Why Did Some '90s Toyotas Have Gold Badges? (Here's Our Best Guess)

You may have noticed that some Toyotas in the 1990s had gold badges that stood out in the sea of usual silver. If you're wondering if it means anything beyond looking stylish, you may be let down. Drivers from the 1990s recall seeing these golden badges on certain Toyota models that had a "Gold Package." But these Gold Package versions were less about improved performance upgrades and more about making a statement. 

So how much did it cost to have a Gold Package version? One owner claims it cost $500 more back in the 1990s — a pretty large sum just to have a golden status symbol on your car. Still, it was one way to make your car stand out, since Toyota apparently chose its most popular models to get the Gold Package treatment. This included Camry, Corolla, and Land Cruiser vehicles. Think of it sort of like the tri-color badge on some off-roading Toyota models — it's meant to represent a certain spirit rather than a physical upgrade. 

The current Toyota logo that we all know debuted in 1989, right before the golden trend took over. It was meant to celebrate the brand's 50th anniversary, with the two inner ovals meant to represent the heart of the company and its customers. Toyota explained that the ovals overlap to represent how the company and its customers have a trust between one another. Meanwhile, the outer oval represents the entire world "embracing" Toyota. 

Toyota chose to keep the design simple in its appearance, with the empty space representing its "infinite values." These values include quality, going beyond expectations, creating a joyful driving experience, innovating, integrating safety, and protecting the environment. It's not for everyone, but a gold version of this symbol carries more weight and emphasis on these meanings while also acting as a status symbol for drivers with extra cash all those decades ago.