By Robert Emslie
Let’s face it, when you’ve got swag, you want everybody to know you’ve got swag. When it comes to our cars, features rule and you want that slob in the next parking stall over to know that his SOHC engine isn’t crap when compared to your DOHC machine.
How do we know who’s bringing it and who isn’t? Why, by the badging of course. Whether it’s a turbo, AWD, or some sort of magnetic levitation cup holder there’s probably a badge for it. Car makers like making them, and we love showing them off.
Sometimes we don’t even know what the badges mean and still we love slathering our cars full of them. Of course, not all badges are created equal and so what we want to know today is what are, in your opinion, the coolest feature badges there have ever been?
Image: OldParkedCars
Latest
Cars, Trucks, Bikes, Project Cars, DIY, Travel, Adventure, Podcast, Videos
Jeff Glucker
http://buickturboregal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/badge.jpg
RIP Molly.
http://hooniverse.info/2010/06/15/molly-sanders-the-guy-who-programmed-your-moto-brain/
I got a Green Streak when I was in 6th grade. I asked my dad for a motorcycle for my birthday, and it just happened to be the one closest to my size with the cheapest price ($100, used). I had no idea I was a trendsetter for the brand.
I like subtle and I really like incognito sleepers.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3510927120_b8bb0737f8.jpg
Counterpoint.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FwoBLqE3qY8/maxresdefault.jpg
Lol, nice.
Not nearly as discrete, but still very cool…
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3648314836_ee62318bca.jpg
7 litre? Get real…
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d3b606d4ebb6f81d4632a102e5626839ee99f6ae0c35a39144f52ef3965050aa.jpg
Forgive my ignorance – what is this ?
HP2 stands for Hemi Powered Plymouth. The one in the picture above is a 1966 Belvedere or Satellite built in late 1965. The hemi Plymouth in my picture is, of course, a 1971 Cuda convertible.
Toyoglide!
Wasn’t it based on GM’s good ol’ powerglide, too? I seem to remember that one of Toyota’s earlier big I6 designs borrowed heavily from a GM design, as well.
One of the early Toyota I-6s was a licensed copy of the Chevy Stovebolt straight six, but with metric hardware.
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/comment-image/199278.jpg
Peugeot 504 Automatique.
I’d just brag about the badge. That font is sexy!
On Hondas from nearly 3 decades ago, this badge essentially means “I share engine tech and specific output with a supercar.”
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RXen_TYp2U0/UOsBOi94bgI/AAAAAAAAACg/aeyMVro-RDA/s1600/gsr+badging.JPG
http://www.roadfly.com/new-cars/wp-content/uploads/gallery/2007-honda-civic-si-sedan/2007-honda-civic-si-sedan.jpg
And then it moved to the door…
And it got smarter!
Now, Honda’s fanciest cars have too much to cram into a single brag badge. “DOHC i-VTEC turbo hybrid” just sounds like you swept your arm across the badge display in Pep Boys and installed whatever fell into your cart.
Not braggin’, just sayin’…
Abarth also did that :
http://www.ebear.it/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/catalogo/ABARTH%20713.jpg?itok=wScfI9Ph
http://www.bernimotori.com/images/parts/badges_logos/CAMPIONE%20ITALIANO%201956-1957-1958%20750GT.jpg
First = World Champion, second and third = Italian Champion in the GT 750 class
Triumph put this on the dash of US models:
http://www.triumphexp.com/phile/5/23126/scca_004.JPG
Thanks for saving me the search.
Not a problem. One of the very few brand-new cars ever purchased by someone in my immediate family was my brother’s ’77 Spitfire, so I remember his later version of that plaque well. In his case, that car is still his only new purchase.
I’ve never purchased new, so I’m one up on him.
In my formative years I had access to an old Brit/Datsun yard. I saw dozens of these but never had the heart to pull one off.
I have a round version of that on my 74 Spitfire.
Since I am mentioning my 74 Spitfire “Maggie” there is an excuse to post this badge which was only on the 74 MKIV 1500. Mine has a Salvador Dali look to it now.
“The parts oozing off this car are of the highest quality British craftsmanship.”
To be honest, I think this was hand made by one of the previous owners. It’s backwards of the normal MKIV badge.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fe2b96dcc12d49bcd946cc66240535184463b65ce45d95584615771eb45ea7d6.jpg
Perhaps, but I prefer to assume that every part of the badge became discolored before liquefying.
