Ferrari logo vs. Porsche logo

The prancing black horse is the coat of arms of Stuttgart. File:Coat of arms of Stuttgart.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ferrari got it from the design used on a 1920s fighter pilot's plane (Count Francesco Baracca). He used to be in an italian cavalry apparently and put it on the plane. Francesco Baracca - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BMW's logo also has some airplane history behind it like Ferrari's. Propeller on a blue sky.

 

The Porsche emblem was designed many years after Ferrari. There is an interesting story which I am sure to butcher, but it goes something like this. As you know, the Ferrari prancing horse, according to legend, dates back to a famous wwI fighter ace, whose squadron had the horse painted on their planes. The ace's mother, a countess, saw Enzo race and was so impressed she asked him to put her son's shield on his car. Enzo stylized the crest using Italian colors, etc, but the horse remained as uniquely designed with the upturned tail-- which a real horse does not do when rearing, but only when crapping!

This is where the story gets interesting, as I recall the emblem of the horse actually came from stuggart, and I recall-- however vaguely-- that the squadron took the horse from downed German aircraft to show off their kill. In fact, i recall seeing a photo from the time with a italian fighter with numerous horses on its side. Again, like Ferrari horse, the stuggart horse also has the tail upturned. Anyway, it is very likely that the horse itself originated in stuggart--- but not at Porsche who designed their crest in its entirety years later.

 

Actually, the BMW logo is the subject of some controversy. Contrary to popular belief, the emblem in all likelihood evolved from the emblem of the founding company combined with the colors of the flags of Bavaria.

 

According to the book Italian Aces of World War I, page 19:

So both Stuttgart and Baracca had logos that were separately made. I don't think Stuttgart used the lone black horse til the 1930s anyway.

 

Legend has it that early Porsche importer Max Hoffman drew the logo on a restaurant napkin in the early 50s, but this article says no.

Max Hoffman Designed the Porsche Logo Too?!? Well, Not Exactly... - Core77

 

Pictures say no, too. Like the Alfa Romeos of the 1930s wearing the prancing horse under Enzo Ferrari's management, including the wonderfully odd 1935 bimotore.