Sep 20, 2011read the 10 comments
Ferrari logo history
Enzo Ferrari told the story of the prancing horse logo just once.
“The horse was painted on the fuselage of the fighter plane of Francesco Baracca — a heroic airman of the first world war. In ’23, I met count Enrico Baracca, the hero’s father, and then his mother, countess Paulina, who said to me one day, ‘Ferrari, put my son’s prancing horse on your cars. It will bring you good luck’. The horse was, and still is, black, and I added the canary yellow background which is the colour of Modena.”
— ENZO FERRARI
Learn more in this video from Ferrari.
Via @TheLogoFactory. Photo credit.
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10 appreciated comments, click here to add one
James McBride
What a brilliant little piece of history! Makes me wonder how many other stories lie hidden beneath automakers logos.
Sep 21st, 2011
Laura
How cool! I’ve always loved the Ferrari logo and now I’ll always connect it with Modena, where great food (and balsamic vinegar) come from.
Sep 21st, 2011
Kelly
That’s interesting to know as most of the time you just assume that there is some real meaning to a logo but this was a case of simply being told to add it for luck. It still has deep meaning, just not in the typical sense that you would expect in that the symbol represents something about the brand name etc. It’s great that the history has been kept true but it’s not a favourite logo of mine despite what the cars represent.
Sep 21st, 2011
KevinN
Although the story is interesting, i wouldn’t give it much credit. He could have said, “Put my sons, telescope on there…” or really any object or thing and the logo would be just as meaningful.
I don’t think its a great logo, but a logo for ‘something’. The products make the ferrari logo. Unlike many other things where the logo really identifies the product.
If the story went along like oh this is my sons horse, its great and strong and fast just like your planes then i would buy it. But really, look at it. If today, a designer came up with that for a new car company… yikes.
Sep 21st, 2011
Maciej
It is amazing to understand the background on some of these iconic logos that have made waves across the globe. Plus the Ferrari logo is just an awesome logo to look at.
Sep 26th, 2011
Pvc
Did you know that there’s another motor company that share a similar story with the prancing horse?
http://www.ducati.com/history/editorials/ducati_and_the_prancing_horse/index.do
Sep 30th, 2011
Matt Wills
I think there was more than just a happy coincidence there – Enzo Ferrari might have been moved by his friend to use his son’s horse for the logo, but probably also had some sense for design – how perfectly does the ferrari horse convey the brand identity for the company?
Oct 5th, 2011
Jonn Mero
The voice in the video clip, is that Alun Armstrong’s?
Jul 1st, 2012
James
I agree with KevinN. Maybe they could have changed it a bit more over the years, like McLaren did with their logo (used to be a Kiwi which is a bird). Ferrari always seem to hang on to tradition more than McLaren and others. Not saying that Ferrari’s way is worse, just different. But that philosophy has been to their detriment in the past.
Dec 17th, 2012
Pasquale
Precisely, if Ferrari had changed anything and followed the same steps of the others, then they would not be any different and that is their strength to be different and being great at it. Great business makers do not fellow trends but make them as this company clearly did in the past and still does today.
A pleasant day to all ;)
May 17th, 2013
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