Few people are aware, however, that the origins of this iconic logo are deeply rooted in the aviation industry and Italian history. The black prancing horse on a yellow shield originally debuted on the Ferrari automobiles in 1929.
Francesco Baracca, a national hero, painted the prancing horse on his aircraft during World War I. In order to preserve the logotype concerning her son, Ferrari took the horse after the legendary pilot’s mother inquired about it.
A yellow shield with black, red, and white lines on top and the letters “S” and “F” (which stand for Scuderia Ferrari) on the bottom made up the original Ferrari emblem. A black horse drawn in profile and turning left was positioned in the center of the logo.
In This Article...
Ferrari’s original logo
The Museo del Marchio Italiano discovered a similar pattern on the regimental banner of the Royal Piedmont Regiment of the Duke of Savoy, Vittorio Amadeo II, in 1692, which led to the discovery of the Ferrari Cavallino Rampante, or Prancing Horse.
According to Ferrari, the Countess suggested that Enzo Ferrari put the prancing horse their son had painted on the side of his plane during the war on Ferrari’s race cars for good luck while he was visiting Count Enrico Baracca and Countess Paolina Baracca, the parents of renowned Italian WWI fighter pilot Francesco Baracca.
After winning a race at the Savio track in Ravenna, Italy, in 1923, Enzo was given the chance to meet the Baraccas in person. The horse was black, a trait he preserved, and according to Enzo’s retelling of the narrative—a story he is known to have told just once—but the canary yellow background was his own invention. He chose it since it was the color of his city of Modena. Francesco Baracca originally painted the horse on his jet in red, but after Baracca was killed in battle during the war, his squadron mates changed the color to black as a show of sadness.
Another account of the origins of Baracca’s (and subsequently Ferrari’s) Prancing Horse, this time from the Museo del Marchio Italiano, claims that the horse on Baracca’s aircraft was not painted as a lucky charm but rather to pay homage to valiant regiments of the past and Baracca’s own cavalry roots in the Italian army’s Reggimento Piemonte Cavalleria, the contemporary offspring of the Royal Piedmont Regiment Instead, it was a kill symbol painted on the aircraft to signify that Baracca had shot down a pilot from Stuttgart, Germany, whose city crest featured a horse that was similarly pranced. This kill symbol differed from the historical Italian version in that it had the same upward-curving tail as the Ferrari badge. Strangely, Stuttgart’s heraldic crest also has a background made of bright yellow, and to this day, the same horse can be seen on every emblem for a Porsche.
What Motivated Ferrari to Create the Prancing Horse Emblem?
The famous Italian air force fighter during World War I, Count Francesco Baracca, was the real owner of the prancer (the cavallino rampante). That identical pattern was printed on the side of his plane. Before being shot down on June 19, 1918, Baracca, who the Italians regarded as their national hero, had won approximately 30 dogfights.
- Considering that his group was a cavalry corps
- owing to the fact that his wealthy family kept horses on their estate
- Considering that he took the artwork from a German pilot’s aircraft that included the Stuttgart city emblem
But it wasn’t until 1923 that Enzo Ferrari met Baracca’s parents, who begged Ferrari to adopt their son’s artwork as a good luck charm on his automobiles.
The yellow backdrop of the emblem represents the city of Modena, Italy, where Enzo was born. Scuderia Ferrari is the name of the company’s racing branch, and the two letters next to the horse, S and F, represent for that. The Italian national colors are represented by the red, white, and green stripes at the top of the emblem.
Interested in thinking about car logos like Ferrari’s? See more of our Behind the Badge series, which explores amazing auto logos!
the significance of the Ferrari logo
One of the few logos that has remained largely unchanged since the brand’s debut on the market is the Ferrari logo. Since the Francesco Baracca narrative began in 1929, the black prancing horse that is identified with the Ferrari car insignia has remained a mainstay of the company’s image.
Ferrari’s initial emblem has evolved a little over the years, but the firm has never abandoned the horse, which is seen as a representation of invention, speed, and power in addition to being lucky. Ferrari’s horse is a representation of the company’s character.
The logo’s other, smaller components are also significant. The image is made to stand out by choosing a vivid yellow background as the main color for the Ferrari logo. The Italian flag’s colors are used as a nod to Ferrari’s past.
This is the Ferrari logo’s actual meaning.
Let’s examine the Prancing Horse’s importance and the whole meaning of the Ferrari logo since it is a well-known symbol.
The horse represents bravery, independence, freedom, and power. In addition, it is a lovely animal that has been portrayed in tales and stories. Despite being mistreated and exploited for ages, horses are still popular because they are amiable animals. It is not surprise that brands adore them because we respect their tenacity, work ethic, and independence.
At least twenty-four significant companies currently use horses in their logos. There are many upmarket clothes labels that have chosen this noble animal as their emblem, from luxury giants like French leather goods conglomerate Hermes and British fashion firm Burberry to mass luxury names like Ralph Lauren and Longchamp.
Naturally, the untamed, autonomous horse’s allure was not impervious to the motor business. The horse is featured in the logos for Mustang, Porsche, Continental AG, Kamaz, and Ferrari. It is not surprising that these top companies chose such a potent animal given the symbolism of the horse and the power of imagery. With that in mind, we want to delve further and comprehend the real significance of the wild stallion in the Ferrari logo.
FAQ
Francesco Baracca, a famous Italian airman, is credited with creating the Ferrari logo, which features a prancing horse on the fuselage of his aircraft.
It depends, really. Models from 2021 start at around $200,000 and come in limited quantities for much more.
The price of a Ferrari might change depending on the model and mileage. Values may increase over time for some really rare limited or special edition items.
