Driving can be a scary task for new drivers; however, there are a number of accessories people add to make the task a little more mentally comfortable.
But there is one popular historical superstition that has been making its way onto cars from the motorcycling community lately, and that’s something called a ‘gremlin bell’ or ‘guardian bell’.
It seems like a strange tradition; however, it could be a wholesome present for any motoring fan. But what are they?
The urban legend goes that these are a good luck charm used to ward off any gremlins that infest your vehicle while driving or riding.
According to folklore sources, there are spirits that hide in the highways, looking for vehicles to jump onto and cause trouble. That could be causing mechanical issues that seemingly pop up out of nowhere and are hard to diagnose, flat tyres, flat batteries, or even causing accidents.
The bell is said to trap them in the hollow part and annoy them with the constant ringing to drive them away from your vehicle.
Obviously, this is an urban legend, and there is no scientific proof to suggest whether these spirits actually exist; however, it still makes people feel at ease on the road.
There are differing opinions as to where the tradition started, with some saying it has religious value due to a bell holding significance across multiple religions to 'ward away evil spirits'.
One of the more commonly told stories is of World War II pilots who were so exhausted from the war, they started hallucinating and seeing gremman (an Old English word that later evolved to mean gremlin) sabotaging their aircraft.
To counteract this, they called upon old religious ideologies by affixing a bell to the cockpit to ward off the gremlins. With motorcycle culture being popular amongst war veterans, it later made its way into motorcycling and now onto superstitious car owners.
There are countless other theories as to where it originated, but none of them have been confirmed.
Surprisingly, other cultures have similar equipment. Perhaps the most noticeable comes from the Indian community, who hang black tassels off their car.
As we discovered in a previous story, which you can read here, they’re called a paranda (also known as a parandi) – a spiritual token that some drivers use as a symbol of protection from evil and bad luck.
Professor Purushottama Bilimoria from the University of Melbourne and a senior researcher at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies said that while parandas are typically seen as a woman's hair ornament, “there's no reason why it cannot go over a vehicle which is considered one's partner”.
“When a Hindu, Sikh or Jain person buys a new vehicle (or is given a company car), the vehicle is brought to the temple to be consecrated and blessed so that it performs with efficiency and is protected from getting into accidents," he told Drive.
“The vehicle will have turmeric and red paste marks all over it, and it will be driven to the new car owner's home, with paranda and garlands proudly hanging over the bonnet.”
Back to the gremlin bells. Much like other religious items and superstitions, there are rules you need to follow to ensure their effectiveness.
What are the rules of a gremlin bell?
The most important 'rule' of a gremlin bell is that it must be bought by a loved one and given to you; you cannot buy one for yourself.
It needs to be attached to the lowest point of your motorcycle or car frame. It is said that the closer it is to the ground, the more likely it is that 'evil spirits' will jump out of the road and attach to the bell rather than your vehicle.
Finally, if you sell your vehicle, you must take it with you, as it is a token from a loved one to you, not your vehicle.
If all things are considered, you’ll have a safe journey, or at least the bell will be a constant reminder that you should ride and drive safely.
Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.
