Contest Logo Redesign - 72 Hours with $100 Payment via PayPal

I'm hosting a logo design contest with a grand prize total of $100 USD via PayPal.

Logo Name: DealershipForum.com

Description: Internet Forum for Dealership Owners and their employees

Industry: Retail Automotive Industry

Current Logo: Here's the current logo that DealershipForum.com is using:

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What I like about the Current Logo:

• I like the font, I think it's Sofachrome, and the angle of the italic print.
• I like the colors and I like that a different color is used for the "D" the "F" and the ".com" to make them stand out.

What I don't like about the Current Logo:

• I don't like the color and the shading behind text - I think the shading effect makes the logo somewhat difficult to read. I'm not opposed to the use of shading but I'd like the lettering to look like it's on top of a slightly curved piece of chrome - like the trim you would see on an expensive car.
• It's always bothered me that the angle on the left of the logo doesn't match the angle on the right of the logo. I'm also not 100% sold on the blue accent on the right side - maybe it should be on both sides or maybe it should just go away?

What I'm looking for:

• I want one logo to replace the one I'm currently using
• I want an additional logo with just the letters "D" and "F" that would fit in a square box the size of a postage stamp that can be used on Facebook and Twitter or the Profile Picture of forums like this one. (I'm open to ideas here - I just want an identifiable logo that I can use for square box applications.)
• I want two versions of the postage stamp sized logo - one that's bright and matches the main logo and one that's more subdued. I plan to use the two different logos to signal which portions of the forum have new posts. (New post = bright logo, nothing new = duller logo)
• Bonus points will be awarded if you can provide me with a mock-up of a business card with the new logo.

Colors: I mostly like the existing colors but I want the logo to look brighter and be easier to read.

Timeframe: 72 Hours with winner announced and paid within 24 hours of contest end.

Payment: $100 USD via PayPal

Deliverables: Vector file (Photoshop / Illustrator), PDF File and preferably the source of the font included. I'd like to be able to communicate with you in the event I need some minor add-ons which I can pay for. If you can design an attractive Facebook and Twitter page for DealershipForum.com that would likely be something I would want to pay for later on.

Winner: I'll announce the winner within 24 hours of the contest end and I reserve the right NOT to choose any winner if I don't think there's a design that will work and that's worth $100. (The odds of not choosing a winner are very low - I want to get this done so I can take the next step to redesign my forum.)

Final thoughts:

• I'll try to provide feedback for each logo submission.
• I'll likely provide a link to this thread so the members of DealershipForum.com can see the various entries and provide me with their feedback.

 

New font + new design + square box

 

Design Proposition:
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@Sobbi - I like the color options but I'm looking for the lettering to be on top of a chrome-like background.

@coolwanz - Your design strays a bit from the original but I really like the way you stacked the "D" and "F" in the box logo.

@onlyfights - Your design looks really good - is it possible to make the background look more like chrome and stack the "D" and "F" so it fits in a square box?

Thanks to all three of you for your submissions. I will post a link to this page on DealershipForum.com and ask if the members have any feedback.

 

Revised:

 

working on my entry

 

Here's my try

 

@Kic3 - Looks really good. Is it possible to reduce the level of shading to make the text easier to read and to make the background look more like chrome? Also, I like the current design where all the letters rest on the same horizontal line and the "D" and the "F" stand taller. Your square box logo looks good too - just less shading and more chrome if possible.
@CEmarketer - Thanks for the submission but that strays too far from the original logo to suit my tastes.
@FlashD - Your design is quite a bit different than the original but I kind of like it. Thanks for the submission.
@katesrobyn - Thanks for the submission but your design is a little too far from the original to suit my tastes.

 

another try:
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@CH

Let me submit my entry soon

Thanks
Kain

 

Regards
gibblet

 

Hope you like it, Feedback Appreciated