End of an era

I was sitting in traffic today in front of my very small, family owned local
Chrysler Jeep dealer today watching workers remove any and all PentaStar logos
from the building and signage. In their place went the new 'blue ribbon' like
Chrysler logo with the chrome 'wing'. I guess it is a sign that Daimler is here
to stay, and Ma MOPAR is a thing of the past.

Lee Iacocca mentions the pentastar in his autobiography as the most recoganized
logo in the auto industry. Seems drastic to get rid of such a well known
symbol, doesn't it? I wonder what Lee would have said if he had been there
watching what I saw today?

RIP Plymouth
RIP PentaStar

Guess I am a GM kind of guy from here on out.............

Have a nice day,

Bill
88 Lancer Shelby
91 LeBaron Convertible
01 Chevy Impala LS

 

Hmm I bet you see the local Pagans digging through the dumpsters in the back
for the next couple weeks hoping to get a hold of some of those! ;-)

Consider that it was Iakooka who in 1982 ended use of all other types of
Chrysler
logos than the Pentastar on all Chrysler divisions, it is no wonder that he
said
this.

The new logo has actually been in use since 1995 it appeared on much
marketing materials for years before they started putting it on the cars.
And
as it's based on a far older logo of Chrysler's it's difficult to get worked
up
over Chrysler leaving it's "roots"

No doubt 10-20 years from now the Pentastar will make a comeback at
Chrysler as by then it will be "retro" and in fashion.

No, not at all. It is only RIP when DC ceases paying the fees to the USPTO
to retain ownership of the Pentastar. And I will bet that no matter what
the
flappers at DC and the posers will say publically, somehow your never
going to see DC give up ownership of the Pentastar trademark.

Yeah, much better logo! ;-)

Ted

 

I can understand somebody switching from one make to another because of bad
experiences, but doing that because of a logo change?.. also, you seem to be
somewhat of a GM kinda person already.. the Impala LS gave it away..

 

And they will still use it in business somewhere too. I believe Chevron still
has at least one "Standard" service station in each state to hold the trademark
where they (Chevron...formerly Standard Oil of Ca) could use the name. For
example, the New Mexico Chevron "Standard" station is in Albuquerque. Other
baby Standards may do the same.

 

in my eyes it's a thing the F.T.C should have never let happen as well as others

 

Globally the most-recognised auto logo is the three-pointed star, one of the
most-recognised logos, period. At one stage only Coca-Cola and maybe one
other was better known. I haven't seen a recent analysis but I suspect the
MB star is still in the Top 5.

DAS
--
For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
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[................]

 

I certainly miss the Pentastar as well, it was the universal symbol of
Ma Mopar throughout my formative years (60s and 70s).

But just as a trivial note- the current "ribbon" emblem PRE-DATES the
Pentastar by a long way. The Pentastar wasn't used until circa 1962, the
ribbon was in use in the 40s if not the 30s. Same thing for the Dodge
"Ram". My favorite Dodge emblem has always been the 60's 3-pointed thing
officially called the 'Fratzog' believe it or not- there's a poor
rendition of one here:
http://groups.msn.com/GlennsValiantPacerWebsite/clipart.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=540

But the Ram head goes back at least to the 50s if not pre-WWII

 

The Dodge Fratzog:

http://groups.msn.com/GlennsValiantPacerWebsite/clipart.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=540

That's the only "3-pointed star" worth remembering

 

And let us not forget the old Plymouth "Rocket" emblem that used to be used
as a hood ornament.

 

Its actually a stylized/abstract sailing ship, but it does look a bit
like a rocket. I've got that emblem in the steering wheel center on my
daily driver (73 Satellite).

 

Well, I'm blowed.....

Seems to me that it might be fun to speculate on the origin of that name...

"Fratz" might have come from "Fratze", German for 'pulled' face (usually
derogatory and ugly)...

DAS

 

The story I read was that the designer came up with it, the appropriate
people liked it, it was decided to use it and THEN.... somebody said "We
need to trademark it, and it has to have a name. What's it called?" The
designer hadn't named it, but just made up the word "fratzog" to fill a
blank on a form.

 

That "Fratzog" link makes me want to fire up the old NES emus and send Link
looking for the Tri-force again, hehehe...

NthDegree