Similarity of Ferrari and Porsche Logos, Why do these 2 famous logos look similar?

Ferrari and Porsche are the most world famous sports car brands today. Ferrari is an Italian brand and Porsche is a German one.

There are some interesting similarity in these 2 popular logos. The Ferrari logo and the Porsche logo both have the same black prancing horse symbols on yellow army of coats.

Do these horse symbols have the same origin?

Ferrari Logo

Francesco Baracca was an Italian fighter ace and a national hero. He recorded 34 kills and was killed in 1918. Francesco Baracca has painted the black prancing horse onto the fuselage of his plane which symbolized his fighting spirit and rebellion attitude.

Enzo Ferrari met a mother and a father of Francesco Baracca In 1923. Baracca’s mother advised Enzo Ferrari to place the prancing horse on his vehicles as a good luck symbol. Ferrari did so and added a yellow background, which symbolized the color of his birthplace, Modena.

Another reason of a Ferrari’s horse black colour is a mourning for the fallen pilot.

The Prancing Horse is used as part of Ferrari and Scuderia Ferrari logos and on Tifosi’s flags. This black horse reflects the Ferrari brand power and the prancing black horse symbol is recognizable all over the world nowadays.

Porsche Logo

A Prancing Horse has been placed on a coat of arms of Weimar area, the former state of Germany. Nowadays this region is known as Baden-Württemberg and the name of its capital is Stuttgart.

The Porsche logo horse has been taken from Stuttgart’s Coat of Arms. The symbol represents the stud farm (a horse-breeding farm). In German “stud farm” means Stuttgart (Stuotgarten).

Porsche’s headquarters are located in Stuttgart so Württemberg’s old coat of arms is a part of Germany’s history.

Some Research & Thoughts

A black horse symbol is very common in the modern economy world. Even alcohol whisky brand has such a name – Black Horse Whisky

It’s interesting, when you search for Prancing Horse in internet (for example in Wikipedia), it gives you only the story of Ferrari without any mentioning of Porsche Prancing Horse symbol.

Generally a black horse is a symbol of hope. In the spiritual world, it is believed to be an emblem of strength and courage. It also brings guidance to those in need of one. A prancing horse symbol is different. It symbolizes power and uncontrollability, some wildness and domination, even aggression.

Black Horse Symbolisms and Spiritual Meanings

Some rumors claim that Francesco Baracca used the logo on his plane in honor of a defeated German enemy who used the black horse symbol on his own plane because he was from Stuttgart.

That’s why Ferrari’s prancing horse looks suspiciously like the one on the Porsche.

It looks like they are the same horse.

So what to prefer – a Ferrari or a Porsche?

Ferrari is an Italian company while Porsche is German and owned by Volkswagen Group. Both the automotive brands belongs to luxury sports car manufacturers.

Generally Ferrari sport cars are more powerful and expensive than Porsche but Porsche cars are generally considered reliable and practical. As they say – tastes differ.

We print Ferrari Logo and Porsche Logo vinyl stickers which are much cheaper than Ferrari and Porsche sport cars themselves 🙂