I thought that was the case as well until I looked at it closer. My plans are to keep it after I get a new one. Mostly as a reminder of what shape she was in when I got her.
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/331375029776-0-1/s-l1000.jpg
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–CC7ecWy8–/19abb7bba9en9jpg.jpg
And the other rally-inspired badge: Marathon (after the London-Sydney Marathon rally). http://www.fahrzeugbilder.de/1200/daf-66-1300-marathon-coupe-95036.jpg
Subtle or not…
Does it get any cooler than this?
If you had one of these on your Ford,you were hauling ass.
No doubt, but Ford wasn’t the only game in town when it came to 427s.
It’s kitschy, but I always like Pontiac’s “Ram Air” badging.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Pontiac_GTO_Coupe_%28Orange_Julep%29.JPG/1920px-Pontiac_GTO_Coupe_%28Orange_Julep%29.JPG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/30th_Anniversary_Trans_Am.jpg/1920px-30th_Anniversary_Trans_Am.jpg
http://www.classiccarpicturesalmanac.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1938_Cadillac_Series90V16FormalLimousine_452ci_185HP_V-16_ofLLS_RearBadge_1938.jpg
Plymouth was not above gimmickry when it came to feature badging.
OK that’s awesome!
Case in point :
http://img01.deviantart.net/6005/i/2007/276/6/a/__coyote_duster___by_darkwizard83.jpg
Or the famous Road Runner horn :
http://img.crazyhorsebooks.com/upload/5/04/504282d609489c02_thumb.jpg
My tastes are simple
I concur, and painted this on my son’s wall, based on an old Ford truck badge.
Neat! I’m very fond of car crafts for kids…
http://m.finn.no/bap/forsale/ad.html?finnkode=72377039
https://finncdn.no/dynamic/960w/2016/3/vertical-5/09/9/723/770/39_39797478.jpg
http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/KXkAAOSwF1dURhjB/s-l225.jpg
My tastes are halfway modest.
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjMzWDYwOA==/z/TvEAAOSwx-9Wwl7m/$_35.JPG
http://www.ricepaddy.com/images/products/15327.jpg
Yamaha, or Honda?
1983 Honda VF750S Sabre airbox cover.
http://imganuncios.mitula.net/vintage_1983_honda_vf750_sabre_1800_jackson_2340027457724169995.jpg
Saaaaaaaaab?
Yup. A V4 got me here this morning.
By my reckoning V8 > V4 > V6
So your Cadillac’s not working properly, either?
http://mcsmk8.com/8-6-4/MVC-533F.JPG
I understand that many times even this badge was wrong and the number of working cylinders was in fact, zero
Then you’ll like the San Diego Air & Space museum: http://dev.sandiegoairandspace.org/img/featured/section3_image1.jpg
This one’s pretty cool:
http://kentrepairs.com/General/Autos/1959_Galaxie/Images/B9A-19700-A.jpg
It’s mounted on the front passenger door of ’59 Fords to make certain that curbside admirers realize the owner had sprung for the more expensive built-in factory Select-Aire instead of the cheaper under-dash dealer-installed Polar-Aire.
Packard did a similar thing back in 1940, except on both sides of the car.
My favorites are the features that have been standard for quite some time, but used to be noteworthy
Caution! Short stopping distances.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7543/15883484480_aefb9dbe8e_n.jpg
Looking for Renault’s “five gear” badge without finding it…this is second best:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/J20AAMXQHPFRgOVR/$(KGrHqZHJEkFE1Vz9yD1BRgOVRq(wQ~~60_35.JPG
http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/pYsAAOSwGotWq5B~/s-l225.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1b/78/fb/1b78fb7732eb73f0aba0b4cd9a950f96.jpg
🙂
Aw yeah.
http://www.zelandeth.org/cars/86saab/5speed.jpg
And I had this one on my 1980 Rabbit Convertible (pic not mine).
Stupid obtuse K-jet.
http://image.superstreetonline.com/f/52045392+w+h+q80+re0+cr1/1976-volkswagen-rabbit-mk1-rabbit-fuel-injection-badge.jpg
Don’t forget the semi-popular spoof on it:
http://p3racing.net/p3racing/forsale/rabbitinjection_silver.jpg
Then the VR6 was launched (maybe not as Rabbit, but anyway)
I really want to make up little stick-on badges like this.
http://tanshanomi.com/temp/auto-spark.png
The Road Runner one is quite neat.
the super roo on the Aussie GT Falcons
http://www.automobile-sportive.com/guide/bmw/2002turbo/2002turbo-ouverture.jpg
Writing it backwards so people see you have a turbo when they look in the mirror is a cool touch.
