Trivia Question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Trivia Question
I'm a long time Chevy guy. but did not know the answer when my son asked me this. On the Corvette crossed flag emblem ( and most other Chevrolet emblems) there is a checkered flag, and a flag with the bow-tie logo and another item that kinda looks like a torch, also sorta looks like a boy scout logo. Does anyone know exactly what it signifies? Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
It's a fleur-des-lis...a symbol of France. The Chevrolet family was French. There is an old law that prohibits using the American flag on a lot of for-profit items (not really enforced anymore), so GM had to change the original Autorama Corvette emblem (which used an American flag - the museum in Bowling Green has one of them, I believe). When they had to change the flags, they decided to use the Chevrolet bowtie as a symbol of a company, and the fleur-des-lis to symbolized the heritage of the corporate founders. If you want to know more, search on wikipedia or something.
Time to sit back and wait for all the "freedom fries" loonies to start ripping the emblems off of their cars...
Time to sit back and wait for all the "freedom fries" loonies to start ripping the emblems off of their cars...
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,776
Likes: 142
From: North of Atlanta GA
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
It's a fleur-des-lis...a symbol of France. The Chevrolet family was French. There is an old law that prohibits using the American flag on a lot of for-profit items (not really enforced anymore), so GM had to change the original Autorama Corvette emblem (which used an American flag - the museum in Bowling Green has one of them, I believe). When they had to change the flags, they decided to use the Chevrolet bowtie as a symbol of a company, and the fleur-des-lis to symbolized the heritage of the corporate founders. If you want to know more, search on wikipedia or something.
Time to sit back and wait for all the "freedom fries" loonies to start ripping the emblems off of their cars...
Time to sit back and wait for all the "freedom fries" loonies to start ripping the emblems off of their cars...
And GM produces cars and parts in Canada and their language is. . . .you guessed it, French!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
I'd guess it has to do with Louis Chevrolet and his racing history...
Louis Chevrolet was a racer who raced in the very first Indianapolis 500, and had a colored racing history, the biggest of which involved him and his brother Gaston winning the 1920 Indianapolis 500.
I would imagine that the Crossed Flags logo with the Fleur-de-lis (the logo that you said looks kind of like a torch and kinda like the Boy Scout logo is a Fleur-de-lis) symbol on the red flag could be a throwback to his heritage of being a Frenchman, and would certainly match up with the checkered flag that's also matched up in the logo...
Anyone else know if I'm on the right track by guessing?
Louis Chevrolet was a racer who raced in the very first Indianapolis 500, and had a colored racing history, the biggest of which involved him and his brother Gaston winning the 1920 Indianapolis 500.
I would imagine that the Crossed Flags logo with the Fleur-de-lis (the logo that you said looks kind of like a torch and kinda like the Boy Scout logo is a Fleur-de-lis) symbol on the red flag could be a throwback to his heritage of being a Frenchman, and would certainly match up with the checkered flag that's also matched up in the logo...
Anyone else know if I'm on the right track by guessing?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Considering that I already said it...yes.
And if anyone else doesn't believe me: http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/history/emblem.html
By the way, I found that article in about 2 seconds using google.
And if anyone else doesn't believe me: http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/history/emblem.html
By the way, I found that article in about 2 seconds using google.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Louis Chevrolet born in Switzerland was a famous racer.
Durant used his name to capitalize on his fame.
http://www.flint.lib.mi.us/timeline/...hevroletL.html
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/ref...ouis_chevrolet
His bust stands at the entrance to the museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Durant used his name to capitalize on his fame.
http://www.flint.lib.mi.us/timeline/...hevroletL.html
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/ref...ouis_chevrolet
His bust stands at the entrance to the museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Originally Posted by Z-man
What???? Is that what folks in CA think??? 
Now, if I can just convince you we're not all shooting at each other down here on the freeways......
Best,
Greg
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Originally Posted by Greg
Of course not! I know you don't all speak French, you don't all live in igloos, you don't all say say "eh", you're not all beer guzzling lumberjacks, you don't live under British rule, etc......
Now, if I can just convince you we're not all shooting at each other down here on the freeways......
Best,
Greg
Now, if I can just convince you we're not all shooting at each other down here on the freeways......
Best,
Greg
Heh...I used to work in a call center where we got French speaking Canadiens. Man oh man, those guys were the RUDEST people I've had to deal with. They'd get really mad if you didn't speak French, even though they spoke English perfectly well.
But, I do kind of have to wonder why Canada has the Queen of England on their money? Canada's its own separate country...Is it because they had some British ties at one point? Any Canadians know?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Santa Monica California
Isn't there some kind of legend regarding the checkered flag? I heard/read someplace that the color of the uppermost checker on the pole side of the flag (either white or black) is supposed to denote something. I've looked in my car and the checkered flag is both ways.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
Originally Posted by jpw73vert
Isn't there some kind of legend regarding the checkered flag? I heard/read someplace that the color of the uppermost checker on the pole side of the flag (either white or black) is supposed to denote something. I've looked in my car and the checkered flag is both ways.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
Originally Posted by Sprzout
Heh...I used to work in a call center where we got French speaking Canadiens. Man oh man, those guys were the RUDEST people I've had to deal with. They'd get really mad if you didn't speak French, even though they spoke English perfectly well.
But, I do kind of have to wonder why Canada has the Queen of England on their money? Canada's its own separate country...Is it because they had some British ties at one point? Any Canadians know?
But, I do kind of have to wonder why Canada has the Queen of England on their money? Canada's its own separate country...Is it because they had some British ties at one point? Any Canadians know?