The Chevy bow tie is an iconic emblem with a rich history that runs deep. Over the past few months, GM Authority readers have been writing in asking whether there is any difference between vehicles wearing the black version of the logo as opposed to the traditional golden one, so we decided to provide an explanation of what distinguishes models with this eye-catching feature.
Off the bat, the black bow tie has no specific significance behind it. It is purely an aesthetic choice, with most Chevy models able to be optioned with either the “regular” gold bow tie or the newer black one.
With most Chevy models offering it as an option, the black bow tie is proving to be quite popular. In a recent GM Authority poll, roughly 64 percent of readers said they preferred the black version of the bow tie while around 34 percent would choose the gold version.
The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro was the first Chevy model in North America to offer the black bow tie (without the Chevrolet name). In 2017, the Chevy Bolt EV began offering an optional black bow tie. Later, Chevy began offering the black bow tie on the Blazer and Silverado.
The 2022 Chevy Bolt EV and EUV became the first-ever Chevy models to feature the black bow tie standard, as GM Authority was first to report. In fact, gold won’t be an option for either of the two electric vehicles.
That introduction of the black bow tie represents a trend within the auto industry that sees automakers moving toward monochromatic (black, white, gray) badging and vehicle accents. Several GM brands are early adopters of this trend, including Cadillac and GMC. Cadillac is now offering monochromatic emblems on most of its vehicles, and the upcoming Cadillac Lyriq – Cadillac’s first-ever electric vehicle – will feature a black-and-white light-up logo.
Meanwhile, GMC offers a black version of its badge. Interestingly, Buick bucks the monochromatic direction, having recently added colors to its Tri Shield badge.
Back to Chevy: black and gold aren’t the only options for the legendary bow tie, as blue and gold bow ties have periodically appeared on select models. Blue bow ties have graced everything from Bel Airs to Camaros. Then, the 2018 Chevy Silverado Centennial celebrated the brand’s 100th anniversary with a blue emblem.
Perhaps the most eye-catching bow tie is the illuminated version. Affectionately known as the glow tie, this emblem is available as an official Chevrolet accessory. Like all official GM accessories, the glow tie was thoroughly tested and verified to withstand temperatures from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 158 degrees Fahrenheit.
The immediately recognizable bow tie has appeared on 215 million Chevrolet vehicles over the last century. As a result, the emblem is one of the most easily recognized on earth. Moreover, it’s a symbol of American ingenuity in any color.
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Comments
I like the original bow tie better.
Remember: “Beware the Red Bow Tie” shirts and bumper stickers?
Según tengo conocimiento la pajarita negra no es más que un protector ,si usted retira ese cover negro veras la pajarita dorada y si no lo creen haganlo y verán que es así ,tengo un chevrolet traverse y lo es comprobado
When will GMC offer the Canyon as an EV?
my 88 silverado had a black outlined in red bowtie
They order the black bow tie because it’s a $195 option. Big profit margin
I’d like to see GM bring back the blue for the electric vehicles.
They also made a blue bow years ago for the Caviler, I have one, they were manufactured at a Plastic plant supplier in Windsor Ontario Canada.
Sure would like more information on the possibility of a Tahoe SS and when will it be ready to order.
Michael Kuchera
North Myrtle Beach
My opinion the bow should be black about 1/4 It’s size and placed on the wright side at the top of the grill.
*right
Yeah, had a Volt…
Massive badging. Rather unesthestic, down right ugly..
To bad they didn’t honor their warranty as well as making their cars rolling billboards.
I just take a bow tie with a great car behind it. Just have to wait till they get Chips…
How’z about a big horse power with gears to go behind any color badge you want. I’ll take mine fast…
I will always love the gold. It was on my first vehicle, ’88 Suburban and it’s on my Avalanche. It’s classic and stands out. The black gets lost in color matching grills.
The one thing I hate is how quickly the color gold starts to deteriorate. Why would GM allow this? All I would ever hear is: “They don’t even make it, it’s made in India.” Well then, quit it! Make it back in the good old U.S.A. Plus, 165 bucks for the “Front Black bowtie option?” Come on!
