One of the most successful and recognizable sports car brands in the world,  Corvette has had a long and interesting history throughout its 63 years of existence. Currently in its seventh generation, and having a highly profitable revenue, the Chevrolet Corvette logo and brand will most likely be part of our culture for a long time.

Corvette Logo Design Elements

Images featuring Corvette logos everywhere are instantly recognizable due to the crossed flags, a staple of the brand. The main design elements of the Corvette logo are the circle, the Chevrolet cross, and the fleur-de-lis.

Changes and Evolution

Whether it’s the Corvette Stingray logo, the Jake or “Punisher skull” logo, or the regular C1 through Corvette C7 logo, the brand’s emblem has changed quite a lot over the years.

The common elements maintained throughout the many incarnations of the Corvette logo are the crossed flags, the Chevrolet cross, and the fleur-de-lis. Other common elements included the name of vehicle line below the main emblem, as well as a circle which was occasionally present, surrounding the crossing flags.

Shape

The shape of the Chevrolet logo represents two crossed flags, as is traditional for winning a race. Designed by Robert Bartholomew before the first Corvette car was announced, the Corvette logo was pretty similar to what we have today – the crossed flags, one checkered, one sporting the Chevrolet cross and fleur-de-lis, inside a circle. The words “Chevrolet” and “Corvette” were also present inside the circle.

The flags kept their poles up until 2004, when a new company-wide rebranding and a new generation of vehicles also came with a new logo change. Starting with 2004, the Corvette logo lost the flagpoles, leaving just the fabric blowing in the breeze to be represented on the emblem.

However, that isn’t the only major design change. At one point between 1982 and 1984, the flags in the Corvette logo changed places. This was meant to symbolize a new era for the company. There are, however, a few more things to mention about the shape of the Corvette logo.

The two symbols present on the emblem are the Chevrolet cross and the fleur-de-lis logo reported to be part of Louis Chevrolet’s family crest. One of the first examples of heraldry in the work of logo design, it was a bold move for Bartholomew to include the coat of arms in the Corvette logo. It paid off nonetheless.

As for the circle that sometimes surrounded the Corvette logo, it was repeatedly considered to be moot and not really fitting the brand, but it was repeatedly brought back until 2004. While it has been a while since a new Corvette logo featured the circle, a future company rebranding might very well bring it back.

Last, but not least, the Corvette Stingray got its own logo. It features the small Corvette logo to the side of the big “Stingray“ name. To the right side, meanwhile, there is a small, minimalistic stingray whose tail is underlining the AY part of Stingray.

Color

The predominant colors in the Corvette logo, over the years, are red, white, black, and silver. Occasionally, the metallic gold of the Chevrolet logo was also present. And, while all these colors are usually meant to invoke different feelings and reactions when seen individually, they are meant to perfectly describe the brand when viewed together.

First of all, red is the color of fire and energy. Meant to invoke feelings of strength, determination, power, and passion, red is an emotionally intense color. Red can enhance the human metabolism, raise the blood pressure, and increase the respiration rate. For this, it is often used to trick customers into thinking they have “fallen in love” with the product.

Silver, meanwhile, is used to suggest high-tech, sleekness, modernism, elegance, sophistication, and glamor, as well as wealth and riches. It is the perfect color to use for a sports and luxury car brand.

Font

Streamlined, the Corvette logo font is very modern-looking. It is meant to suggest the quality, innovation level, and the efficiency of the brand, as well as to show off its very high-tech nature. It is one of the most recognizable fonts in automobile history.

Inspiration and Trivia

The Corvette logo was originally created by an interior decorator named Robert Bartholomew in the very early ‘50s, as Chevrolet was preparing to launch the Corvette. The Corvette logo featured two different crossed flags. The original design portrayed the other flag, the one crossing the checkered one, as being the American flag.

However, since it was illegal to use the American flag for the commercialization of products back in the 1950s, the logo Corvette logo had to be changed quickly before the launch. This was happening four days before the big unveiling, so it’s understandable why Bartholomew was not too happy with the way Chevrolet handled things.

Conclusion

Perhaps one of the most recognizable logos in the history of automobiles, the Corvette logo has built the company a reputation based on reliability, quality, and force. While they aren’t the cheapest cars out there, nor the most versatile, Corvettes are undoubtedly some of the most reliable and efficient sports cars out there. Read more about car logos significance in our Jaguar logo history article.

Bugatti was founded in 1909 by Ettore Bugatti, a racing enthusiast with a background in the arts. Bugatti’s goal has always been to combine artistic designs with engineering innovations. The company declined after the Bugatti heir died in a racing accident, but it was revived in the 80s by an Italian businessman. Though the brand has changed hands many times, the Bugatti logo has remained the same.

The beautiful Bugatti logo has a jewel-like appearance that compliments the elegant appearance of the company’s vehicles. Read this article to discover the inspirations and reasoning behind the classic Bugatti logo.

