[elegant]

How Was It Named "Corvette"?

In late 1952, GM hired a public relations firm to help give the future Chevrolet sports car its name. That firm came up with a list of 300 names, The top team of 25 Chevrolet new sports car staff went over every one of those names, spending a whole day to do that. However, they rejected every one of them. The head of the team at the time told the 25 members that they each had to go home, think about it, and return the following morning at 8:00 AM with their personal favorite name for the new car. One of those 25 members, Myron Scott thought about his World War II experience, still vivid in his mind, and he remembered the class of small, fast destroyers, the British "Corvette class." He suggested the name, "Corvette." And thanks to Myron, our cars are called "Corvettes."

Here is a picture of a World War II Corvette "small, very fast destroyer."

And here is an much older GM press release with more information, and a picture of Myron Scoot many decades and decades later. Notice in this press release, he also created another American institution. Thank you Myron for both!!!

 

[regguy1]

I read that some GM guy (?) got the bow tie logo from some wallpaper he saw in a French hotel, he cut out the logo and took it home.

However it seems there's more than one story about this: Chevy Culture | History with a Mystery: The Chevrolet Bowtie.

 

[CruznCorvette]

Louis Chevrolet
https://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php/History_of_Louis_Chevrolet

 

[Ret9580]

Interesting where names come from. When the band Led Zeppelin auditioned for a record producer the man didn't like what he heard. As the band was leaving, one of the band members overheard the producer tell another person in the studio that the group would go over like a "Lead Zeppelin", so they changed their name and the rest is history.

 

[Mobius]

The man... the myth... the legend.

Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after the type of small, maneuverable warship called a Corvette*.

*Falconer, Tom (2003). The Complete Corvette. Crestline. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-7603-1474-6. A must read for all Corvette enthusiasts.

 

[FCCCVPMan]

Thanks for sharing this John. If you look in the Museum there is a picture of the ship with the story. My wife made this and our Club donated it to be put on display.

 

[elegant]

I have seen it, but now knowing your wife painted it and your club donated it, I will definitely revisit it in nine days. Thank you Troy's wife. Thank you Falls City Corvette Club!!!

Very nice!

 

[Ragtop]

Learned that thanks to my NCM visit! Did you know they chose the French symbol on the Corvette flag because they were called out using the american flag (which was a big no-no at the time)?

 

[Calif Vetteman]

I once read that it was Ed Cole who put out the memo to all GM employees and their affiliates regarding finding a name of the now Corvette. He wanted the new name to start with a C and it could not be the name of an animal.

Myron Scott sat down with a dictionary and started with the C's. When he got to Corvette, a speedy British attack vessel, he sent Ed a memo. It said "how would you like to gor for a ride in my Corvette" ? Ed Cole sent Myron back a memo saying , how would You like to go for a ride in " MY Corvette " .

The rest is history.

 

[STUNG]

Thanks for sharing this elegant. I made mention of this in another thread and I am glad that you also have commented on it. The Royal Canadian Navy at the time of WW2 in 1939 along with the Royal Navy were the only ones trying to protect the men and arms being shipped from Halifax and Montreal to England. I had uncles who served on these amazing little fighters and told of many a story of them. Nice to read about and it was a pleasure to see. Of course all things got better once the USN got involved after Dec. 7/41. A date of infamy..........
We still only get 5% of the builds out of Bowling Green KY. ahhhh!! haha!!

STUNG

 

[Tom0021]

I once read that it was Ed Cole who put out the memo to all GM employees and their affiliates regarding finding a name of the now Corvette. He wanted the new name to start with a C and it could not be the name of an animal.

Myron Scott sat down with a dictionary and started with the C's. When he got to Corvette, a speedy British attack vessel, he sent Ed a memo. It said "how would you like to gor for a ride in my Corvette" ? Ed Cole sent Myron back a memo saying , how would You like to go for a ride in " MY Corvette " .

The rest is history.

And you realize that back in 1953 it likely took. ( yes I'm guessing here no actual data) it most likely took 2 to 3 days for those two memos to pass between them as they didn't type them they had their secretary type them. Then they proofed them etc etc. it didn't go as email like we do today.

 

[rdslon01]

And you realize that back in 1953 it likely took. ( yes I'm guessing here no actual data) it most likely took 2 to 3 days for those two memos to pass between them as they didn't type them they had their secretary type them. Then they proofed them etc etc. it didn't go as email like we do today.

What?! There was no instant messaging client on their mobile phones.

Wait... There were no mobile phones?!!!