The emblem of a company is something that is thought about extensively before it's incorporation because a logo represents what that organization stands for. Put a successful company's logo on something, and it suddenly quadruples in value (I'm looking at you, £12,000 Audi foosball table). However, some emblems have a story behind them. Here are three such examples
THE SPIRIT OF ECSTASY
In the early 20th century personal bonnet emblems on cars were all the rage, much like today's pointless additional spoilers or gold-plated rims. So it was no surprise that the Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, a pioneer of the motoring movement, wanted one for his 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. He commissioned his friend Charles Robinson Skyes, a sculptor, to come up with a suitable design.
Being the early 20th century version of a petrolhead, Montagu was the editor of "The Car Illustrated" magazine. At the time, he was also having a secret affair with his secretary, Eleanor Velasco Thornton, and Skyes thought that she would make a suitable model for the emblem. The emblem featured her leaning forward with one finger on her lips to signify the secret nature of her affair with the Baron. It was christened 'The Whisper'.
Skyes soon received another assignment, this time from Claude Johnson, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce himself. Rolls-Royce shareholders had become concerned that owners were fixing inappropriate bonnet emblems (use your imagination) which were ruining the public image of their cars. Hence they wanted an emblem which could be placed on all of their vehicles.
Skyes was initially asked to take inspiration from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. However, he felt that Nike did not sufficiently represent what Rolls-Royce stood for. So, he decided to go back to his original Whisper design and decided to modify it into a woman kneeling with her arms stretched out behind her- The Spirit of Ecstasy. In 2003, the figure was modified into the standing version that we know today.
Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, was not a fan of the emblem. He said that it ruined the drivers view and he made sure that it was listed in the official press release as an optional extra. However, in practice, all cars since 1911 was fitted with the emblem.
THE PRANCING HORSE
The story of the prancing horse begins with Francesco Baracca, a World War 1 ace pilot with the Battaglione Aviatori, a division of the Italian Air Force. Baracca was incredibly successful and has 34 victories associated with his name. However, before he joined the Air Force, he was a cavalryman with the Piemonte Reale Cavalleria Regiment, a post he signed up for because of his love of horses.
Soon after his first aerial victory, he started to paint a black horse on the side of his Nieuport 17 fighter plane, both because of his equestrian affinity and as a sign of respect to his previous cavalier regiment. This earned him the rather cool nickname, "The Cavalier of the Skies" (the closest I got to a cool nickname was when a kid in school called me "The Stealer of the Pies"- I was a bit on the heavy side).
In 1918, while trying to provide cover to another pilot, his plane was shot down and four days later, his remains were found. Many of his squadron members continued to paint the horse on their planes as a mark of respect to their commander.
On 17th June 1923, Countess Paolina, Francesco's mother approached Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari at the Savio track in Ravenna and requested him to paint the horse on his cars for good luck. Enzo made slight modifications to Baracca's horse and placed it on a canary yellow background, that being the colours of his birthplace, Modena, giving birth to the famed prancing horse emblem.
THE RAGING BULL
Lamborghini posters were the 90's equivalent of a fidget spinner- useless, but somehow it made you cooler
Lamborghini's obsession with bulls stems from Ferruccio Lamborghini's trip to Don Eduardo Miura Fernandez's ranch in Seville, Spain. Being a Taurus himself, Lamborghini discovered a passion that he never knew he had. So, a year later, when he decided to start Automobili Lamborghini, he chose the mighty bull as his emblem.
His fascination with bulls can also be seen in the naming of Lamborghini cars. Miura was named after the owner of the ranch himself. Islero was the bull that killed the famous bullfighter Manolete, Espada is the spanish word for 'sword', which is what bullfighters are sometimes called, Jalpa is a breed of bull, Diablo was a bull that fought an epic duel against the legendary bullfighter El Chicorro.
The list does not end there. The Jarama, Urraco, Murcielago, Gallardo, Reventon, Estoque and the Aventador all have connections to bulls or bullfighting. Regardless, the bull has adorned the bedroom walls of most kids and remains one of the most iconic symbols in the world of motoring.
What's your favorite of the three? Know any better stories behind the logos? Let me know
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Comments (6)
I've always been a Ferrari guy. And being an Aussie, I also like Holden. The reason their logo is a Lion holding a ball is because it symbolises that the ball will never roll back and only move forward. It also means to a prehistoric fable, in which observations of lions rolling stones led to the invention of the wheel. But, sadly the ball has recently rolled back. RIP Holden as far as I know.
Though as far as Holden's concerned, the ball has rolled back.
Oh yeah you can say that again :(
Bit of minutia, but the Spirit of Ecstasy has normally been standing. There has been a kneeling version from time to time but certainly not continuously until 2003, as demonstrated by this clearly pre 2003 mascot. Great article though!
I'm sorry, you're right. Although Skyes did design the spirit of ecstasy in kneeling form in 1934, it was modified into a standing version in 1939. However, it made a comeback in 1946 and stayed until 1956, after which it has made...
Read moreNo worries, happens to the best of us!