Taco Bell 1985 Logo

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StoreLiker2006
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Taco Bell 1985 Logo

Post by StoreLiker2006 »

Is it true that Taco Bell actually retired its 1985 logo in 1993 and not 1994?

The reason I am asking is because I seem to find some late 1993 ads for the chain that actually use the current logo rather than the 1985 logo that has the text in brown with the bell against a red, yellow and green background.

~Ben
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Andrew T.
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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

Post by Andrew T. »

Are you sure? For a time around 1993-94, Taco Bell used a transitional logo on wrappers, cups, and some advertising materials (though not signs) that combined the lettering style of the 1980s logo with the colors and angled bell of the current logo; with more detail and a background of wood slats.
"The pale pastels which have been featured in most food stores during the past 20 years are no longer in tune with the mood of the 1970s."
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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

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Andrew T. wrote:Are you sure? For a time around 1993-94, Taco Bell used a transitional logo on wrappers, cups, and some advertising materials (though not signs) that combined the lettering style of the 1980s logo with the colors and angled bell of the current logo; with more detail and a background of wood slats.
Yes, see this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZLn-f4H6Nc

The TACO BELL name seen here, in promotions for the movie Demolition Man, is in a font like no other.

~Ben
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tesg
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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

Post by tesg »

I believe the font used in the "Demolition Man" promos was specific to the co-promotion of Demolition Man (on TV and in-store) and done in a futuristic style to fit in with the movie.
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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

Post by cal78 »

The Taco Bell at 1700 Contra Costa Boulevard, Pleasant Hill, CA‎ , still has the Old Logo out in front as of Saturday, when i went by it, wonder why thay did not switch over to the new logo? If You look at it in Google Earth Street View, you can See it.
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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

Post by Brian Lutz »

In some older neighborhoods around here it's not too uncommon to see the older 1980s logo still in use on building signage. There are even a few scattered Mission Style Taco Bells still in operation (an example can be found here. as well as quite a few former Taco Bells that have been since repurposed.
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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

Post by Super S »

The Taco Bell in Kelso, WA still has its early 90s signage, this one was built in either 1990 or 1991.
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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

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cal78 wrote:The Taco Bell at 1700 Contra Costa Boulevard, Pleasant Hill, CA‎ , still has the Old Logo out in front as of Saturday, when i went by it, wonder why thay did not switch over to the new logo? If You look at it in Google Earth Street View, you can See it.
I did notice a now-departed TB on 5036 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR, has the 1985-93 signage on what appears to be a 1979-85 era building.

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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

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Brian Lutz wrote:In some older neighborhoods around here it's not too uncommon to see the older 1980s logo still in use on building signage. There are even a few scattered Mission Style Taco Bells still in operation (an example can be found here. as well as quite a few former Taco Bells that have been since repurposed.
This one appears to have the 1985 signage but the building appears to have been there before then due to its architecture, what with its distinctive arched roof where a facsimile of a real bell was, as well as the displaced "T-A-C-O B-E-L-L" blocks (or lighted red "TACO BELL" letters in the "Knight Rider" typesetting, whatever its real name is, if the building dates from 1979-85).

~Ben
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Andrew T.
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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

Post by Andrew T. »

I'd be curious if any of the last mission-style Taco Bells bore the 85-94 era backlit signage from the outset when they opened. As far as I know, the change to the new logo coincided with the change to the mansard building design.
"The pale pastels which have been featured in most food stores during the past 20 years are no longer in tune with the mood of the 1970s."
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Re: Taco Bell 1985 Logo

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Andrew T. wrote:I'd be curious if any of the last mission-style Taco Bells bore the 85-94 era backlit signage from the outset when they opened. As far as I know, the change to the new logo coincided with the change to the mansard building design.
You know what? That gives me a clue. I'm guessing the very first TBs which opened in the fall of 1985 and the winter of 1986 were transitional in a way due to the main building being a throwback to the original 1962 and the subsequent 1979 "mission" designs.

Some of those "mission" TBs you describe which bear the red, yellow and green stripes (representing the hot, medium and mild heat varieties respectively) might be considered fall 1985/winter 1986, and that the chain probably switched to a different-altogether building by the summer of 1986 or early 1987.

~Ben
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