Designer of Chrysler logo

[Christopher Hoffman <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Pentastar first appeared on corporate materials and the cars themselves
in 1962, for the 1963 model year. The logo was used on the lower right front
fender until the first few weeks of production for the 1972 model year (late
summer/early fall 1971).

It did not appear on the side of vehicles again until 1992, when the
Pentastar was molded into the side trim of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee (this
time on both sides of the vehicle), though the logo had remained in constant
use in marketing and on stationery, packaging, parts, signage, and as other
on-vehicle badging (e.g., hood ornaments) without interruption since its
introduction.

The logo was quickly phased out after the acquisition of Chrysler by
Daimler-Benz, though certain visible uses such as plastic key heads, RKE
(remote keyless entry) transmitter fobs and radio faceplates continued to
bear the logo through the 2000 model year (including early 2001 PT Cruisers
built in CY2000), until existing inventory was depleted.

Today, it is used only as part of the Five Star dealer certification program
logo and signage (five Pentastars in a row).  And of course, it still forms
not only the shape of the huge window on the front of the Auburn Hills, MI,
Chrysler Group US headquarters (originally called the Chrysler Tech Center),
but the very shape of the building itself (when viewed from overhead).

The only corporate logo of DaimlerChrysler is the name spelled out in the
Corporate typeface originally designed for Daimler-Benz. The Chrysler Group
has no logo, though the Chrysler division, along with all the other DCX
divisions (Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, smart, Freightliner, Setra,
Thomas-Built Buses, etc.), each have logos (Chrysler's being a modification
of the original gold 1920s logo). But none uses the Pentastar, sadly.

It was a great logo!

Chris in LA
78 NYB Salon
72 Charger (built after the fender badge was deleted)
67 Crown
63 Dart (one of the first models to wear the fender badge)


On 1/12/04 9:13 pm, Mark McDonald (tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) wrote:

> Lippincott & Margulies has been around for approx. 60+ years and is
> responsible for a lot of famous logos and "corporate identity"
> programs, including (off the top of my head) Coca Cola, Xerox, RCA,
> Chevron, etc.  I think the Pentastar first appeared in the early 60's,
> but I'm not sure exactly when.  I know I saw it on Bob Hope's TV shows
> in the early 60's, but it would take more research to pin it down to
> the exact year.  I might also try to find out if there was a particular
> designer for it, since it is a very good logo, in my opinion.  I hope
> they never change it.