The Porsche logo is certainly one of the most emblematic of the whole automobile industry. Born mid-20th century, this trademark has remained loyal to its roots and was barely modified throughout the years. But where is it from? What is the history behind the Porsche logo?
Not only does this emblem represent the elite brand, but upon giving it a closer look, it is easy to see that it has a lot to say about the European manufacturer’s roots. Your Porsche dealership in the metropolitan area tells you more about it!
A reference to Stuttgart
Although Porsche stands out for the outstanding horsepower offered by its vehicles, the presence of a horse on its emblem is, surprisingly, completely unrelated to this quality! In fact, the equine symbol found on the Porsche logo actually represents Stuttgart, the German city’s seal.
Rather than being a symbol of performance, this horse was chosen to illustrate how Stuttgart, which used to be an agricultural city, was also an important area for horse rearing. Moreover, it later became a source of military cavalry.
Is it a mare or a stallion? If we look into the etymology of the name “Stuttgart”, it would indeed represent a mare. In fact, Stutt derives from the old German word stuot, which translates into mare.
Since the Porsche manufacturer was born in the Stuttgart district –more precisely in Zuffenhausen- it chose to honor its origins by using this symbol. Moreover, Stuttgart is known as a reputable manufacturing center, not only housing the Porsche head office, but also Mercedes-Benz.
So, the widely recognized mare on the Porsche logo has nothing to do with the horse found on the Ferrari emblem, contrary to some of what certain buyers might think!
The Württemberg coat of arms
While at the center of the German brand’s emblem, the mare is easily recognizable, but what about the rest of it? It takes root in the state of Württemberg, an old German state. In fact, this state disappeared when several parts of Germany were consolidated first in 1949 and then in 1952, at which time three states merged together into one, to form the Baden-Württemberg.
The year 1952 marked the end of the Württemberg coat of arms; and we owe it to Porsche to have kept it alive.
What are the symbols? First you will find the deer antlers that appear today on the golden parts of the Porsche logo. As for the black and red, they represent the colors of the region’s flag.
As you can see, the history of the Porsche logo is closely linked to the brand’s origins, for which it was quite proud. The emblem recreates several of the colors and the symbols for the city and state from which it was born.
A logo born in New York?
Who designed the logo? The history of the Porsche coat of arms is still in debate today.
One of the hypotheses is that Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand Porsche’s son, created it, apparently in a restaurant in New York, while enjoying a meal with the American Porsche distributor Max Hoffman. Some think that he might have had his hand in the design as well.
During this memorable evening of 1952, Ferry Porsche would have drawn the Porsche emblem on a napkin. The logo combined both elements previously mentioned: the mare and the Württemberg coat of arms.
An engineer’s creation, according to the Germans
Most Germans disagree with the first hypothesis, according to which the logo was born in New York from Ferry’s hand. Two more hypotheses are presented.
The first claims that the logo was created by Franz Xaver Reimpiess, an Austrian engineer. He worked as a Porsche –and also Volkswagen- engineer and is responsible for several mechanical innovations.
Unless it was a designer’s creation…
The second hypothesis is that it was Erwin Komenda’s creation, a chief designer for both Volkswagen and Porsche. He was an important player in the creation of the brand’s iconic models, including the Porsche 356 pre-A, the Type 64, the 550 and the very well-known Porsche 911.
With all of these important creations under his belt, it would not be surprising that he’d also be behind the legendary logo!
Finally, some other hypotheses claim that it was created by others, like the graphic designer Nikolai Borg or the German artist Martien Freyer.
Although the symbolism behind the emblem is evocative and easy to understand, the origins of its creation remain vague, to say the least! One thing is not in question though, and that is that this logo carries with it a rich history that is evocative of Porsche’s roots and origins.
For over 50 years now, Porsche has designed and manufactured luxury vehicles that are extremely powerful! With sports cars, cabriolets and now SUVs, the brand focuses on performance and an exciting driving experience every single time.
Find your ideal vehicle with Porsche Lauzon, your Porsche dealership in Laval, on the North Shore and the greater Montreal area! We will be happy to help you build your future car, or help you find the perfect one amongst all of our available models.