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e

Graphic Design

A Visual History of Corvette Logos, Part 2

By Rain Noe - January 31, 2013

In 1977, Chevy ditched the "sunburst" design for their Corvette logo and went with (above) this clean, graphically-stylized update on the original crossed flags. 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.

1978 was the Corvette's 25th Anniversary, and cars released that year got this fancy badge:

Corvette's from '79, however, reverted to the design of the '77.

In 1980 a new decade arrived, bringing with it more angular designs. The '80 Corvette saw a weird kickback to the 1963 design by arranging the flagpoles in such a way that they formed a "V." Conspiracy theorists will see a Firebird or Thunderbird logo in their mind's eye, but I don't think those cars were truly competitive fears, as 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.

Buyers of the 1982 "Collector Edition" Corvette had this special badge with the throwback circle from the '63 or '73 ot '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.

For 1983 to '84, 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.

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

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:

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

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

Finally we arrive at the most recent redesign, for the 2014 we mentioned earlier.

As a sign of the times, 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. So: Now that you've seen virtually every Corvette logo under the sun, which is your favorite, and why?

More 'vette
» New Corvette Video Opens with... the Designers
» A Visual History of Corvette Logos, Part 1
» A Visual History of Corvette Logos, Part 2

Graphic Design

Rain Noe

Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.

5 Comments

Steve Meyer

a year ago

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That's a 1964 corvette fender emblem. I have an identical one, but in considerably better shape. Unfortunately, yours is pretty much worthless with the dent and pits in it. In spotless condition, it may have been worth as much as $100.

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Hunter Berg

a year ago

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Can anyone please tell me the year if this and if it’s rare or not? My dad got it from an auto body guy and it was now past down to me. Thanks

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avery

6 years ago

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it seems obvious that the flags changed sides in 83 so that the bowtie angle would match the flag angle.
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Cindy Fahnestock-Schafer

6 years ago

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I realize that we must evolve with the times, but I don't see any retro left in their new logo. Classic, maybe, but overall the design is sleek and NEW. I suppose no one notices when the car itself is breathtaking, who cares about the tiny logo pinned to the front.
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Marcus

6 years ago

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You can also check here on the history behind the Corvette emblem and how it came to be:

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/history/emblem.html

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