[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/stories-behind-car-logos\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/stories-behind-car-logos\/","headline":"The Stories Behind Car Logos","name":"The Stories Behind Car Logos","description":"Car manufacturer logos: you\u2019ve seen them hundreds if not thousands of times but have you ever stopped to think what they mean or how they came about in the first place? We have and trust us, they\u2019re not all that interesting. However, here are some of the standout origins tales worth knowing about: Mercedes-Benz It\u2019s just a circle split into equal thirds, but Merc\u2019s three-pointed star actually symbolises the use of the company\u2019s engines on land, sea and air. The […]","datePublished":"2018-04-25","dateModified":"2018-04-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/stories-behind-car-logos\/","about":["BLOG","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":549,"keywords":["Audi","bmw","car brands","ferrari"],"articleBody":"Car manufacturer logos: you\u2019ve seen them hundreds if not thousands of times but have you ever stopped to think what they mean or how they came about in the first place?We have and trust us, they\u2019re not all that interesting. However, here are some of the standout origins tales worth knowing about:Mercedes-BenzIt\u2019s just a circle split into equal thirds, but Merc\u2019s three-pointed star actually symbolises the use of the company\u2019s engines on land, sea and air.The emblem actually predates the automobile, first appearing on a personal note written in 1872 by company founder Gottlieb Daimler to his wife.For many years, Mr Daimler used the logo to mark the location of his family\u2019s new home in the German town of Deutz before it was adopted as the Mercedes-Benz logo from 1910.FerrariEveryone recognises the prancing horse but what does it have to do with ferocious supercars? Horsepower maybe? No, the horse apparently symbolises luck. The prancing horse first appeared on the warplane flown by Francesco Baracca, an Italian flying ace who died during World War I.In 1923, a young Enzo Ferrari met Baracca’s parents when he was still a racing driver. The pair suggested Enzo use their son’s prancing horse badge on his race cars, for good luck and as a gesture of respect for their son.Enzo obviously agreed but not before adding a yellow background – the official colour of his hometown in Modena, Italy.AudiThese famous four rings have perhaps become more iconic than the Audi name itself but rather than the Audi brand, the logo originally represented four: DKW, Horch, Wanderer and finally, Audi and collectively, they formed the Auto Union.The rings are silver – the national racing colour of Germany – and represent each of the four brand, overlapping to signify union.BMWForget tales of aeroplane propellers, this blue and white logo was lifted from the Bavarian flag and that\u2019s where the story ends.Admittedly, that\u2019s not particularly exciting but over the years, there\u2019s been so much discussion over what BMW\u2019s logo actually is that we couldn\u2019t resist clarifying this once and for all.ToyotaTalk about hiding in plain sight, that exactly what Toyota\u2019s squiggley logo is doing. Look closer and you\u2019ll see that each letter of Toyota\u2019s name is in there.ChevroletDoes Chevy\u2019s logo look like a bow tie? Not really and how the emblem came about is even more confusing with many contradicting tales.Some say Louis Chevrolet was inspired by wallpaper in his hotel room during a visit to Paris in 1908. However, Mr Chevrolet’s wife said her husband had spotted the design in an advertisement in a Sunday supplement and that original design had actual human-like legs.VolvoWe all love a happy accident and that\u2019s what the diagonal streak on the front end of Volvos is.Originally, the Volvo logo was the Roman symbol for iron – symbolising a warrior’s shield and spear and the diagonal streak across the grille was originally only a mounting point for the badge.However, over time, it has become an intrinsic part of the Swedish brand\u2019s identity so much that new Volvo models now line up with the arrow."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Stories Behind Car Logos","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/stories-behind-car-logos\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]