1953-1962 Chevrolet Corvette Badge Spotter's Guide

For the last 54 years, we have been treated to not only a long line of beautifully styled Corvettes, but also to the painted, chrome-plated, and die-cast works of art that adorn their hoods, decklids, and fenders. Over the next few issues, we will be taking a detailed look at each generation's badge designs, starting this month with the '53-'62 cars. Little did the designers of the time know that their simple circular motif would set the standard for years to come.

'53-'55 Front Badge The circular badge with the racing flags in the middle started it all. Although the early Blue Flame-powered Corvette was in no shape for racing competition, it sure looked fast compared with everything else coming out of Detroit. This badge design was used on the nose of the car and in the center of the steering wheel's horn ring.	'55 Front Fender Badge The big news for '55 was the new 265ci V-8 engine under the hood. The Corvette was finally getting some grunt to go along with its good looks, and this badge was the tip-off. The enlarged "V" in the word "Chevrolet" began a trend of understated Corvette decorations.	'56-'57 Front/Rear Badge The Corvette got its first facelift in 1956, and its badging was updated in the process. The round design still incorporated the "Chevrolet Corvette" script and racing crossed flags but added an extended "V" shape. This badge was used on the front end and trunk lid.
'57 Fuel Injection Badge In 1957, the Corvette became the first American car to offer fuel injection. With the hood closed, the only outward evidence of this new high-tech feature was the simple "Fuel Injection" lettering placed above the round trunk-lid badge (shown) and behind the crossed flags on the fender coves.	'57-'60 Racing Crossed-Flags Badge Corvettes wore the simple crossed-flags design on their front fender coves from 1957 to 1960. As the cars became faster and more successful on the track, the racing flags could finally be regarded as more than a marketing ploy. No longer all show and no go, the Corvette proudly displayed these badges as a symbol of its growing motorsports heritage.	'58-'61 Front/Rear Badge The late '50s was Detroit's era of excess, and not even badges escaped the stylists' attention. The basic design of the Corvette badge was similar to the one used in 1956 and 1957, but the cursive "Corvette" was replaced with block lettering that matched the word "Chevrolet" at the top. Even the assembly was more complex, with a clear plastic lens covering a polished metal dish. Unfortunately, the lens was prone to breakage and hazing, and it was known to crack from light exposure.
'58-'61 Fuel Injection Badge The simple block lettering of the '57 Fuel Injection badge only lasted one year before being replaced with a cursive design that didn't match anything else on the car. The new lettering was placed at the topside edge of the front fenders, close to the door opening. The crossed flags, meanwhile, moved to a spot just in front of the car's nonfunctional fender gills.	'61 Racing Crossed-Flags Badge As the C1 Corvette's production run wound down, its styling excesses began to recede. The large, round badge that adorned the front of the '58-'60 models was replaced with a variation of the racing crossed flags and "V" design. Under this new badge were individual die-cast letters that spelled out "Corvette."	'61 Front Fender Badge This design only lasted one year. The three-piece badge was made up of a chrome-plated die-cast bar with "Corvette" inscribed in block lettering similar to that used on the front end. Above the center bar was a shorter bar with red paint in its center area; a similar blue-painted bar appeared below.
'62 Front Fender Badge The horizontal bars were replaced with an interesting variation on the crossed-flags-and-V-shape motif used on the front of the '61. The "V" design element was moved down a bit to make room for a five-sided polygon with a red, white, and blue center-fill pattern.	'62 Hood Badge The 1962 model year was the end of the line for the C1 Corvette. The heavy, round badge used from 1958 to 1961 was replaced with a light, clean design that matched the "Corvette" lettering beneath it. All of the badges that appeared on the '62 model were one-year-only designs.	'62 Trunk Badge This badge was exactly the same as the '58-'61 piece, save for a black inner background that replaced the older design's silver one.