58-62 Emblem - Gold or Silver?

[Bob B.]

Hi all,

I have an original emblem from my 1960 Corvette. It is faded and cracked, but the lettering, V, etc. are clearly gold. I never bothered to examine the back until today when I discovered that the back of the entire depressed surface for the letters, flags, and V is silver. I scraped down through the silver to the bare plastic on the letters and there is no hint of gold whatsoever except when viewed from the front.

Someone postulated once that perhaps the emblems were originally silver, but turned gold over the years. I dismissed that because I couldn't see how silver could turn gold, although I could see gold maybe fading towards silver. After examining my emblem, I am now wondering if maybe the emblems were originally silver and the paint reacted with the plastic to turn gold.

Another twist to this question is why would GM produce replacement emblems in silver if the originals were gold?

So, is there anyone who remembers these emblems on a 58-62 Corvette when new and were they silver or gold?

Thanks,

Bob

[William C.]

Re: 58-62 Emblem - Gold or Silver?

Gold.

[Bob B.]

Re: 58-62 Emblem - Gold or Silver?

Hello again,

I guess I should have asked that anyone responding provide a bit of explanation regarding what I discussed, as opposed to a single word answer.

Thanks,

Bob

[John M.]

Re: 58-62 Emblem - Gold or Silver?

The backing color behind the letters, crossed flags, & V, is silver regardless if the external color is gold or silver. Why I don't know. Maybe it acts similar to the silvering on a mirror.

Over time these emblems due to old man sun, and probably other factors, do change color. Gold to Silver, and Silver to Gold. This has caused a lot of controversy in our ranks. Gold color possibly breaks down to expose the underlying silver. Silver takes on a scorched golden look. Ever seen buns browning in an oven? That's what happens to the color on these emblems. The trunk emblem is a nice little unvented solar oven, and the dished backing plate makes a nice reflective concentrator to the center back of the emblem. The black backing plate under the 1962 emblem is even the same color backing as called for on solar heaters.

You will have to ask those that know the 1960 to get the correct color emblem for that year. I do know that in 1962 production both color emblems were used on the production line, Gold & Silver, and in no pattern of use other than random.

Save the Wave ........

[Dennis A.]

Re: 58-62 Emblem - Gold or Silver?

Letter are "Gold" (not silver), silver was a GM re-issue.