Logos - Automobile Industry - V

Cadillac


Known for its innovations, from the electric starters to V8 and V16 cylinder engines, auto transmission to thermal imaging technology, Cadillac Automobile Company began to function as a separate entity on 22 Aug, 1902. It was the mastermind of Henry M Leland that led to the formation of the company from the 'remains' of the Henry Ford Company when it got dissolved. The company was named after the founder of Detroit, Antoine de La Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac.

The first logo of Cadillac which got registered in 1906, was however been in use right from its formation. The emblem included the shield with Merlettes or ducks and a tulip wreath round the crown which had seven teeth. It was based on the family crest adopted by Antoine de La Maothe from the shield of Baron Sylvester of Esparbes de Lussan.

Coat of Arms of the Baron's family
(Source: http://www.car-nection.com)

Cadillac Family Crest and First Logo of Cadillac Car Company

(Source: http://www.car-nection.com)

In 1909, when General Motors purchased the company, Leland and his son continued to offer their services until 1917 when they left to form Lincoln Motor Company.

Cadillac is a company which brought in many transitions in its logo right from its inception. Though the cause for the changes are not known, these are some of the modifications that it underwent over the years.

Logo- 1902 to 1999
(Source: http://www.carswallpapers.us)

(Source: http://neatorama.cachefly.net)

(Source: http://www.cadillacfaq.com)

The emblem from 1916 to 1918 consisted of the tulip wreath and the crown with nine teeth which was later modified in 1920 to seven teeth that was connected to the shield, used until 1925. The year 1932 saw the company adopting a logo with wings for cars with V8, V12 and V16 engines which remained in use till 1935.

Graphic designer, Anne-Marie Laverge-Webb, the person behind the new 'Wreath and Crest' logo employed a logo with a shield upholding the traditional colours of the company - red, silver, blue, black and gold- on a platinum background aimed to suggest technological advancement. The wreath was remodelled to give a mechanical effect to the emblem. The current logo was unveiled at the 1999 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, California.

From 1999

Lotus


Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, the founder of Lotus Cars, started his journey through the completion of the Mark 1 on an old 1930's Austin Seven in the garage of his girl friend's house in the year 1948. The second trial car built during his spare time while serving the RAF in 1948 was sold in Oct,1950 to Mike Lawson who won the Wrotham Cup and is considered to be the first Lotus car.

It was the demand for his cars that motivated him to form the entity, Lotus Engineering Company Ltd in partnership with Michael Allen in Jan, 1952.

The first logo of the company composed of the letters, ACBC - the initials of its founder Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman - with the word, 'LOTUS' on a triangular green lozenge placed on a yellow background. While the green denoted the British Racing Green, the colour which was designated to the British cars that competed in international events of the time, the yellow is said to signify the glorious days Chapman predicted for his company.


The emblem was modified on the death of the World Champion, Jim Clark, wherein the green and yellow were replaced by the colour black in 1968. The new emblem continued to adorn its cars until the death of Chapman in 1982.

Logo from 1968-1983

In 1986 when General Motors took over the company, it saw the birth of a new emblem which was noted for the absence of the initials of its founder.

Logo in 1986

The company, however, reintroduced the initials as a token of respect to Chapman who founded the company that brought in major players including Ayrton Senna who drove for the team from 1985 to 1987 winning twice in each year.

Logo - 1987-'88

Source: http://www.cartype.com/

It was finally in the year 1989 that a slightly modified version of the original logo returned wherein a darker green was placed on a mustard yellow background replacing the British Racing Green and yellow of the emblem.


Lotus was later sold to ACBN Holdings S.A, controlled by the Italian businessman Romano Artioli, the one time owner of Bugatti Automobili SpA. In 1996 the majority stakeholding was sold to the Malaysian car company, Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton) who is the current owner of Lotus.