The Ferrari logo is a black prancing horse placed against a yellow background and the national flag of Italy.
The prancing horse in the Ferrari logo has always represented a constant quest of excellence and speed.
Depending on the model, a brand-new Ferrari can cost as much as millions of dollars. The starting price is $215,000.
No, Ford does not own Ferrari. However, there was a moment in the 1960s when Ford made an offer to purchase Ferrari, but Enzo Ferrari declined. This led to their strong competition at Le Mans, with Ford’s GT40 at the forefront.
The current fastest and most potent Ferrari road-going vehicle is the 812 Superfast.
Khris loves his Jags and Alfas, but he also keeps up with anything from extreme exotics like an ancient EB 110 to the newest from Lucid. He devotes a lot of time to watching the Grand Prix on Sundays since he loves Formula One so much. Khris enjoys taking long drives and always chooses a stick shift over an automatic.
What is the Ferrari logo?
The Prancing Horse, often known as the Cavallino Rampante or “small prancing horse,” is the emblem of the Scuderia Ferrari racing team and the Italian sports automobile manufacturer Ferrari. Francesco Baracca, a pilot in World War I, first wore the emblem on his aircraft.
Why is a horse in Ferrari’s logo?
It has grown to be among the most recognizable logos in the world and a representation of excellence. The name Ferrari is almost as recognizable as the company’s prancing horse, but where did it come from? According to the Italian company, Enzo Ferrari only mentioned the stallion’s lineage once.
Enzo Ferrari was a racer before he rose to renown for designing some of the most esteemed road and race cars. Having success with Alfa Romeo, Enzo took first place in the Coppa Acerbo race in Italy in 1924. The Scuderia Ferrari racing team was established in 1929 and competed in numerous categories with mostly Alfa Romeo vehicles.
One day, Ferrari came across the parents of renowned World War One flyer Francesco Baracca, whose aircraft’s fuselage featured a galloping horse. For good luck, they requested that he mount the stallion on his vehicles. To construct his logo, Enzo complied and added a yellow background—a color associated with Maranello.
At the Spa Grand Prix in 1932, the Alfa Romeos of Enzo’s Scuderia used a yellow shield with a black horse prance. The two entered cars finished first and second, proving that the lucky charm was effective. In 1933, Alfa withdrew from racing due to financial issues, leaving Scuderia Ferrari as the acting racing team. Later, the iconic symbol gained prominence and even appeared on the grille of the 1935 Alfa Romeo Bimotore.
Later, Alfa Romeo acquired interests in Scuderia Ferrari and turned it into Alfa Corse. Enzo permanently departed Alfa Romeo to start his own racing vehicle company after World War Two, which put an end to motor racing. It was agreed that he would have to wait four years before using the Ferrari name on his projects. His company started off creating machinery, but even when his new headquarters in Maranello were attacked, he continued to be passionate about motorsports during the war.
The 12-cylinder Tipo 125S manufactured by Ferrari once more proudly carried the prancing horse and the Ferrari trademark in 1947. The 1948 Italian Grand Prix marked the car’s debut, and the rest is history.
The Ferrari logo is yellow, but why?
Enzo Ferrari made a black horse with a yellow backdrop his official logo as a sign of respect for the Countess. He claims that the color yellow is a representation of his hometown of Modena. This emblem initially appeared on the Alfa Romeo 8C Monza driven by Scuderia Ferrari in 1932.
What do Ferrari enthusiasts go by?
The term “Tifosi” is frequently used to describe Scuderia Ferrari fans in Formula One. Even while they have also been ardent followers of other Italian automobiles like Maserati, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo, Italian motor racing enthusiasts are best recognized for their adoration of Ferrari.
At the Italian Grand Prix, the Tifosi cover the grandstands with a sea of crimson, supplying Formula One. During Formula One weekends at every race circuit, a huge Ferrari flag is displayed in the grandstands, with particularly sizable contingents appearing in Ferrari livery at home and nearby European venues. This is one of the most common Tifosi sights. The San Marino race, which was held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari near the town of Imola, 80 kilometers (49.7 miles) east of the Ferrari plant in Maranello, had a similar sight in previous years.
It’s not unusual for the Tifosi in Italy to cheer for a foreign driver in a Ferrari overtaking an Italian driver in a different brand of vehicle to take the lead in a race. When Riccardo Patrese crashed his Brabham out of the lead six laps from the finish line during the 1983 San Marino Grand Prix, giving Frenchman Patrick Tambay the victory in his Ferrari, the Imola crowd roared heartily. Only a half-lap earlier, Patrese himself had overtaken Tambay to take the lead.
The ascent of Michael Schumacher, who raced for Ferrari from 1996 to 2006 and helped the team win the Constructors’ Championship from 1999 to 2004, is directly responsible for their recent rise in the rankings.
Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser is one driver who never actually competed for Ferrari but is backed by the Tifosi. He filled in for a sick Nigel Mansell when driving for the Williams squad at the 1988 Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The leading McLaren-Honda of Ayrton Senna was destroyed in an accident at the Variante del Rettifilo chicane on lap 49 of the 51-lap race, giving Ferrari’s Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto an emotional victory in the Italian Grand Prix just one month after Enzo Ferrari’s passing. McLaren suffered their lone loss during Berger’s victory during the 16-race 1988 season.
2019 saw Ferrari win in Monza for the first time since 2010, and Charles Leclerc’s victory was celebrated by a large group of tifosi who gathered at the winner’s podium. There is a love-hate connection between the tifosi and Mercedes, who have consistently won in Monza from the beginning of the turbo hybrid era through 2018. David Croft confirmed this during the podium celebration. The tifosi would boo the driver whenever a Mercedes finished on the podium or won the Italian Grand Prix.