American Automobile Logos

| Filed under: Logos

I think the most fun I had with this post was seeing how the major auto brands evolved over the last 100 years. In the early 20th century, there were intricate lockups with tons of detail. Then there were the elegant script letterings of the 50s and 60s that you’d find in brands like Lincoln or Oldsmobile. The chrome and shine of the 70s and 80s is always entertaining (so much gold!). And then there was the futuristic look that companies like Pontiac and Chevrolet started to adopt in the 1990s.

There are so many car companies across the world that I limited this post to American brands. And even then, I decided not to wrangle all the different models ... I could easily make a post with just Ford Mustangs or Lincoln Continentals. It's also worth noting that I'm using a loose definition of the word “logo.” This is a collection of all kinds of marks: logos, badges, type treatments, and shields that I found interesting. I’d love recommendations on some other car sub-categories to explore next (hit me up on Twitter).


  • American Motors

    1954 - 1988

  • American Motors

    1954 - 1988

  • American Motors

    1954 - 1988

  • Auburn

    1900 - 1937

  • Baker Motor Vehicle

    1899 - 1914

  • Buick

    1899 -

  • Buick

    1899 -

  • Buick

    1899 -

  • Buick

    1899 -

  • Cadillac

    1902 -

  • Cadillac

    1902 -

  • Cadillac

    1902 -

  • Cadillac

    1902 -

  • Cartercar

    1905 - 1915

  • Chalmers

    1908 - 1923

  • Chandler

    1913 - 1929

  • Checker Motors

    1922 - 2010

  • Chevrolet

    1911 -

  • Chevrolet

    1911 -

  • Chevrolet

    1911 -

  • Chevrolet

    1911 -

  • Chevrolet

    1911 -

  • Chevrolet

    1911 -

  • Chyrsler

    1925 -

  • Chyrsler

    1925 -

  • Chyrsler

    1925 -

  • Chyrsler / Plymouth

    1928 - 2001

  • Clenet

    1975 - 1987

  • Cole

    1908 - 1925

  • Columbia

    1899 - 1910

  • Cord

    1929 - 1937

  • Crosley

    1939 - 1952

  • Davis Motorcar

    1947 - 1948

  • DeLorean Motor Company

    1975 - 1982

  • DeSoto

    1928 - 1961

  • Detroit Electric

    1907 - 1939, 2008

  • Doble Steam Car

    1909 - 1931

  • Dodge

    1900 -

  • Dodge

    1900 -

  • Dodge

    1900 -

  • Dodge

    1900 -

  • Dodge

    1900 -

  • Dorris

    1906 - 1926

  • Dual Ghia

    1956 - 1958

  • Duesenberg

    1913 - 1937

  • Eagle

    1988 - 1999

  • Eagle

    1988 - 1999

  • Edsel

    1957 - 1960

  • Essex

    1918 - 1933

  • Excalibur

    1964 - 1990

  • Ford

    1903 -

  • Ford

    1903 -

  • Ford

    1903 -

  • Ford

    1903 -

  • Ford

    1903 -

  • Ford

    1903 -

  • Ford

    1966 (Paul Rand Proposal)

  • Gardner

    1920 - 1931

  • GM

    1908 -

  • GM

    1908 -

  • GM

    1908 -

  • GMC

    1911 -

  • GMC

    1911 -

  • GMC

    1911 -

  • GMC

    1911 -

  • GMC

    1911 -

  • Graham-Paige

    1927 - 1962

  • Graham-Paige

    1927 - 1962

  • Haynes

    1905 - 1924

  • Hudson

    1909 - 1954

  • Hummer

    1992 - 2010

  • International Harvester

    1938 - 1986

  • International Harvester

    1938 - 1986

  • Jeep

    1943 -

  • Jeep

    1943 -

  • Jeep

    1943 -

  • Jeep

    1943 -

  • Jeep

    1943 -

  • Jeffery

    1902 - 1917

  • Kaiser

    1945 - 1953

  • Lincoln

    1917 -

  • Lincoln

    1917 -

  • Lincoln

    1917 -

  • Lincoln

    1917 -

  • Lincoln-Zephyr

    1936 - 1940

  • Marquette

    1929 - 1930

  • Maxwell

    1904 - 1925

  • Mercury

    1938 - 2011

  • Mercury

    1938 - 2011

  • Mercury

    Chicago, Illinois

  • Mercury

    1938 - 2011

  • Mercury

    1938 - 2011

  • Nash

    1916 - 1954

  • Nash

    1916 - 1954

  • Nash

    1916 - 1954

  • National

    1900 - 1924

  • Oakland

    1907 - 1931

  • Oldsmobile

    1897 - 2004

  • Oldsmobile

    1897 - 2004

  • Oldsmobile

    1897 - 2004

  • Oldsmobile

    1897 - 2004

  • Oldsmobile

    1897 - 2004

  • Oldsmobile

    1897 - 2004

  • Packard

    1899 - 1959

  • Packard

    1899 - 1959

  • Packard

    1899 - 1959

  • Panoz

    1989 -

  • Plymouth

    1928 - 2001

  • Plymouth

    1928 - 2001

  • Plymouth

    1928 - 2001

  • Plymouth

    1928 - 2001

  • Pontiac

    1926 - 2010

  • Pontiac

    1926 - 2010

  • Pontiac

    1926 - 2010

  • Pontiac

    1926 - 2010

  • Pontiac

    1926 - 2010

  • Ram Trucks

    2010 -

  • Rambler

    1900 - 1914, 1950 - 1954, 1954 - 1969

  • REO

    Chicago, Illinois

  • REO

    1905 - 1967

  • REO

    1905 - 1967

  • Rickenbacker

    1921 - 1927

  • Saleen

    1983 -

  • Studebaker

    1852 - 1967

  • Studebaker

    1852 - 1967

  • Studebaker

    1852 - 1967

  • Studebaker

    1852 - 1967

  • Tesla

    2003 -

  • Willys

    1908 - 1963

  • Willys

    1908 - 1963

  • Willys-Overland

    1908 - 1963