What we do know is that Bartholomew’s design stuck around until 1957, then underwent multiple tweaks and changes throughout the years. Sadly, after that story, all mention of specific designers associated with subsequent logos are nil. New badges were whipped up based on Bartholomew’s drawings, and the Corvette debuted in 1953 at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel. (It’s not clear why they waited until four days before the car’s unveiling, but you can practically picture Bartholomew sitting at his drafting table saying dammit.) Bartholomew’s last-minute replacement was a flag sporting both the Chevrolet logo and a fleur-de-lis, a French symbol that was reportedly part of Louis Chevrolet’s family crest. However, using the American flag to promote commercial products was illegal at the time, and Chevy execs reportedly decided at the last minute to nix that part of the design. Bartholomew’s design (above) featured two crossed flags: One, the checkered flag that symbolized race victory, the other, the American Stars ‘n Stripes. This year the same emblem was used, but a silver plate was extended between the tops of the flags and the outline with “ANNIVERSARY 50” engraved in black (“50” was filled with a light gold color).When Chevrolet was preparing their new Corvette sports car in the early ’50s, the task of designing the emblem (or logo) fell to Chevy interior designer Robert Bartholomew. The emblem was still placed in the same area, but the gas lid was moved to the side of the car.Ģ003 marked the 50th anniversary of the Corvette. This design was used on both front and rear through 2004, except for in 2003 and for 2004 Commemorative Edition Corvettes.C5s no longer featured the rear emblem on the gas lid. They were placed on top of a black circle outline. The poles were once again part of the flags and the flags were once again rippled. The red flag was once again red and once again featured the fleur-de-lis (with one line underneath) beside the bowtie.

This design returned to a look reminiscent of emblems prior to the C4 body style, though to date the colors have never been returned to their original sides. 1997 saw the introduction of the C5 Corvette and, of course, a new emblem design.

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