Just in time for the Woodward Cruise outside Detroit, Michigan, the Chevrolet bowtie logo, recognized globally as the Chevy emblem celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
In 1913, Chevrolet co-founder William C. Durant introduced the signature Chevy Bow Tie on the 1914 Chevrolet H-2 Royal Mail and the H-4 Baby Grand, centered at the front of both models.
The bowtie has adorned 215 million Chevrolet’s over the last century.
While the bowtie has been present for 100 years, the details surrounding its origin are still uncertain and a bit of lore surrounds it. One popular story has Durant tearing a piece of wallpaper from  a Parisian hotel that held the now famous design. Mr. Durant’s widow claimed he saw a similar logo in a newspaper advertisement while in Hot Springs, Virginia. In fact a ad for a coal company did sport a similar design as far back as 1911.
Regardless of the inspiration, it is one of the most recognized car manufacturer symbols and one that doesn’t even have a name inscribed or attached to it. In this global economy, perhaps that’s best?
Some images © Chevrole
