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A Visual History of the Corvette Logo

By Rain Noe - July 19, 2016

Original 1953 Design When Chevrolet was preparing their new Corvette sports car in the early '50s, the task of designing the logo fell to Chevy interior designer Robert Bartholomew. Bartholomew's design featured two crossed flags: One, the checkered flag that symbolized race victory, the other, the American Stars 'n Stripes. 1 of 22

Last-Minute 1953 Re-design However, using the U.S. flag for commercial purposes was illegal. Chevy execs nixed it just four days before the car's unveiling; you can picture Bartholomew sitting at his drafting table going goddammit.) His last-minute replacement was a flag sporting both the Chevrolet logo and a fleur-de-lis, a French symbol that was reportedly part of Louis Chevrolet's family crest. 2 of 22

1953 Actual Design New badges were whipped up based on Bartholomew's drawings, and the Corvette debuted in 1953 at New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel, sporting this badge. 3 of 22

1956 Modifications Bartholomew's design stuck around until 1956, then underwent multiple tweaks and changes throughout the years. Amassing a photo list has proved trickier than expected, as there were multiple emblems for the hood, tail and fenders, but we've tried to put together a visual chronology focused on the nose badges. In 1956 and '57, the Chevrolet chevron was added to the design. 4 of 22

1958 - 1961 In 1958 we see a typographic update that persists until 1961. 5 of 22

1962 In 1962, the letters were removed from the circle leaving it more Spartan-looking. 6 of 22

1962 The letters didn't go far, by the way. They were simply taken out of the logo and spelled out on the hood of the car instead. 7 of 22

1963 - 1964 1963 brought an interesting change: The American flag is sort of snuck back into the logo (though the French would probably see a Tricolor). The circle is also dispensed with, as the logo is now shaped to follow the pointed "nose" of the new '63 body design. 8 of 22

1965 - 1966 In '65 the logo goes even more minimalist, dropping the fluff and keeping just the flags. 9 of 22

1967 - 1972 In 1967 the flags get an angle change, and the flagpoles each disappear into the bottom of the opposite flag. This reeks of cost-cutting and I find the design ugly. But it would remain the same until 1972. 10 of 22

1973 - 1974 In 1973 we see the first "sunburst" design. Once again typography is added to the periphery. 11 of 22

1975 - 1976 I guess designers couldn't make up their minds in the '70s. From 1975 to 1976, the letters are dropped again. 12 of 22

1977 and 1979 In 1977, Chevy ditched the "sunburst" design for their Corvette logo and went with this clean, graphically-stylized update on the original crossed flags. Note that the fleur-de-lis from Louis Chevrolet's family crest is still up front on the red flag, with the Chevy "bowtie" partially obscured behind it. 13 of 22

1978 25th Anniversary 1978 was the Corvette's 25th Anniversary, and cars released that year got this fancy badge. (Corvettes from '79, however, reverted back to the design of the '77.) 14 of 22

1980 - 1981 In 1980 brought a new decade and more angular designs. Note that the flagpoles now form a "V" rather than an "X," as with the '63. Conspiracy theorists will see a Firebird or Thunderbird logo, but I don't think those cars were truly competitive fears--the former wasn't in the same price range and the latter wasn't in the same performance category. In any case, the logo persisted through '81. 15 of 22

1982 Collector Edition Buyers of the 1982 "Collector Edition" Corvette had this special badge with the throwback circle from the '63/'73/'76. It's also unusual in that the fleur-de-lis is dispensed with altogether, and for the first time in years we see an unobstructed bowtie. 16 of 22

1983 - 1996(!) For 1983 the fleur-de-lis again takes a hike, and the bowtie reigns supreme. The graphic treatment of the waving flag is dispensed with and the flags switch sides; I have no idea why, but it screams "focus group." The circle also makes a comeback. 17 of 22

1993 40th Anniversary Surprisingly that previous design, much like the Corvette's body style, would remain largely untouched for fourteen years. But in 1993, the car's 40th Anniversary, it was briefly interrupted by this variant. 18 of 22

1997 - 2004 But it's not until 1997 that the '83 design is retired at last. Its replacement brings back the stylization of the flapping flag, sees the return of the fleur-de-lis, and though that symbol now takes a back seat to the bowtie, they are both left unobstructed. 19 of 22

2005 - 2011, 2013 The early days of the Corvette, where the logo was updated every few years, are over. The logo in the previous shot is left alone until 2005 when it gets this refinement, seemingly in step with the advancements in computer graphics at the time. 20 of 22

2012 Centennial Edition The fleur-de-lis only disappears once more, briefly, for the "Centennial Edition" (Chevy's centennial, not the Corvette's) for 2012. 21 of 22

2014 - ? Finally we arrive at the 2014 design, which is still being used today. It's the most graphically-detailed version of the logo yet. The flags are no longer recognizable as such, yet retain the vestigial angles once meant to indicate breeze-flapped fabric. The bowtie is beveled, and both the black checkers and the red surfaces are striated.If history's any indication, this logo will be in place for years before we see a redesign. 22 of 22

Few American-made cars have inspired motor-headed children and teenagers like the Chevrolet Corvette. Originally introduced in 1953, the venerable 'Vette has gone through seven generations of stylistic changes, and the current model would be unrecognizable to the crowds that flocked to see it at its debut 63 years ago. What do you reckon they'd make of the Corvette's logo changes? And which is your favorite?

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Matt Kinsington

7 years ago

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Favorite is the 1962, if you include the lettering below the logo. That lettering is dead sexy.

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