Hey - here is a trivia item related to a luxury car radiator cap.  The cap
is called "The Kneeling Lady" and there is a story behind it.  Anyone want
to hazard a guess first?  If not, I'll tell you what's behind it.

2 responses total.

  Would this have anything to do with Packard radiator caps? I recall that
there were 3 you could pick from, Daphne at the Well, A Lalique, and the
Spirit of Transportation or some sort.
 I hope that this is it, but please marc, I'd love to hear the story,
especially if it's about a Packard.

Well, I'll go ahead and tell it.  No one will get it.

The car is a 1936 Rolls Royce (Bought by the way from Tom Monahagn).

The radiator has a female figure kneeling on one knee and leaning forward.
I am told all others are standing.  

In the firm "Rolls-Royce"  Mr. Rolls was the salesman and Mr. Royce was the
Engineer.  Royce died just before the introduction of the 1936 model and thus
the kneeling lady.  No other models had it.

By the way, this Rolls-Royce is 1/8" thick aluminum sheet metal body work,
it has an aluminum engine and aluminum transmission.  It has thermostatically
controlled radiator louvers, a hydraulic jack built in at each corner,
electric windshield wipers, 2 spark plugs per cylinder with 3 degree firing
offset, a sunroof, plus much more.  The starter is so huge, it would be very
hard to pick up - looks like it would weigh 100 pounds.   (Oh yes, the entire
firewall is an aluminum casting).

The car is just under 6000 lbs.  The owner is rebuilding the engine and the
burled wood trim.  Other than that it is parade ready.  (The engine parts
alone cost $10,000 - parts only).

The same guy has a 1934 LaSalle convertible, which is the only year LaSalle
was available with a 6 cylinder.  He bought it as a basket case and it took
97 pts in a concours exhibition.  Probably the most "restored" of any car I
have ever seen.  A few interesting items about this one if you are interested.

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