I always wondered the significance of the left hand flag, opposite the checkered flag, on the fender of some 60s Chevys.I think the flag is red with a spear head and something else on it. Follow me? Very common but don't know correct name for them...
The small "V" denoted a 283 engine, while the crossed flags meant 327 or larger depending on number located above the flags. The bow tie on the front and rear of a 59-60-61 meant 283, the crossed flags meant 348 or 409 in '61. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the info,what I was lookin for was the significance of the pattern on the red flag,or,what does the flag look like if it was not "waving" so to speak,and what would it look like....
I think this is the same design in this older emblem, the "fleur de lis" that the wikipedia article mentions. Oh, sure, I could go out in the yard with my flashlight and check my flags...I think they just carried this theme on over many years. It doesn't mean much, I don't think.
The original Corvette logo (Figure 1) was designed by Robert Bartholomew, an interior designer at Chevrolet in 1953. This emblem was destined to appear on the 1953 Corvette prototype which was introduced to the public for the first time at New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel in January of 1953. It had crossing staffs with the checkered flag on the right hand side, and the American flag on the left hand side. However, four days before the Corvette was to go on display at the show, Chevrolet management decided that it should be redesigned. The problem with the proposed emblem was that it included the American flag which is illegal to use on a commerical product. Right before the show, redesigned emblems were attached to the front hood and steering wheel of the Corvette. The new emblem contained the checkered flag on the right side as well as the white racing flag, red Chevrolet bow-tie symbol and a fleur-de-lis (Figure 2). Where did the fleur-de-lis come from? At the time, Chevrolet was conducting research on various emblem designs for the 1953 and 1954 p***enger cars. They looked at the Louis Chevrolet family history in an attempt to discover a crest or some type of heraldry that they could utilize. Unfortunately, they came up empty, but they did realize that Chevrolet is a French name and the fleur-de-lis (flower of the lily) is a French symbol meaning peace and purity. They decided to use the fleur-de-lis along with the famous blue Chevrolet bow tie on a new flag which replaced the American flag on the Corvette. When the 1953 Corvette first appeared to the public at the Waldorf Historia Hotel, the redesigned emblems were in place.
The 1955 with a "V" under each tail light was a 265, no "V", a six. A 56 or 57 had a "V" under the hood and trunk emblem if it was a V-8. The Bel Air in '57 would've been a gold "V". Engines were 265 in '56 and 265-283 in '57.
Thanks for taking the time to answer guys I appreciate it! So much knowledge here on the hamb! Tanks again! R~R
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