Sirens of Chrome ? The Enduring Allure of Auto Show Models

The allure of beautiful people has played an enchanting role in automotive displays for more than 100 years. Automakers and marketers have painted posters, erected ornate plaster of Paris statues, cast hood ornaments and commissioned male and female models to mesmerize car buyers.

Sirens of Chrome: The Enduring allure of Auto Show Models is a visual joyride through auto show history. The focus isn’t simply sheet metal; it’s on the distinctly human presence. These human hood ornaments and walking encyclopedias of fuel-economy and towing-capacity specifications are descendants of the Sirens of ancient Greek lore. They seek not to dash ships upon rocks but to entice the purchase of land-worthy ships to set sail upon the highways and byways of America.

Sirens of Chrome includes dozens of photos, programs, and posters culled from libraries, corporate files, and auto enthusiast portfolios, capturing decades of hot vehicles and torrid models. Discover whose “body” inspired the Rolls-Royce hood ornament and much more. Enjoy the ride!