I’d love to see the profit made on a logo simply because it’s a color choice. If it is to be an identifying trademark it should simple come at no extra cost to the consumer or even better yet, give them an option to NOT have a Bowtie put on in the first place. A “Bowtie delete”.
What, no mention of the Flowtie?
The average Chevrolet buyer doesn’t give a hang nail about the color of the Chevrolet badge.
Maybe gold is for normal use and the other is reserved for black tie events.
The black emblem is listed as a dealer installed option for my 2017 Bolt at ridiculous price. I’ll stick with the default emblem. If the factory installed badge starts to look seedy, I can paint it black myself. Let me guess: for the 2022 Bolt and Bolt EUV, “Classic Gold,” is a dealer installed option at an even more ridiculous price.
My ’94 Cavalier had a black bowtie from the factory.. I’m not sure why there are are a few articles saying this is new.
I kind of wish Chevy would come up with a new emblem. On the other hand, the redesign of the old GM in the blue square logo to the new look doesn’t bode well for a good looking result if Chevy were to update the emblem.
My is emerald green color of truck Sunday money 👍
My ZR2 came with gold and I plastic dipped them black. You can’t tell the difference between it and the dealer black bow tie upgrade. It saved me a good amount of money.
My 19 Impala came with the black now tie as part of the midnight edition. Special rims, not as much chrome. I have known about mid night editions on trucks and cameros for years now. It used to be the only way to get the black bow tie.
I have always had the GOLD bow tie on my Suburban’s but my 2021 came with the Black bow tie.
I think it would be great PR and a nice gesture if GM was to send out a notice to owners of new Chevrolet’s that if an owner would like to change the BOW TIE, GM would provide them. GM has the details of all the new owners, simply send out notification and the owner take the notice to their dealer. GM could simply send them to their dealers with other part shipments.
Owners could pick up at their Dealer and install them selves , ( or pay to have them changed). Yes it may cost GM a couple of dollars to make them, but I am sure with buyers paying $70,000 to $100,000 per Suburban, they might be able to find $5.00 to cover the bare cost. If GM says it would cost to much for the 70,000 Suburban’s and Tahoe’s made in 2021, here is a break down. 70,000 sets at $ 5.00 = $350,000 70,000 vehicles sold average $ 80,000 = $ 5,600,000,000.. Keep a GM Customer happy for $5.00 = PRICLESS
Personally I liked the blue ones .what ever happened to the blue
Black with a yellow lightning bolt for ev.
WhT I thought was bad were al,the years of the bow ties that would get damaged by a rock or just go to hell due to poor quality.
The last thing you want to look like crap on your spear is the symbols that represents it.
I can recall broken blue and broken and stained gold now ties.
The ones on the back of many CUV models w3nt bad due to window washer fluid leaking under the clear lens
I like they are giving options. I like the black and miss the red outlined.
The real reason the black bowtie exists is so that Chevy can mark up the sticker by $200, then the dealer can look like the nice guy and let you have the 35 cents worth of plastic for only $100 extra.
SO BASICALLY ITS A 200 DOLLAR MONEY GRAB TO HAVE A BLACK BOWTIE THAN A GOLD TRADITIONAL
The gold and blue versions of the logo look the best, imho. Call me crazy, but it would be nice if the GlowTie could be updated so it glows inside the badge area and you could change the colors from inside the vehicle. Nothing too outlandish, but a nice muted glow would be nice.
I would like to see black or blue with a yellow lightning bolt on it for the EVs.
Thanks, this tells me nothing.. please right more articles explaining things ..
My last 2 vehicles were Chevys. 2007 hhr & 2013 equinox. Both gold symbols deteriorated within 3 years, much like both their 2.4 cylinder engines that burned oil like gas. Oh, and they wouldn’t admit it, talk about it, or make it right. Good bye chevy and your tarnished gold image.
