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Does anyone have an idea what hood ornament appears in the photo of the 1933 Packard Macauley speedster as seen in the "Making of Modern Michigan" archives?

When I look at the photographs of the car the hood ornament appears to be attached to the radiator cap, has a low profile, and stretches out over the front of the radiator grille. It was suggested to me that this was the LeBaron hood ornament but the "ring of fire" ornament is much shorter in length than this one appears to be. To my eyes it looks like a rabbit leaping from the radiator cap, but the images aren't clear enough to be sure.

Perhaps this is a one-off ornament used only on this Packard? Does anyone have a better photograph of this car and the hood ornament?

The Making of Modern Michigan
mmm.lib.msu.edu/record.php?id=19299

Inscribed on photo back: Packard MaCauley speedster, note alterations on 1933 version: full front fenders; high peaked crowns, full deading, skirts, pontoon rear fenders; high peaked crowns, beading around wheel openings, "Packard Twelve" hub caps, twin tail lights with vee lenses; tops of rims repeat Packard radiator shape theme, shortened rear bumper to fit within pontoon ends; slightly veed, plain dash replaces engine turned dash of 1932 version, 1934 type instrument panel; radio heat at top center, brake sector.

P.S. I don't know if this has been discussed previously on this forum (I searched but didn't find a discussion) so I apologize if this has been discussed at length.

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digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A153404

digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A153188

Thanks for the links to the original scans of the 1933 version of the Macauley Packard Speedster.

After blowing up the image I can tell that it is not a hood ornament from the Packard accessories catalogue. And it definitely is not the LeBaron style hood ornament. It looks like an animal with ears and a tail leaping out from the radiator cap. I am made even more curious by these photos.

I wonder what it could be?

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It's a rabbit. There are pictures floating around. It's an ugly little thing.

As I recall, it had a somewhat racy nickname describing some attribute of a hare or rabbit. I forget where I've read about it and seen pictures, probably in an old Packard Cormorant quarterly or that little book by Walt Harris on Packard mascots and hood ornaments.

Looks like its mounted to a Bail Cap

I should read my own library of Packard books more closely. First I checked the mascot book and came up empty.

However, the book titled "The Magnificent Packard Twelve of nineteen thirty four" has a clue. In the chapter devoted to the "Packard Custom Speedster" there are photos of each iteration of the car. The caption for the photo of Edward McCauley (sic) standing next to the car states that "E. M.'s special running dog radiator mascot is in place".

That's a good enough answer for me.

I've attached a couple of images of the book, including a photo of the final incarnation of the car. Note that with the creation of the 1935/1937 car the radiator mascot is now the LeBaron "ring of fire" style of hood ornament.

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Photo restorer Patty Allison of Imbued With Hues of Portland, Maine did this colorized version.

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If thats a Running Dog thats one hell of an ugly Running Dog. You have to wonder if McCauley was having a little fun. Bet hes looking down on us and laughing his ass off.

First version of this Speedster is being reproduced.

youtube.com/watch?v=MGlWxvY_Nv0

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