Why a hood latch?

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

I noticed in JC's post for the lot of M37 parts he's selling something called a "hood secondary latch mechanism". I also noticed in the "Production Changes" section of this site it lists Jan 1952 as the month a hood safety catch was added (starting with SN 80017625). On my M's (with later serial numbers) they both have hood latches..........I just reach between the bars of the grill and hold it back while I lift the hood.........as I suppose most of you do. But why was the latch added? Were GI's forgetting to hook the latches on the side of the hood ???

Just wondering,
bob

[PoW]

All it took was once....

PoW

[m37jarhead]

Back in the day while "shaving" the hood, a friend of mine removed the hood latch on on his 1950 Chevrolet
sedan. His thinking was the spring loaded hood would be enough to hold down the hood. Being the smart
a$$ that I am, I told him to tie down the hood with some rope, but he was smarter than me.
During the test drive the hood flew up at 30 mph. Bent the hood all to heck, broke the windshield, bent the
hinges. It was my pleasure to tell him: I told you so.
As in a previous reply above: You only let that happen once.
Jerry

[PoW]

A hood catch is a necessity, and so are the bolts holding on a hardtop....

PoW