What do we understand, when it comes to a logo. How do we see a logo and what do we perceive from it. Many people have many theories, interpretations, explanations for world famous logos. A logo isn’t just a symbol or a simple design of random strokes, it can mean so much more. We witness many iconic logos encompass a whole thought process behind their evolution while others reflect the history or vision of the manufacturers.
We may know most of the companies based on their logo. But do you know the meaning and history behind those logos? Let us read and share some interesting stories, of 5 important car brands that made an impression and have helped set their brand in the customers’ minds. To check out more interesting stories about cars click here.
1- Ferrari:
Ferrari logo is a tale of mixed emotions. From a war veteran’s war craft painting to colour of a birth city. The story of Ferrari logo is as intriguing as its design and popularity.
The story of prancing horse logo was heard from the lips of founder Enzo Ferrari, just once in his lifetime. The horse was actually a painting on World War I fighter pilot Francesco Baracca’s fuselage.
Enzo Ferrari said that in 1923 he met the pilot’s father and then his mother who told him to put her son’s horse on his cars to bring him good luck. Ferrari said that the original horse was black and he added canary yellow to its background because it was the colour of his birthplace, Mondena.
2- Ford Mustang:
As we learned that fighter planes kept fascinating the car manufacturers in early 1940’s. Same way fascinated by dynamics of P-51 Mustang fighter bomber airplane, John Najjar designed the first Mustang.
According to the book “Mustang Genesis” by Bob Fria, Najjar’s initial Mustang name suggestion was not well received. The higher authorities of the company thought the name ‘Mustang’ was associated more with airplanes than cars.
The Ford Mustang is named after the P-51 Mustang fighter plane, and its initial designers felt as though the running horse should be its defining symbol. The Mustang logo of pony cars shares the same logo with SMU, but with one major difference.
The SMU horse logo faces the right, but in comparison, even before the first designs of the pony car were completed, the team at Ford decided that the Mustang logo would portray a horse running to the left. Designer Gene Halderman was the one who suggested the directional change, and it has later been said that a left-facing horse depicts a wild horse running west.
In addition to the running horse logo, Ford also considered a horse’s head design that was similar to a knight on a chessboard.
3- Mercedes-Benz:
A merger of 3 factories with different potentials and backgrounds paved the way for its famous three-pointed star. Mercedes Benz logo is known to all and is well recognized throughout the globe.
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft used the Mercedes – the name of his Emil Jellinek’s daughter for most of its cars and registered it as a trademark in 1902. The three-pointed star came into existence later, in 1909.
On 28 June 1926, when Benz and Cie formally merged with Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft — becoming Daimler-Benz AG (Aktiengesellschaft) — it was suggested that from then on, all of the factories would use the Mercedes-Benz brand name on their automobiles.
The design consists of a simple design of a three-pointed star in a circle that represents its domination of the land, sea, and air.
4- Bentley:
We very well know a logo is a symbol and vision and initiation. Bentley’s manufacturers and designers were influenced by many factors from ancient to medieval as well as modern. All these factors can be seen in its wide expense of wings carrying a “B” on top.
Bentley logo consists of two wings with a circle in the centre that contains the initial of the company name ‘B’. Bentley started out as a car manufacturer in 1919 and the logo was created at that time and has remained more or less the same since.
The ‘Big B’ logo is similar to ancient Egypt’s winged solar disc. The winged sun is a symbol associated with divinity, royalty and power in the Ancient Egypt.
5- BMW:
History has always cherished and adored a simple and attracting logo designs. BMW is a brand with unique yet simple logo design. Initials play a vital role in recognizing a brand name and it fits every tongue easily.
BMW designed its first logo in 1917. The logo represents the propellers of an airplane is a myth. The myth was created by a 1929’s photograph on the cover of a BMW aircraft magazine, years after the logo was actually designed.
Kai Jacobson, an automobile historian at the BMW Group said, “As Rapp Motorenwerke grew into BMW, BMW assumed all the business segments, and the company wanted the logo to be oriented on Rapp’s logo.
BMW chose the Bavarian national colours as the colours of its logo, but arranged the letters exactly like Rapp. The designed logo is used till this date.
Whether the Car logos are created out of imaginations or preconceived notions, one thing is for sure. They do influence the human mind and captivities interests of all from a costumer to the knowledge seekers.
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