The Corvette concept in 1953 originally had an emblem with a checkered flag crossed with an American flag, which was illegal and changed for production cars in June.
Chevrolet today said that the seventh-generation Corvette will debut on Sunday evening, 13 January 2013, in Detroit. A new “Crossed Flags” logo was unveiled at Road Atlanta, where Corvette Racing celebrated a sweep of the 2012 production-based American Le Mans Series GT championships. Taxpayers who currently hold 32% of a reorganized General Motors might be interested to know that more than 100 variations were considered before the final design for the C7 Corvette was selected.
Chevrolet secured the manufacturer’s championship; Corvette Racing secured the team championship, and Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner captured the drivers’ championship with four wins in the nine races preceding Petit Le Mans, the 2012 ALMS season finale.
Chevrolet does well in endurance racing taking on BMW, Ferrari and Porsche in the GT class at Le Mans. For makers the minimum production figure is 100 models, and for small constructors 25. At least 300 engines must have been made. Cars with a carbon chassis are accepted, provided at least 300 have been built.
These championships make Corvette Racing the most successful team in ALMS history, with a total of 77 class wins, eight drivers’ championships, and nine manufacturer and team championships since 2001. The team has also taken seven class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2001. Corvette Racing will campaign the C6.R for the 2013 ALMS season. The C7.R is expected to make its racing debut in 2014.
“The all-new, seventh-generation Corvette deserved an all-new emblem,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design. “The new Crossed Flags design reflects the character of the next Corvette. The flags are much more modern, more technical, and more detailed than before – underscoring the comprehensive redesign of the entire car.”
The Crossed Flags logo on the Corvette since its 1953 introduction. It has always incorporated a pair of flags, one a racing checkered flag and other featuring the Chevrolet “bowtie” emblem and a French Fleur-de-lis. The design has evolved since the Eisenhower Administration, and has been used on more than 1.5 million Corvettes built between 1953 and today.
The first Corvette debuted as a concept car in January of 1953 at the GM Motorama in New York City. That car originally had an emblem with a checkered flag crossed with an American flag. The use of the American flag was prohibited, though, as part of a commercial venture, and the logo was changed to the Fleur-de-lis and bowtie design when the Corvette went into production in June 1953.
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