Make the whole bow tie light up,not just the the edges
I think it’d be a nice touch if the bow tie were to somehow glow or light up. Great idea bro!
Repaint it yourself for 3.95
I’m a life long Chevy guy. My first Chevy was a 1968 Caprice and I remember correctly that the bow tie it gracefully sported on the front end was Chevy blue. I think it’d be a nice touch if it were to come back on certain vehicle models and trucks.
Bow tie could match the truck color. I had GM body shop paint match my truck color, “white” looks great!
I have a black glowtie. They dropped the ball on this overpriced option. You cannot tell it’s on during the day only at night. Maybe you should have designed it just like the DTRLS GM ! Would be nice to see it on all the time.
I like the gold. My silverado had the black. I peeled the black right off. Just like it was tape. Now i have a gold one. Lol.
My 2014 Silverado Rally Edition came with all black trim
My 2014 Silverado Rally had the black bowties standard as part of the Rally package. So I’m not sure I agree with “The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro was the first Chevy model in North America to offer the black bow tie”.
I despised the corny gold emblem for decades and avoided looking at GM vehicles for that one reason. Always looked like an old mans choice.
I now drive a 2022 Bolt with a black bow tie.
I despised the corny gold emblem for decades and avoided looking at GM vehicles for that one reason. Always looked like an old mans choice.
I now drive a 2022 Bolt with a black bow tie.
I am ever glad that such an important issue is being discussed. When you look around the world and see everyone is fighting the pandemic, there are forest fires destroying thousands of acres of land. hundreds of homes, people dying due to floods, famine, and war, while our taxes are increased every year by politicians because they can, we are able to discuss the issue of the colour of GM bow ties. I am so glad that this topic is not brought forward by Air Traffic Controllers. But lest us not forget that the freedom we have to discuss such trivia issues, is because of the Brave men and women of the Armed Forces serving around the world that keep us safe.
I think a white bow tie would look awesome on select models and trims.
I purchased a new Traverse and I told about the chip until we got in my Traverse and I need the heated seats for my bad back. I am still waiting on chip!
What does your heated seats have to do with the colour of a bow tie ?
I don’t care what color it is. Just make the color Last. To me, it is Sad when your truck is just 4-5 years old, and the gold is all Faded. The red on all my GMC’s stays red, and looks good. Seeing the gold all faded and blotched up is Wrong! Spend 3cents more and keep it looking nice.
Does anyone know whether the bowtie emblem was on the 1967 Camaro’s? I ask because I have mine ordered from the factory in 1967. And I don’t recall ever seeing the emblem on it.
Virginia, I expect someone may have forgot to mail it to you.
I’d request another one and tell them you have been very patiently waiting since 1967, (lol).
I am READY TO BUY the 2023 Trailblazer…but no one seems to be selling it and GM Financial is certainly doing nothing to make it attractive to buy one. As an owner of the 2022 Trailblazer and a VERY LOYAL CHEVROLET buyer (ever at least three years, I want a car always under bumper to bumper Warranty and NO AFTERMARKET WARRANTIES) I am willing to bite the bullet for a NEW CAR every one to three years. GET ON THE BALL GM.
I often read the announcements of the results of POLLS that were apparently taken.
I don’t have a lot of faith in polls.
I have NEVER had an opportunity to participate in any poll, either by a company, or a political survey.
Polls can easily be announced in the manner in which the party/company wants the result to be.
I like the gray gray emblem the best n have it on 1 of my tahoes…. but looking to get one of the light up ones to replace it …my other tahoe has the gold emblem witch I’m not a big fan of them they fade and peal …so now my gold one is half gold n silver which I’m going to replace hopefully soon
We just bought 2024 Malibu
It has black bow ties front and back
And gold on rims
This seems off anyone know if this is correct or a mistake
Please STOP putting pop-up videos in t the forum that cover 25% of what we are trying to read. They are unwanted and unnecessary. I’m fed up enough to just drop the GM Forum if these adds keep getting injected into what I’m trying to read! Tomg