"The prancing horse" is a world-famous symbol. Let's take a look at its meaning and the complete meaning of Ferrari logo.
Horses symbolize courage, freedom, strength and independence. Besides, it is also a beautiful animal depicted in mythology. Nowadays, people are attracted to horses because they are friendly creatures, although they have been abused and overworked for centuries. We admire their resilience, professional ethics and independence, so it is not surprising that car brands also like them.
At present, at least 24 big brands have horses in their logos. From British fashion brand Burberry, French leather multinational Hermes and other luxury giants, to Ralph Lauren, Lauren and other mass luxury brands, all kinds of high-end clothing brands have chosen this noble animal as their logo.
Naturally, even the automobile industry likes the charm of this wild and independent horse. The symbol of Mustang and Ferrari is horse. Considering the symbolic meaning and power image of horses, it is not surprising that these leading companies choose such a powerful animal. Having said that, we want to dig deeper and better understand the real meaning behind the wild stallion in Ferrari logo.
This history can be traced back to an earl, a hero of World War I.
This Italian aristocrat and hero of World War I inspired Ferrari's logo, and his story is very popular. In fact, even Enzo Ferrari once had a famous saying: "1923, I met a hero's father Enrico Baracca, and his mother, Countess Paolina, said to me one day, Ferrari, put my son's prancing horse in your car. It will bring you good luck. Officially, this is the origin of Ferrari logo, but some people think there are more subtle differences.
A story of conflict
In fact, there are two contradictory stories about the origin of Ferrari logo. The first one, mentioned above, involves the meeting between Count Baraka and Enzo, pilots of the Italian Air Force, and his parents. At the same time, the second story shows that the horse depicted on Baraka's plane is not an auspicious symbol to remind people of Baraka's roots in Piedmont Cavaglia, but a killing symbol depicted on the plane to show that Baraka shot down a pilot from Stuttgart, Germany.
Although these stories are contradictory, most Ferrari fans and experts agree in some ways. For example, the light yellow in the background is an ode to Modena, the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari. In addition, the prancing horse of Ferrari is black, while the horse depicted on the plane of Baraka is red. It seems that Enzo Ferrari decided to paint this prancing horse in the back, because Francisco Baraka died in the battle, so this horse should represent the mourning for the Italian hero.
From shield to rectangle
Some high-end and luxury companies try to improve their popularity and market appeal by changing their logos, while others respect their traditions by keeping their logos unchanged. A later brand was Ferrari, which kept the same colors, design elements and symbols. Of course, in a world where consumers demand radical modernism and high-tech design, Ferrari's approach is commendable. However, some minimalist changes continue. For example, the coat of arms takes the form of a rectangle. In addition, the shape of the horse has also changed. Another important detail appeared on the badge of 193 1. The letter "SF" appeared, but the name of Ferrari disappeared. Later, in 1947, the yellow background color is more vivid and obviously enhanced.
The first car to wear a Ferrari coat of arms was Alfa Romeo.
Nowadays, everyone associates the prancing horse with the iconic Italian luxury car company. Few people remember that the first car with a logo was not even Ferrari's car, but Alfa Romeo's car. Enzo Ferrari was a famous racing driver at that time. 1932 season, he took part in the race in an Alfa Romeo racing car with the iconic logo.
It was not until the end of World War II that Ferrari began to produce road cars, so in the early 1930s, Italians still associated the symbol of the prancing horse with another car company. It is worth noting that the first Ferrari racing car with a badge was the Ferrari 125s with 1947, and the supercar with V 12 engine made its debut in Piacenza.