For some reason this was important specifically with OBRUTs.
raresportbikesforsale.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/xn-front-600×450.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f123/biggerbubblesmick/honda-cx-500-turbo-1_zps6f0c4e32.jpg
Dodge Super Bee. Not sure if it can be considered a “feature”, as it was marketed as a different model and not just a trim level, but..
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3337/3516230264_3b48c9960d_b.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KZkAAOSwDk5Ty9VO/s-l300.jpg
For the candidate of least coolest… My brother and I were always of the suspicion that GM’s marketing department was too far under budget and needed to blow cash or lose it from their line-item in the following years.
I have one of the Trabant’s completely unironic ‘deluxe’ badges on my office table. But the Trabant ‘tramp’ is probably even better:
http://www.trabant-technik.de/Bilder/503_Schild_Tramp01.jpg
http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m1AvN8umX98Bn8ZqZlIcFHg.jpg
I guess alot of people just asked: “Y?”…and let the mathematicians move on with it.
Never seen that before, I like the “five speed” badge!
Right now, I’m quite partial to this one (pic mine), from back when having a turbo on your diesel was something special, and not just something designated by adding the letter D somewhere in the model name.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Turbodelta
https://ranwhenparkeddotnet.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/alfa-romeo-giulietta-turbodelta-61.jpg
Cool, but it’s no Saab 99.
http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8478/8170670200_8280493052.jpg
Because VALVES!
http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/KXkAAOSwF1dURhjB/s-l225.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NHYAAOSwD0lUlFzM/s-l300.jpg
We waited for years for the follow-up Yamaha Exodus motor but they seemed to pass that idea over.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5024647521_a1aaaf08d1.jpg
Ha- I have that one on the back of my Mustang.
Because bike tech ≠ car tech.
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/a/%28KGrHqUOKoYE6e2R6+M6BOq,sY4GUQ~~/s-l300.jpg
This is from a small kit car manufacturer.
Il Tempo Gigante?
http://1.vgc.no/drpublish/images/article/2015/05/28/23460181/1/990/2396451.jpg
That just needs wings to be a newer version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
The car is actually registered, Cadillac-based 1966-model:
http://www.vegvesen.no/kjoretoy/Kjop+og+salg/Kj%C3%B8ret%C3%B8yopplysninger?registreringsnummer=bl50000
It’s a real life copy of the car in “Flåklypa Grand Prix”, one of very few Norwegian movie classics:
Considering the era, i bet this one often described a “feature” of the owner…
http://img15.deviantart.net/5439/i/2011/105/6/1/dart_swinger_fender_badge_by_theman268-d3e2j5q.jpg
I just saw one of those in traffic this week, in a nice 70s brown color!
Whatever these mean.
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/gt10.jpg
A “feature” on H-body Buicks.
Maybe it’s tuned to work better with radial tires as opposed to bias ply?
Yup.
Current BMW and Mercedes SUV’s rolling on 20s should have “not tuned at all” suspension decals.
When radials were a new thing and optional, cars so equipped came with different suspension bushings and alignment settings. Bias ply tires required quite a bit of tow in to give them some straight line stability, ironically that makes radial equipped cars wander quite a bit.
There was a fascinating article on the introduction of radials in the US in the Spring 2001 issue of the old Invention & Technology magazine. Sadly, it is now out of print and their website has gone dark. Thankfully, the article was archived and you can read it here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20071226064252/http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/it/2001/4/2001_4_28.shtml
Holden had the same problem in Australia in the changeover from the HX model to the HZ as they changed the settings from Detroit inspired to European inspired with the help of an Opel suspension engineer called Peter Hanenberger. A badge celebrated the new calibrations.
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Holden-Statesman-RTS.png
http://www.kingswoodcountry.com.au/assets/full/B1065.jpg
Surprisingly, they STILL had that badge on my dad’s VN-series Holden Berlina, at which point radial tires could hardly be called new…
But they were still tuning the suspension for them!
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/isuzu8.jpg
The original Supra (Celica Supra) could have worn this badge, too.
