What's in a Logo – Automotive American

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Here are a few facts behind the logos, some true, some mythical!

These have of course changed over the years

Ford:

The Ford logo features a blue oval with the company’s name in white. It was designed in 1907 by Childe Harold Wills, one of the early engineers at Ford. The oval shape was introduced in 1912.

Chevrolet:

The Chevrolet logo, also known as the “Chevy Bowtie,” was first introduced in 1913. The exact origin is debated, but one popular theory is that it was inspired by a wallpaper design that co-founder William C. Durant saw in a French hotel.

Cadillac:

The Cadillac logo features a stylized crown and a wreath. It is said to be based on the Cadillac family crest of Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, the founder of Detroit.

Dodge:

The Dodge logo features a ram’s head inside a shield. The ram imagery is inspired by the Dodge brothers’ use of a ram as the hood ornament on their cars in the 1930s.

Chrysler:

The Chrysler logo consists of two right-angled, blue chevrons which are meant to evoke wings. This design is said to represent a stylized wax seal of a heraldic shield.

Jeep:

The Jeep logo features a blocky font with a distinctive “J” that resembles the grill of a Jeep. It’s a simple, bold design that reflects the ruggedness and durability of the brand.

General Motors (GM):

GM does not have a single logo for the entire company, but rather individual logos for its various brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC.

Buick:

The Buick logo features three shields in blue, white, and red. It’s a nod to the brand’s heritage and its reputation for quality, reputation, and excellence.

GMC:

The GMC logo features a stylized red letter “G” against a chrome background. It’s designed to convey strength and dependability.

We’ll take a look at some orphan brand logos in the future

2 thoughts on “What’s in a Logo”

Bill McCoskey – I was born with a greasy wrench in my mouth instead of that silver spoon. My parents and their friends all said I could tell them make, model and even year of most cars by the time I was 5. I bought my first car [1948 Packard] at age 14, and by the time I had a driver's license, I had 2 more Packards. My education was electrical and electronics engineering, but also having ADHD, I realized it just wasn't going to be a good idea to sit behind a desk 5 days a week. After school, The US Army decided to draft me, sending me to mechanics school. On arrival in Central Germany, I discovered the attraction to rare and unusual European cars. Once back in the USA, I started my own antique car business, and I've owned, bought and sold over 1,500 vehicles to date. My interests tends to run towards the rare and unusual, 1930s thru 1970s. Auto Union SP1000 to Tatra V8, Studebaker Golden Hawk to Rolls-Royce Cloud I, 1938 Ford convertible sedan to 1959 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, my tastes are pretty eclectic and wide ranging. My profile photo is me behind the wheel of the 1956 Packard Predictor, at the National Studebaker Museum.

Bill McCoskey says:

October 15, 2023 at 2:25 am

The Chrysler Pentastar emblem originally represented the 5 divisions of the company: Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, Desoto, and Dodge trucks.

The GMC logo is short for General Motors Coach.

1. Automotive American – Classic Cars, Americana, History, Internet Broadcasting & Podcasting
  
  Automotive American says:
  
  October 15, 2023 at 12:42 pm
  
  Thanks Bill, great information as always 🙂