Logos - Automobile industry - VI

Buick



Incorporated in 1903, the first Buick automobile was built by its founder, David Dunbar Buick with the aid of his engineer, Walter L Marr between 1899 and 1900. By the end of this year, the financially struggling company was bought by James H Whiting, the then manager of Flint Wagon Works, who went to dissolve the Buick Motor Company of Detroit to incorporate the new company Buick Motor Works of Flint in Jan, 1904. With the support of his carriage builder William C Durant, who later formed General Motors, the company grew to become the largest car manufacturer of America.

The logo of Buick went over a number of changes during the years.

Earliest logos

(Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com)

The first catalog of Buick published around 1902-03 depicted an emblem with Uncle Sam walking astride a globe which had the words "Known all over the world" pulling a Buick engine on a wheeled cart.

(Around 1902)

(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

The 1905 catalog displayed a circular design with the name "Buick" adorning its center and the words "The Car of Quality" surrounding it. It was around this time frame the first widely recognized Buick logo- the name Buick on a large brass plate - made its appearance.

Around 1905
(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

Logo: 1905
(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

The year 1911 saw a giant B with the letters 'uick' inside it as the emblem.

Logo: 1911
(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

Logo: 1913
(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

The oldest version of the current logo originated in the year 1937 when the General Motors Styling Researcher Ralph Pew noticed the description of the ancestral coat of arms of the Scottish Buick family, then spelled Buik, in the 1851 edition of Burke's Heraldry. It described the arms as a red shield with a checkered silver and azure diagonal line running from the top left hand corner to the bottom right, an antlered deer head with a jagged neckline on the top right corner of the shield and a gold cross with a hole in the center on the lower left corner. This got accepted as the corporate logo, which over the years went through many transitions.

Logo : 1937

(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au/)

In 1939 the shield was elongated and narrowed, which was later modified in 1942 to include the classic heraldic symbol that remained in use until the military production during World War II.

Logo: 1939

(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

Logo: 1942
(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

The logo was widened in 1947 to suit the hood and grille styling.

Logo: 1947

(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

Logo: 1950
(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

1960 saw the birth of the tri-shield logo with the original crest symbol in it, representing the three Buick models launched in 1959, namely, LeSabre, Invicta and Electra. The three overlapping shields were introduced in the colors red, white (later made silver grey) and blue.

Logo: 1959

(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

Introduction of Buick Skyhawk series in 1975 resulted in a new emblem consisting of a hawk set on the words Buick even while the tri-shield remained as the primary symbol.

Logo: From 1975 to late 1980s
(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

The tri-shield replaced the hawk and the year 1990 saw the logo modification highlighting the outline of the original design, minus the antlered deer, the cross and the checkered diagonal.

Logo: 1990

(Source: http://www.buickclub.org.au)

The alterations in 2002 resulted in a new sheer design of the tri-shields without the colors.

Today Buick is remembered for its contributions to the automobile industry - the creation of Buick Motor Co that led to the formation of General Motors.

Logo transitions from 1937
(Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com)

Chevrolet


After moving out of General Motors, William C Durant joined forces with Louis Chevrolet, a well known race car driver, to design and build cars in 1909. As Louis Chevrolet had created his name in motor sports, the company was named after him. Established in 1911, the logo was first introduced in 1914.

Story states that William Durant was inspired by the bow tie pattern on the wall paper seen in a Paris hotel from which he had detached a piece to be used later on that was adopted as the company emblem.

In 1916, Chevrolet bought a majority stake in General Motors and got merged with it in 1917. Since then, the company has been a brand of General Motors.


Vauxhall


Based in the United Kingdom, Vauxhall started its operations as a company that built pumps and marine engines. Originally named Alex Wilson & Co, then Vauxhall Iron Works, the company was founded by Alexander Wilson in 1857. The first car, a five horsepower model steered using a tiller, with two forward gears and no reverse gear was completed in 1903.

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

The Vauxhall logo is based on the mythical creature called the 'Griffin' which has the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, symbolising power and majesty. The emblem derived from the coat of arms of Faulke de Breaute who built the house, Fulk's Hall, which later came to be known as Foxhall, then Vaux Hall and eventually Vauxhall, was where Alexander Wilson set up the shop in 1857. Later Vauxhall Ironworks moved to Luton which was Faulke de Breaute's second home, where it continues to operate till day. The letter 'V' on the red griffin holding the flag seen on the original emblem was also borrowed from the coat of arms.

The year 1925 saw a transition in the ownership when General Motors bought Vauxhall and later acquired Opel in 1929. The car production took a hit when Vauxhall was forced to build tanks for England during World War II which however resumed after the war. Today General Motor's right hand drive cars are sold under the Vauxhall brand and similar left hand drives as Opel.

The logo, remodelled nine times from its inception, was modernised in 2008. Alain Visser, chief marketing officer at General Motors Europe, said he hoped the new logo would “send a message that something is happening with this brand.”