Chevrolet affectionately referred to as Chevy, is an American automaker known for its production of mass-market vehicles. It functions as a division of General Motors, and its cars enjoy worldwide popularity, much like other GM brands, including Cadillac. The Chevrolet logo meaning, often called the ‘Bow tie’ logo, boasts a captivating history spanning over a century, yet its origins remain the subject of debate. Delving into the Chevrolet logo meaning also leads us to an unexpected connection with a coal company.
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Chevrolet Logo PNG
Chevrolet Information
Founded | 3 November 1911 |
Founder | Louis Chevrolet William C. Durant |
Logo Creator | William C. Durant |
Headquarters | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
Slogan | Find New Roads |
Official website | www.chevrolet.com |
Owner | General Motors |
Chevrolet Logo History
Chevrolet’s cross or bowtie emblem stands out as one of the most easily recognizable logos, not only within the automotive industry but also in the broader business world, all without the inclusion of the company’s name. The Chevrolet logo is a straightforward yet elegant amalgamation of two fundamental and overlapping shapes – a square and a parallelogram. The square is positioned at the center of the horizontal parallelepiped, creating a configuration that resembles a cross.
The initial Chevrolet car logo showcased the signature of the founder, Louis Chevrolet. However, it was swiftly replaced by the bowtie logo, which has remained largely unaltered over the last century. Nevertheless, there are numerous tales surrounding the origins of this iconic emblem.
Certain individuals attribute the logo to Louis Chevrolet’s Swiss heritage, and when examining the cross emblem, the influence of the Swiss flag cannot be discounted.
A more widely accepted account associates the logo with the other co-founder, William Durant, who also played a pivotal role in the establishment of General Motors alongside Charles Stewart Mott and Frederic L. Smith. It is said that Durant drew inspiration from a wallpaper pattern he had observed in a Paris hotel. However, Durant’s family holds a different perspective on these events.
In an interview, William Durant’s widow, Catherine, disclosed that he came across a similar emblem in a Virginia newspaper during a vacation around 1912. This discovery inspired him to consider creating a Chevrolet emblem along similar lines. The credibility of this theory gained additional support when Chevrolet historian Ken Kaufmann stumbled upon an old issue of “The Constitution,” an Atlanta, Georgia-based newspaper, which contained a significant clue. Intriguingly, the newspaper was dated November 12, 1911, just nine days after the incorporation of the Chevrolet Motor Company!
Chevrolet Logo Meaning Description
Before 1982, the Chevrolet logo was typically rendered in black and white or blue hues. However, in 1982, the emblem transformed, adopting a color scheme featuring yellow and gold tones with a silver border. This color palette has endured to the present day. Throughout the years, the logo has evolved to maintain a modern aesthetic, and in its most recent iteration in 2013, the silver piping gained even more prominence.
While the Chevrolet emblem has maintained its distinctive appearance throughout the years, it has undergone various experiments, including being placed within different shapes. On the 100th anniversary of the bowtie logo, Chevrolet created an infographic detailing the emblem’s history and evolution. This visual representation reveals that earlier versions of the logo also included the word “CHEVROLET” inscribed on the parallelepiped.