Branding is a tricky thing to nail down — businesses can’t always get it right the first time. Even Google took their logo through several steps before going with the iconic colored moniker. But how about the automobile world? Vehicle giants like Ford and Audi started somewhere humble too, mind you. To get a handle on this idea, just read on for the evolution of popular car logos.

One of my favorite logos has to be the BMW brand. The “Bavarian Motor Works” company has an interesting logo story as well. You know how it displays the ever-popular circular design? Well, originally BMW was an aircraft business — but was forced to change models after World War I. The logo was representational of an airplanes spinning propeller! Check out this concept below.

The history of Mitsubishi is traced back to samurai in feudal Japan. Yes it’s true… the warriors used to bump around in compact autos slicing and dicing evil-doers. Well, not exactly, but the logo is based on the Iwasaki family crest. This family had to trade their samurai status to get out of debt, but the three stacked diamonds eventually found their way into Mitsubishi’s final logo in the mid 70’s. It’s closely reminiscent to the Tosa Clan crest, whose shipping business was acquired by the Iwasaki family in 1868. Combined, it’s the perfect trifecta of branding!

Buick and Saab’s logo evolution is a bit more complicated. For crying out loud, Saab goes through a dozen different versions! It’s interesting to see common elements which were kept (or totally lost) from generation to generation. Except for a rough spot in 1975, Buick really builds on top of a regal design. I’m still not quite sure where a bald eagle comes into play, but then again, it was the 70’s. We have some examples below, so check them out or view more here.

In 2000, Jazzland opened up to great aplomb and when the struggling amusement park was purchased by theme park chain Six Flags, undoubtedly locals had visions of the park becoming a New Orleans institution for generations to come.  Then, the double whammy of Hurricane Katrina and the economy downturn happened.  Now, Six Flags New Orleans […]

I’ve had kind of a down week.  I’ve just waking up on the wrong side of the bed every morning, have been very short-tempered, and have generally had difficulty keeping my kettle from boiling over so far this week.  I need something to cheer me up.  If you’re grumpy and gray today, then why not […]

The Seminole Indian tribe is a little different from your standard American Indian group.  For starters, they’ve never actually surrendered to the United States government at the end of the Seminole Wars.  They’re also the tribe to make the switch from being simple tribal gaming organization to actually owning their own casino company when they […]

China is a veritable wonderland of weird people and even weirder animals.  Snake with a foot?  You know it’s from China.  Alien fish monster?  Found in a cave in China.  Village of midgets, dwarfs, and other wee folks?  China all the way.  And now, joining China’s menagerie of monsters and freaks is a six-legged calf, […]

Bryan Berg has been practicing his craft, building houses of cards, since he was a kid.  When he was 17, he broke the record for the world’s largest tower of cards, then later broke that same record again in 2007 with a 25-foot tower.  Given his love of stacking cards and his background as an […]

Among all the events at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, nothing was as popular in the home country as was the hockey.  Specifically, the men’s hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada, which set all kinds of viewing records on both sides of the border.  If you take one look at this […]

I smell a holiday tradition!  On the heels of the amazing Sketchy Santas website is a companion piece for the spring, known as Easter Bunnies Will Steal Your Soul.  While the Easter Bunny is less likely to be a blatant child molesting old drunk, it’s no less creepy to find yourself terrorized by a 7-foot-tall […]