Bugatti Logo Design Elements

The overall shape of the logo for Bugatti is an elongated, horizontal oval. The border of the oval is silver with a pattern of red dots. The background within this border is also red. Bold, capitalized letters stretch across the center of the oval, saying “Bugatti.” The letters are white with a shadow of black stretching towards the right. Above the brand name are the initials of the brand’s founder. A backward E connects to a forward facing B in the top of the logo. The EB emblem is smaller than the brand name. It does not have a shadow, and the letters are entirely black. Unlike the brand name, the font used for the EB is a serif font.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

Ettore Bugatti loved the logo shape so much that he never changed it. Other companies who took over after his death kept the logo the same. Bugatti has changed so many times, so having the same logo helps to retain a sense of continuity. A few Bugattis only use the “EB” portion of the logo on their hoods, but the official Bugatti logo never changes.

2. Color

Typically, the coloring of the logo at Bugatti remains the same. There are slight variations depending on the location of the logo though. Car emblems that feature the logo always use silver for the rim. However, when the logo shows up in advertising for the company, the rim sometimes looks white or gray.

3. Font

The Bugatti logo design shows a few different font types. The bolder serif font of the EB emblem stands out against the smoother curves of the “Bugatti” portion of the logo.

Influences/Inspiration

There are varying stories about the meaning of the 60 red dots around the border of the logo for Bugatti. One tale from Bugatti logo history suggests that the dots were chosen to draw attention to Bugatti’s superior engineering. Instead of using gaskets like other luxury car manufacturers, Bugatti chose to use safety wires instead. The small dots around the logo may mimic the appearance of the safety wire fixtures. Another story suggests that the dots may represent pearls. Even if this was not the original intention, they do make the logo look more like a piece of jewelry.

Trivia

The Bugatti logo history has an unusual origin story. Unlike other famous car brands like the Ferrari logo, neither a professional graphic designer or an owner of the company created the symbol. The logo designer was instead the father of the company’s founder. Carlo Bugatti was a famous manufacturer of Art Nouveau furniture and musical instruments. When he heard that his son needed a logo, Carlo offered to help him out. Most luxury car brands that also create racecars have a different logo for their racing team. Bugatti is so proud of its logo that Bugatti race cars feature the same logo.

Conclusion

The proud history of Bugatti is a major selling point, yet many different companies have owned the brand. Retaining one continous logo ensures that the Bugatti brand remains stable and recognizable. Avoiding changing or modernizing the logo has been a wise move for Volkswagen and other Bugatti owners. Though different owners may focus on different aspects of car design, all Bugattis are united by their shared logo.

Founded in 1963, Lamborghini is an Italian sports car and luxury SUV brand. Lamborghini has managed to weather several financial crises and even a period of bankruptcy due to their enduring reputation for excellence. Their cars have very powerful engines, but they also look very beautiful and elegant. This car company labels all of their vehicles with a bold bull logo that is instantly noticeable. The Lamborghini logo helps the company to call attention to their products. It appears on steering wheels, car hoods, and tire rims. Read this article to discover the origins behind the famous bull motif.

Lamborghini Logo Design Elements

Lamborghini logo history has featured the same logo for the entire duration of the brand. The logo is a black shield shape that curves across the top and meets in a point at the bottom. The outline of the logo for Lamborghini cars is gold. The same gold shade appears in the color of the word, “Lamborghini” written across the top of the logo. The interior shade for the logo is a deep black color that really makes the gold pop. There is some light highlighting along the black parts of the logo to make it appear more three-dimensional. A realistic, golden image of a charging takes up most of the logo’s interior space. This image is heavily associated with the Lamborghini brand.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The Lamborghini logo design is essentially unchanged since its creation. In some decorative features, the company chooses to only feature the bull. However, any official representation of the logo includes the shield shape and lettering alongside the charging bull. The bull is always shown with its head down and its tail up as it charges forward.

2. Color

Most versions of the logo are black and gold. Black conveys a sense of elegance and quality, and gold represents luxury and wealth. This powerful color combination makes the cars look like a status symbol. The Lamborghini logo history does feature a few color changes on concept cars. Some concept designs for Lamborghini show a silver and black version of the logo. This logo color change looks sleeker and more industrial.

3. Font

The font on the logo is very different from the font that appears on the company’s signs and trademarks. Lamborghini typically uses curling fonts that make the brand look classy and traditional. However, on the logo, the font is a bold, capitalized, san serif font. This custom font creation matches the boldness and bluntness of the bull symbol.

