Is It a Cross Or a Bowtie? A Comprehensive Guide Into Chevy’s Mysterious Logo
‘It definitely looks like a bowtie.’
‘But what about a cross?’
‘Or perhaps it represents neither of these symbols!’
These statements aren’t uncommon in logo-themed discussions involving automotive enthusiasts. But when an automobile company like Chevy chooses to be represented by something ambiguous, you can’t stop people from speculating on what the actual design is all about or even what it represents.
But then you’d realize that Chevy’s logo sports a distinctive design. And while the emblem’s origin is still shrouded in mystery, the image has undergone several modifications throughout its decades-long history.
We’ve prepared a comprehensive guide into the Chevy logo, including what the badge actually looks like, its meaning, and evolution timeline. But first things first:
About the Chevrolet Automobile Company
Chevy is the colloquial name for Chevrolet, whose full name is the Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company.
As the name implies, Chevrolet is an automobile division of the renowned American automaker General Motors (GM). The company was founded on November 3, 1911, by Louis Chevrolet, Arthur Chevrolet, and William C. Durant. It’s currently headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.
Chevy has grown over the years to become one of the world’s most successful automobile manufacturers. In the 1920s, the company overtook Ford as United States’ best-selling car.
Chevrolet also offers other services besides the manufacture and distribution of automobiles. They include vehicle financing and insurance, as well as car repairs and maintenance.
Chevy Logo Appearance
Logo Shape
Chevy’s logo sports a wide, golden yellow cross. The cross is slightly slanted and outlined in silver, sometimes black. The logo may also look like a bowtie. It all depends on what you want to make of it.
Perhaps it’s that ambiguity that makes Chevy’s logo one of most sought-after symbols in the automobile community.
Chevrolet’s logo generally appears as a standalone badge. However, some versions also include the company’s wordmark. The wordmark is usually set in the UPPERCASE and executed in solid black.
Logo Colors
Chevy’s logo has appeared in different colors over the years. The logo’s current iteration features a gold and silver or black color scheme. Gold is used for the cross or bowtie, with silver or black outlining the design. Black is also used for the wordmark. The entire badge is usually laid on a white or transparent background.
Logo Font
The font used for Chevy’s wordmark is unique and not based on any officially identified typefaces. This font was created exclusively for the automotive division.
However, there are several similar versions, such as the Aviano Future font. Aviano Future is a lesser-known typeface that stands out for its rich glyphs and massive character range.
Chevy Logo Symbolism
a) Symbolism of the Bowtie/Cross
The bowtie or cross design is the longest-lasting element of Chevrolet’s logo. A cross and bowtie are both common items whose meanings are easy to decipher. The original designer of Chevrolet’s bowtie emblem is also well known.
However, the history and symbolism of Chevy’s bowtie remains uncertain. Several theories have been advanced to explain how the design might have come into existence.
One of these theories is the Paris Theory, which postulates that Chevy’s co-founder William C. Durant was a renowned world traveler. During one of his trips to Paris, France, Durant was reportedly blown away by the design of his hotel wallpaper. He ripped off a piece of the beautiful wallpaper and brought it to the United States as a memento. The piece would later serve as the inspiration behind Chevrolet logo’s design.
Another theory, known as the Newspaper Theory, was advanced by Durant’s daughter and is available in her own memoirs. According to this theory, William Durant frequently doodled designs at the family’s dinner table. One day, she stumbled upon a cool-looking design and decided to adopt it as Chevy’s official logo.
There’s yet another theory called The Coalettes Theory, advanced by Durant’s wife. The theory suggests that Durant came up with Chevy’s iconic bowtie badge by modifying preexisting designs. He reportedly borrowed from a newspaper advertisement of Coalettes, a product manufactured by the Southern Compressed Coal Company.
Regardless of the origin of Chevy’s bowtie, one thing is for sure – the logo has succeeded in giving the automotive division its official brand identity.
b) Symbolism of the Wordmark
Chevrolet’s logo mostly appears alone. But it may also be accompanied by a wordmark in some versions. The lettering mainly serves as an additional mark of Chevy’s visual identity.
c) Symbolism of the Colors
Gold and silver stand for affluence and prestige, while black symbolizes power and elegance. These are some of the attributes associated with Chevrolet cars.
Chevy Logo History
https://youtu.be/-Rqodx8b5fI
By now, you probably already know that Chevrolet’s bowtie was designed by the company’s co-founder William C. Durant. The emblem originally debuted in 1913, two years after the company was founded. It featured a diverse color scheme, including light blue, gold, white, and black.
Before the introduction of Chevrolet’s bowtie, the company’s logo was a simple signature-style wordmark based on Louis Chevrolet’s handwriting. The wordmark continued to appear alongside the bowtie design until 1934 when Chevy’s logo received its first upgrade.
1934 – 1940
In 1934, Chevrolet did away with the blue and gold color shades from its logo. The emblem adopted a monochrome design. The wordmark also appeared in a bolder and chunkier sans-serif.
1940 – 1957
Chevy’s logo reverted to its original gold and blue color palette in 1940. The blue color became more intense while the gold framing got thicker. Also, for a brief period during the 1940s, Chevrolet replaced the bowtie on its logo with a stylized wordmark.
1957 – 1960
After using the blue-gold color palette for years, Chevrolet eventually changed the colors to white (for the cross) and red (for the background). The lettering also became red and the fonts reversed to their earlier serif structure.
1960 – 1977
Chevrolet’s logo introduced in 1960 is one of the most minimalistic badges the company has ever used. The red oval disappeared, rendering the logo in a monochrome. The wordmark was bolder, italicized, and executed in a sans-serif style.
1977 – 1985
In 1977, Chevy’s logo reverted to the blue color again. The design sported a thin white frame and soft black shadows. The logotype became smaller and appeared at the center of the horizontal line.
1985 – 2000
The current version of Chevy’s bowtie emerged in 1985. The wordmark disappeared, leaving the bowtie as the logo’s only element.
2000 – 2004
Chevy’s logo became 3D in 2000. The company adopted the red color on its logo once again. However, it still maintained the bowtie as the only element of its brand identity. Chevy experimented with several colors over the next few years. They include a red/bronze bowtie on a white background.
2004 – 2011
Chevy’s logo reverted back to gold in 2011. This was the only major design change the logo underwent.
2011 – Present
Chevy’s current logo was unveiled in 2011. The company retained the gold color for its bowtie but added a thicker silver outline. The outline sometimes appears in black.
Chevrolet has been around for more than a century, and so has the company’s logo. But like most automakers, Chevy has continually upgraded its logo design to represent the quality and performance of its automobiles.