Short answer
Why the Chevrolet logo has this color
The Chevy bowtie is gold because Chevrolet settled on a single gold version in the early 2000s, after years of mixed colors. Wikipedia says blue was used on passenger cars and gold on trucks, with red outlines on some performance models, and that Chevrolet unified every model with the gold bowtie in 2004, partly to stand apart from Ford's blue oval. Sources date the change to 2002 or 2004. Chevrolet has not published a symbolic meaning for gold.
Quick read
Chevrolet logo at a glance
- Gold becomes standard
- 2004 per Wikipedia; some sources say 2002
- Before that
- Blue for cars, gold for trucks, red outlines on some performance models
- Bowtie on production cars
- 1914 (Wikipedia)
- Stated reasons
- Brand cohesion and separation from Ford blue (Wikipedia)
- Official meaning of gold
- None published
Logo palette
Chevrolet logo colors
Select a swatch to copy its HEX value. Values reference archived artwork unless official guidelines are cited.
#D8AD53The textured fill of the current bowtie, sampled from the archived logo file.
#CFD2D2The beveled metal frame around the gold bowtie.
#565757The dark gray of the CHEVROLET lettering under the emblem.
The Chevy bowtie was not always gold
The bowtie itself dates to the early days of the company. Co-founder William C. Durant is credited in one origin story with sketching it from wallpaper in a French hotel, though the origin is disputed and Chevrolet has never settled on a single account. Wikipedia says the emblem first appeared on production cars in 1914.
The early color schemes were not uniform. Accounts of the early badge describe blue and gold combinations, and a 1940 update is described as returning to them. For a long stretch the color depended on the vehicle.
Blue for cars, gold for trucks on the Chevy bowtie
Wikipedia describes the split directly: blue for passenger cars, gold for trucks, and outlines, often red, for performance-package cars. So a Chevy buyer in the 1990s could see two different bowties in the same showroom.
That is the problem the gold bowtie solved. A brand with three colors at once does not read as one brand on the street.
The move to one gold Chevy bowtie
Wikipedia says Chevrolet unified all vehicle models with the gold bowtie in 2004 and gives two reasons: brand cohesion, and separating Chevrolet from Ford's blue oval and Dodge's red. The brand page here dates the gold badge to 2002, and other sources vary between 2002 and 2004, which looks like the difference between introducing a design and standardizing it across the lineup.
The gold came with a chrome frame. In 2010 the bowtie gained a beveled chrome edge, and the 2013 version pairs it with a gray wordmark.
What the gold Chevy bowtie means, and what is branding talk
Brand blogs say gold stands for quality or affluence. Neither Chevrolet nor General Motors says that in the sources used here, and the stated reasons that are documented are practical, not symbolic. Treat gold-means-premium as interpretation.
Black bowties have appeared in recent years on some models, so gold is the standard color, not an iron rule.
Logo archive
Chevrolet logo versions through the years
1914 Blue inside the bowtie 
1940 Blue with a yellow edge 
1964 Outlined and italic 
2002 Gold 
2013 Today's badge
Frequently asked questions
Chevrolet logo color questions answered
Why is the Chevy bowtie gold?
Chevrolet unified its badge in gold in the early 2000s after using blue for cars and gold for trucks. Wikipedia gives brand cohesion and standing apart from Ford and Dodge as reasons. Chevrolet has not published a symbolic meaning for gold.
When did the Chevy bowtie turn gold?
Sources differ. The brand page dates the gold bowtie to 2002, while Wikipedia says all models were unified with the gold bowtie in 2004.
What color was the Chevy bowtie before gold?
Several. Wikipedia describes blue for passenger cars, gold for trucks and outlines, often red, for performance-package cars. Earlier badges also used blue, red and black.
Is there an official meaning of the Chevrolet bowtie?
No. General Motors has given more than one account of what inspired the shape, and has acknowledged uncertainty about the true origin.
Is the gold bowtie used on every Chevrolet?
It is the standard color, but black bowties have appeared on some models in recent years.
Keep reading
More logo meanings
References
Sources for the Chevrolet logo story
Chevrolet logo and history. Logo images are an educational reference archive.