ?