Right before the Corvette’s release in 1953, Chevrolet had planned to use a checkered flag and an American flag, the two things that best signified the Corvette, as a part of its original emblem. However, 10 years prior to the Corvette’s release, the U.S. passed the National Flag Code into federal law (Public Law 77-623; chapter 435) and one of the provisions is that “the flag may not be used for advertising purposes.”  So it was replaced with the familiar checkered flag & fleur-de-lis.

Original concept Chevrolet Corvette emblem:

First Chevrolet Corvette Emblem to appear on the first production model in 1953:

-Adam Wartell
NCM Lifetime Member #1222
Founder: C3 Vette Registry 
C4 Vette Registry, C6 Vette Registry

My first Vette, now owned by JB79:

While I had read about the flag code for preventing Chevrolet from using the American flag in the emblem, I have never seen the picture of a concept before. Thanks for that.

1973 L-82 4 spd