Very few individuals are aware that the origins of Ferrari’s iconic “prancing horse” logo are rooted in the life of one of Italy’s renowned racers, Enzo Ferrari.
Born on February 18, 1898, in Modena, Italy, Ferrari’s passion for racing cars was ingrained in him from an early age. His parents were the first in the city to own a car. However, Ferrari’s dreams did not come to fruition as expected.
In 1916, both his father and older brother perished in World War I, compelling Ferrari to abandon his studies and take over the family foundry. Unfortunately, a few years later, the foundry went bankrupt. Consequently, Ferrari enlisted in the military, but a severe injury necessitated his discharge. Upon returning home, Ferrari opted out of further schooling and sought employment to support his widowed mother.
At the age of 20, Ferrari joined CMN (Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali) as a test driver, a boutique sports car manufacturer. Subsequently, in 1924, he transitioned to the Alfa Romeo racing team.
In 1929, Ferrari established Scuderia Ferrari, a company specializing in sponsoring and organizing races for amateur drivers in Modena, which operated as an Alfa Romeo subsidiary. In 1939, Ferrari amicably severed ties with Scuderia and Alfa Romeo, forming an independent enterprise called “Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari.” This company laid the foundation for the present-day Scuderia Ferrari, working in conjunction with the national airline.
The story of the prancing horse logo commences in 1923. After triumphing at the Savio race track in Ravenna, Ferrari encountered Countess Paolina, the mother of Italy’s First World War air force hero, Francesco Baracca. The Countess suggested that Ferrari adopt the image of a prancing horse adorned on the side of Francesco Baracca’s fighter plane, prophesying that this symbol would bring Ferrari good luck.
Image of a prancing horse painted on the side of Francesco Baracca’s fighter plane
Upon achieving victory, Ferrari promptly commenced designing the logo for the long-cherished company. Scuderia Ferrari’s conception coincided with the introduction of the prancing horse emblem.
While the logo still features a prancing horse, it underwent a few modifications from Francesco Baracca’s original design. Importantly, Enzo Ferrari positioned the horse on a yellow background, the color of Modena’s city flag. Surrounding the emblem is a shield, a familiar coat of arms prevalent in Western countries and several colonial nations. The abbreviation “SF” represents Scuderia Ferrari. Above the logo, three stripes emulate the Italian flag during the constitutional monarchy era, featuring colors of dark blue, white, and red.
In 1948, with the fall of the constitutional monarchy and subsequent establishment of the Italian Republic, the Italian parliament decided to replace the dark blue on the flag with green, signifying a new era of national development following World War II. Consequently, Scuderia Ferrari updated its logo accordingly.
Formed in 1946, Ferrari S.p.A, an automotive manufacturing company, adopted Scuderia Ferrari’s logo. This logo underwent modifications in 1948 and is still utilized to this day.
The Ferrari logo symbolizes the fusion of individual prowess (Francesco Baracca’s heroism), regional heritage (Modena city), and national culture. For the past 76 years, this logo has persistently stood as a representation of Ferrari under all circumstances.
Th?o Anh (According to TTTÐ)