Bonnet Birds

[EK283]

Hi There,

So does anyone have info on when bonnet birds started and finished, I have a couple of bonnets and the best one has the bird.

My original EK bonnet does not have the bird so was wondering were they an accessory or model specific.

Regards Greg

[59wagon]

Hey Greg,

I just did some digging in the parts catalogues that I have and the following is what I can glean:

From the 48 through to the HR, only the FE and EJ have hood ornaments listed as standard.

In my 48 to FB catalogue, it lists hood ornaments as accessories available for FE, FC & FB (FE had a standard ornament and a "bird" as an accessory)

In my 48 to HR catalogue (obviously written a few years later), it lists the FE accessory above as "Removed from Nasco records", and the FC & FB ones as N.L.A (no longer available). Accessory ornaments are listed for EH, HD & HR.

I don't have a separate catalogue for the EK, so can't determine for certain if the hood ornament was listed as an accessory for it, or even if it was the same ornament if there was one. The FB & EK bonnets (hoods) are listed as the same part no., so there wouldn't be a fitting problem. I was able to cross reference the FE,FC & FB part no.'s from the earlier catalogue to the later one to find out they were discontinued at some point. The FB ornament part no. is 7406655 - maybe someone else can check their EK manual? )

I'm no expert on this, it's just what I found in the last half hour looking at the books. If you, or anyone else, want pictures of the various pages, let me know.

Cheers,

John

[59wagon]

....also, if you look at the pictures of the cars in the front pages of the catalogues, they also only show the FE & EJ with bonnet bling.

[59wagon]

.

[Errol62]

Great info John. The FE and EJ had actual bonnet badges as part of their trim didn’t they.

Bonnet birds were marketed as part of the nasco beauty kits
This image is from Sunny Tim’s Cameo Beige Standard EK Sedan thread. I dare say they were also optioned on their own as I reckon they are more prevalent than the bonnet splitters and H emblems.


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[Patrick_R]

At this point,
I think it’s a good time for those of you that have the hood ornaments, (I don’t ) to share some pics.
I’d love to see all the different types.

Last weekend I saw for the first time an FB with little chrome bits along the top of the 2 front guards,
similar to the ones in the “beauty kit” shown above.

[59wagon]

The FE and EJ had actual bonnet badges as part of their trim didn’t they.

It appears that way Clay. As I mentioned above, FE & EJ were the only ones listed as standard parts, the others were listed as accessories


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[59wagon]

At this point,
I think it’s a good time for those of you that have the hood ornaments, (I don’t ) to share some pics.
I’d love to see all the different types.

Here’s what I’ve got Ric, my FB bonnet currently hanging from the roof



and I got the next one, also hanging from the roof) with my FC wagon. I didn’t realise, until Rob (Ardiesse) pointed out, that it was an FE bonnet. FE & FC bonnets have different part numbers but I don’t know the difference yet - I’ll need to ask on the FE/FC forum.
On my bonnet, there’s the standard FE ornament (with the faded lion emblem in the centre of it) at the front, and the one behind it is the FC accessory - not the FE accessory



Cheers,

John


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[gpi]

cage free...

[Harv]

A-well-a don't you know about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is a word


Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPrtFxd9u9Y[/youtube]

Optimized-Bonnet birds.JPG (1.02 MiB) Viewed 2202 times

Cheers,
Harv

[Patrick_R]

Great pics guys,

John, yours hanging from the roof appear ready to swoop!
Interesting about the bonnets though, there is always something to learn on these early Holdens.

Great shot gpi.

Harv, yes I know about the bird is the word, done only the way Peter Griffin can

Your fleet looks great in the front yard mate.
Ric.

[Errol62]

I’ve got one hiding in a drawer somewhere plus an assortment of bonnets with and without holes.

John the only difference with the FE bonnet will surely be the holes for the badge, and I think they look a nice custom touch on FC. You’ve been hiding that one from us mate, although then again I guess your handle is a bit of a giveaway. I’ll have a look over on the effen cee forum. You’ve reminded me of a beautiful FC van I saw at All Holden Day that had the FE bonnet.


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[EK283]

Great Stuff guys,

A world of info as always !!!

I don't know what I was thinking when I looked at my spare bonnets but the best one I have is an FB one, came of my ute I sold nearly 30 years ago Gawd I'm getting old.

Regards Greg

[gpi]

ive had that one 10 years weekend after next...

[59wagon]

ive had that one 10 years weekend after next...

Nice flash kit too Patrick


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