Influences/Inspiration

Ferruccio Lamborghini, the company’s founder, has many ties to bulls. He was born on April 28, so his Zodiac symbol is Taurus. Lamborghini also named one of his first vehicles, the Miura, after a famous Spanish bullfighter. He felt that the aggressive power and shocking style of his cars were accurately represented by the Spanish fighting bulls. The colors and shape of the logo are very similar to the black and yellow Ferrari horse logo. Both Lamborghini and Ferrari were Italian sportscar makers who competed for business. Lamborghini wanted a logo similar to his rival’s famous horse logo. He decided to do a simpler, more aggressive version of the Ferrari logo since his cars were simpler and stronger than Ferrari’s.

Trivia

Lamborghini might mostly be associated with sports cars, but the bull logo shows up on some tractors and other utility vehicles. Many of Lamborghini’s cars have names that reference bulls and bullfighting. Lamborghini named the Islero car after a bull that killed a bullfighter. The Jalpa gets its name from a breed of bulls, and the Estoc’s name comes from a sword used by matadors. The newly unveiled Lamborghini hybrid car has the name of the half man, half bull hybrid from Grecian mythology. The Lamborghini brand constantly references bullfighting. Therefore, the logo for the company is particularly appropriate.

Conclusion

The logo for Lamborghini accurately represents the brand’s devotion to power and strength. Unlike more delicate sports cars, Lamborghinis can withstand powerful forces. Just like a charging bull, they combine speed, agility, and strength. Their sturdy engines are capable of achieving great speeds very quickly. The great design and history behind the Lamborghini logo is an effective representation of Lamborghini’s vehicles.

Many luxury car manufacturers tend to be Italian, so McLaren is unique. McLaren Automotive stands out because it was founded by a British man in 1963. In modern times, McLaren is still located in Great Britain. Bruce McLaren started the company with dreams of creating some of the fastest road and racing vehicles possible. The company distinguishes itself from other luxury car brands with a bold and simple logo. Instead of being an elaborate crest or shield, the logo at McLaren is straightforward and basic. This article will examine the many design decisions that went into creating the iconic McLaren logo.

McLaren Logo Design Elements

The McLaren logo uses a basic, red and black color scheme. The main feature of the logo’s design is the brand name, “McLaren Automotive.” The word is a thick, white font that is very short and wide. Most of the letters in the logo are bold and straight. However, the M at the front is an italic letter instead.

This angled M conveys a sense of speed and movement as it leans forward. The angle of the M mirrors the angle of the crescent graphic at the end of the logo. The bright red crescent shape loops around the top of the last N in the name. The crescent shape is bordered by a shadowed outline that looks three dimensional. Both the shape and the words are on a black background. Unlike other car symbols, like the Lamborghini logo, McLaren have kept it low-key and minimal both with their color scheme and graphic design.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The McLaren logo design has changed greatly in the past few decades. At first, the logo was a shield that contained a checkered flag, a kiwi silhouette, and a race car silhouette. This logo primarily appeared on items for the racing team. Eventually, the company merged to create McLaren International.

The new 1981 logo featured the brand’s name below a checkered design of chevrons. In 1991, this logo shrunk down to just one chevron above the brand name. In 1998, a redesign turned the chevron shape into a crescent curve. The logo has remained essentially the same since then. The last major change was in 2012 when a rectangle appeared around the rest of the logo.

2. Color

The original logo is the only one in McLaren logo history to feature a green color. The rest of the logos have been black, red, and white. Most versions of the logo had black text and a red shape above the text. The newest version has white text with a black background.

3. Font

McLaren originally used a very bold, thick font for its logos. Modern versions are slightly thinner and more stylized. The logo uses a proprietary, modified version of the Serene font. This custom designed font has been on all logos between 2003 and the present.

Influences/Inspiration

The modern logo is a reference to many of the other logo creations in McLaren logo history. It gradually evolved as the 1981 logo became more streamlined and simplified. The modern logo is almost identical to the 1991 version. McLaren eventually settled on the modern logo because they felt that it was an accurate representation of their company. The crescent shape at the top of the logo is officially referred to as “the McLaren Speedmark.”According to the company, it “bares similarities to the vortices created by our rear wing. It appeared on the top of our cars’ side-pods. They evoke the aggressive markings found on predatory animals and insects.”

Trivia

There have been many different designers and artists involved in the logo for McLaren. Michael Turner designed the original logo. Michael Turner creates many popular racing paintings, and he met the brand’s founder at Formula 1 racetracks. Raymond Loewy, a very successful logo designer, created the second iteration. Other design companies were involved in the creation of other versions of the logo. The newest version of the logo was only created because the company was moving to a high-tech building at the McLaren Technology Centre.

Conclusion

In modern times, McLaren primarily produces cars in the Sports, Super, Ultimate, and Legacy series. The McLaren logo is also on some concept cars and collaboration products done with Mercedes-Benz. The company continues to use physics and engineering to design extremely fast cars. They combine racetrack expertise with sports vehicle standards to create road-going cars for enthusiasts who love speed. Their simple, understated logo clearly depicts McLaren’s devotion to quality design and extreme speed.