Chevy Emblem Through The Years: A Look At History
The Chevy emblem is as iconic in the automotive industry as the Eiffel Tower is in Paris. Its bowtie design is reminiscent of crisscrossing pathways or a bond of friendship, both of which perfectly encapsulate the previous Chevrolet motto, "Find New Roads," and the current one, "Together Let's Drive." Despite the symbol's recognition, however, the Chevy logo history is a bit mysterious.
If you're a longtime Chevrolet enthusiast with a thirst for automotive details, this deep dive into the Chevy emblem origin is right up your alley. Yes, GM Parts Direct is a leader in the OEM auto parts business, but we're also a group of gearheads who love diving into interesting topics like the Chevrolet emblem and its background.
Explore the mystery and lore of the Chevy bowtie emblem with us to discover the global influences behind the bowtie design. If you need one, you can even order a Chevy emblem replacement for your vehicle at the bottom of this page!
The Chevy Emblem Origin Story: Who Created the Iconic Bowtie, and Why?
The official Chevy emblem origin saga was divulged in 1961 in the well-known piece of literature called "The Chevrolet Story." According to this company-sponsored account, Chevrolet cofounder William C. Durant is responsible for the creation of the modern Chevy logo. It's said that Durant, an avid traveler in the early 1900s, discovered the bowtie design on some wallpaper while staying at a hotel in Paris, France.
The tale continues with Durant tearing off a piece of the wallpaper and taking it home to begin his design work. However, since this telling of the Chevy logo history in 1961, the company has released two other versions of the story, so no one can say for sure how and why the Chevy emblem was created.
Personally, we like the air of mystery behind the Chevy emblem history. Some automakers have such straightforward (and rather dull) origins, but Chevrolet keeps us on our toes for everything from its roots to its current vehicle offerings.
The Evolution of the Chevy Bowtie Emblem
If you're a lifelong Chevrolet driver or auto show attendee, you might be familiar with how the Chevy emblem has changed over the past few decades. The original Chevrolet logo was little more than a bold-typeface, signature-style mark developed by Chevrolet cofounder Louis Chevrolet in 1911. Two years later, the first bowtie emblem made its appearance with the word "Chevrolet" printed in all caps across its center.
By the 1950s, the bowtie logo had expanded to include several new versions. Some nestled a small bowtie inside a coat of arms, and others surrounded the bowtie/coat of arms design with different types and sizes of wings. Specific Chevrolet models also featured their own Chevy emblem designs – for example, the Chevy Corvette has showcased multiple racing-inspired logos that include racing flags.
You can nerd out with the GM Parts Direct team even more by exploring the Chevy bowtie logo timeline below, which details the history of the Chevrolet logo from its creation in 1911 to the present day.
Chevy Logo History
1911: The Chevrolet Motor Company is born and the black-and-white Chevrolet nameplate is created by company co-founder Louis Chevrolet. This logo is a simple script with no surrounding shape.
1913: The Chevy emblem is updated to feature an all-caps "Chevrolet" nameplate across the center of a bowtie logo. This new design takes center stage on Chevrolet H-2 Royal Mail and H-4 Baby Grand models.
1936: The Chevy bowtie logo is added to all new Chevy trucks.
1947: Wings are added to the bowtie emblem, and the "Chevrolet" nameplate is dropped. This new logo appears on Chevrolet Fleetline, Fleetmaster, and Stylemaster cars.
1955: This year's Chevy Bel Air, Chevy 210, Chevy 150, and Chevy Nomad models drop the wings from their emblem design but gain an elegant chrome bezel.
1969: The Chevy emblem as we know it today is born, though blue and chrome are its predominant colors. The blue Chevy bowtie logo appears on multiple Chevrolet models.
1974: A stunning silver bowtie emblem debuts on the Chevy Impala, signifying the brand's move toward more refined automotive design.
1982: New models like the Chevy Blazer start to sport a gold bowtie design that features a striated center and a chrome bezel edge.
1995: A warmer gold hue replaces the 1982 bowtie color and is regularly used to emblazon Chevrolet trucks and cars.
2004: Beginning with the Chevy Malibu, the gold Chevy bowtie logo with a thin chrome bezel now appears on every Chevrolet vehicle and becomes widely known and recognizable across the globe.
2013: The modern Chevy emblem sports a wider chrome edge and now resembles the logo we know and love. This emblem appears on every model across the Chevrolet family.
Present Day: Chevrolet executives say the timeless Chevy emblem won't be changing anytime soon, so the automaker's legacy will continue to grow.
Order Your Chevy Emblem Replacement at GM Parts Direct
Has your vehicle's Chevy emblem been damaged or destroyed? Not to worry! The GM Parts Direct inventory includes Chevy emblem replacement parts, including Gold and Blackout bowties for multiple model years, at excellent prices. Your new Chevy bowtie logo will ship directly to your home, we guarantee a good fit because we sell genuine OEM parts, and we offer a manufacturer warranty1 so you can replace your Chevy emblem with confidence.
GM Parts Direct: Your Home For Genuine Chevy Parts and Accessories
It's likely that you'll need to replace more than a Chevy emblem over the course of a vehicle's lifetime. Chevrolet models are widely known for their durability, yet even the most well-made cars, trucks, and SUVs need upkeep and repair. Shop the GM Parts Direct website to view all Chevy parts for sale that can help your Chevrolet model stay healthy for as long as you want to drive it.
Need Chevy performance parts for sale to outfit the racing car of your dreams? We carry parts that fit Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Dodge, Jeep, and Pontiac models, among many others, from as far back as 1984, plus MOPAR parts and accessories like air filters, brake rotors, starters, floor mats, roof racks, and shift knobs. We'll help you customize your make and model however you'd like!
Our website also lets you filter your search by year, make, part number, or keyword, or you can use our online Chevy VIN decoder to make shopping that much easier. Don't trust your vehicle to just any parts retailer – trust GM Parts Direct for genuine parts all the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the origin of the Chevy emblem?
The origin of the Chevy emblem is a little murky, having a few different versions, but the most widely accepted story is that Chevrolet cofounder William C. Durant created the Chevy bowtie logo while visiting a French hotel. Legend has it that Durant was inspired by the hotel wallpaper and designed the Chevy emblem to reflect his vehicles' capabilities and hardworking performance.
What do the colors of the Chevy emblem signify?
Chevy emblem colors do not carry special meaning or signify a change in powertrain or performance. Instead, the Chevy bowtie logo color is simply made to match each model and trim and highlight each Chevrolet vehicle's personality. The gold bowtie emblem was the automaker's first logo, while the black bowtie joined the lineup in 2016, making its debut on the Chevrolet Camaro.
What does the Chevy emblem represent today?
Today, the Chevy emblem represents the strength, dedication, and vision of the Chevrolet company in creating its family of cars, trucks, and SUVs. The original Chevy emblem was designed to reflect the first Chevrolet motto, "Find New Roads." In 2013, Chevrolet CMO Steve Majoros updated the company's motto to "Together Let's Drive," and in 2016, the black bowtie logo was introduced on select models.
1Warranties listed on this web page shall not be solely relied upon. Warranties may be subject to specific terms, restrictions, exclusions, and fees. Additional warranty information may be obtained by visiting the official website of the warranty provider. Contact our dealership for complete details.