Flag logo question for Ferrari historians

Not sure about the flags, but I think most will agree that the C8 has some (A LOT) of design cues from Ferrari. But when you think about it though does it matter? A Corvette will always be a Corvette, a Ferrari will always be a Ferrari.

 

Well Chevy has used the flag design on more cars than just the corvette, and of course crossed flags in general are a symbol that predates Chevy, but also, the corvette logo has been changed about 10 different times with many examples not even resembling flags. Compared to the flag design in the 550, the Ferrari design is not only closer to the original, it still has direct meaning towards the designer of the car, pininfarina. So depending on which logo your friend is referring too, the 550 logo is probably more original than the vette, however I don’t think either brand copied each other

 

The Pininfarina flags are maritime flags used for signaling and the flags chosen are letters representative of the manufacturer. They changed when Pininfarina changed their name from Pinin Farina to Pininfarina. So, those flags actually have a meaning relative to the cars.

Corvettes flags are just generic racing flags.

 

The Vette crossed flag was unveiled in January 1953 (Bartholomew) at New York's Waldorf Astoria. The only thing I could find is Pininfarina released their crossed flag in 1953 as well. (what month though?.) But as @Booker stated, crossed flags are not exactly new so I'm sure that symbology has been used before. I do understand your question though, who used it first in an automotive flourish?

Perhaps @Marcel Massini would know or @TOOLFAN