I have one of these shop manuals but I’ve never seen a ’58 Ford actually equipped with Ford-Aire suspension, or even an actual badge:
http://thumbs3.picclick.com/d/l400/pict/381565617230_/1958-Ford-aire-suspension-shop-manual.jpg
I googled images for “1958 Ford-Aire” and this was in the first row of results :
http://car-from-uk.com/ebay/carphotos/full/ebay992527.jpg
http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=108631
I should have said that although there are some well-known examples out there, I still haven’t seen one in-person.
source with more info : http://www.allpar.com/mopar/fluidrive.html
Saxomat, a semi-automatic transmission available on a lot of (mostly german) cars from the late 50s to the 70s.
http://img3.annuncicdn.it/ab/cb/abcbd048ec60bee953854aa2a79bd3e8_orig.jpg
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1147517.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxomat
Is this a feature badge, or a name badge?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3545ce6301180a23777fe720b0d443a5988300f1ee38677594a267b268c29424.jpg
At first glance, I read that as Cartoon…
This is how you do it in style, with some residual dignity when parking somewhere else than valet, your friend’s court, or the yachting club. That car below probably has more than six speeds in its automatic gear box, at least an AMG V8, and I wouldn’t be too surprised to hear that there is an air condition system installed!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Mercedes-Benz_CLS_500_BlueEFFICIENCY_Sport-Paket_AMG_%28C_218%29_%E2%80%93_Heckansicht,_28._Mai_2011,_D%C3%BCsseldorf.jpg
In 1961 the Maserati 3500 GT became the 3500 GTI (with the extra I indicating the switch from carbs to
fuel injection). If that wasn’t clear enough, the trident badge was also modified to incorporate the word “Iniezione”.
I forgot to add the source, so here it is : http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri67x.htm
When you feel the need to advertise your valve train…
And they weren’t alone in that… must have been an 80s thing
http://www.simoncars.co.uk/lamborghini/slides/aa_Lamborghini%20Countach%20badgec.jpg
Also, oddly enough, when the F355 came out, Ferrari bragged about it’s 5 valves per cylinder engine on the brochure cover, as well as on the valve cover, but not on the car itself.
http://img.overpic.net/images/i/e/7/xie7rcdtcs37s847yi2oc.jpg
http://blog.knight.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_2256.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Paris_-_Retromobile_2013_-_Bentley_3_Litre_Super_Sports_-_1926_-_101.jpg/800px-Paris_-_Retromobile_2013_-_Bentley_3_Litre_Super_Sports_-_1926_-_101.jpg
You can just about see that the background of the badge on this car is *green*
http://chevronics.co.uk/new/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ABS-Badge.jpg
I know ABS has already been mentioned, but:
I once knew a girl who had this Citroen-sourced badge on a late ’80s Ford Fiesta, not a car ever equipped with, nor really needing, anti-lock brakes.
However, her name was Abigail.
Going of on a tangent, but I like pick-up trucks with optional ABS, so that an idiot light is installed in the dash.
If the truck is not equipped with ABS, instead of of removing the light, they just reassigned it to a different purpose.
TL;DR: My cousin was absolutely perplexed when his truck told him that ABS was malfunctioning, despite it not even existing in the first place.
And did she have a six pack? 😉
Old style decal on a new Wrangler, Willys model.
I though these were owner-added but I spotted one at the auto show. So it’s MOPAR.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0268/8219/products/4_WHEEL_DRIVE_grande.jpg?v=1452518344
I sort of feel sorry for that being posted right next to the fifth wheel.
Well, that fifth wheel is not being driven. The sixth (steering) wheel inside is though, one hopes…
The turbo Corvair emblems were pretty sweet.
http://www.corvair.com/photo-index/C84.jpg
http://www.corvair.com/photo-index/C2236.jpg
The only “feature” badge on any of my cars is this not-so-cool one:
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/wordpress/2009/09/hybrid-synergy-drive.jpg
Of course, this one absolutely needs a nomination.
Because Climatizzata!
http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/05/Climatizzata-02-450×337.jpg
Of course, there’s also this one…
And this meant something slightly different depending on which side of the Atlantic your P6 was delivered on.
Neatly understated for a car that was anything but.
The jewel in the crown of the early US-model Peugeot 505… Econoscope!
i know i’m a day late here, but i couldn’t not post this
http://www.jdmlegends.com/sales/images/carLG/DR30%20Skyline/12_2_09%20001.jpg