The Porsche crest is one of the most recognizable emblems in the world. Since its creation in 1952, the striking coat of arms has become a symbol of ultimate German luxury and performance. Each element in the crest has a deeper meaning than what you see at first glance, from the golden shield shape, which was inspired by the official Stuttgart seal, to the red and black accents that represent the state’s colours. Even the placement of the word “Porsche” at the top of the shield was a conscious decision in that it was mean to encapsulate the design elements below it like a protective barrier.
And that’s just the start of it. Read on to discover four interesting historical facts about the Porsche crest.
The antlers on the Porsche crest are a nod to the German state of Württemberg-Hohenzollern
While the prancing horse in the centre of the Porsche mark is probably the most noticeable animal feature, there are other fauna references. Six stylized antlers are dotted on the Porsche crest; three on the top left and three on the bottom right. Like the overall design concept itself, the antlers are a homage to the German state of Württemberg-Hohenzollern, where Stuttgart is located, and the region’s official crest.
It is currently in its fifth generation
The present day Porsche crest that you know and love didn’t always look like that. And depending on which make and model of Porsche you own, you’ve potentially noticed the small differences. While the coat of arms has evolved over the last six decades since its inception, the changes—like a slight modification to the font type or resizing the rearing horse—are minimal and have always respected the integrity of the original design.
The Porsche crest wasn’t always on the hubcaps
Your modern day Porsche has the crest on a number of places, including the hubcaps, steering wheel and hood. But the crest wasn’t always added to these spots. It wasn’t until 1959 that the hubcaps received the coat of arms. Originally, it was used solely on the steering wheel, before appearing on the hood in 1954.
Porsche first tried to tap local talent to design the crest
In 1951 Porsche held a design competition calling on German art school students to develop the first-ever crest for the automotive brand. While the competition was surely a thrill for local artistic hopefuls, none of the designs hit the mark. The following year it was designer Franz Xaver Reimspieß, the artist who’d developed the Volkswagen logo in the 30s, who ultimately created the official Porsche crest design.