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All racing and automobile fans should be very familiar with the iconic Ferrari Prancing Horse: a famous image of an all-black horse prancing on a yellow background. Sometimes the Ferrari logo is in a shield with the letters “S” and “F” beneath the horse, and other times it’s on a vertical rectangle with “Ferrari” stylized across the bottom. Both modern incarnations of the Ferrari logo also sport 3 bands of color at the top to represent the brand’s heritage: one green, one white, and one red, the colors of the Italian flag.
Ferrari is named for its founder, though. So, just what is the Ferrari logo and where did it come from? While history has made some of the details a little fuzzy on the history of the prancing horse before Enzo Ferrari adopted it for his racing team, we have a pretty solid record of just why every one of these brilliant automobiles sports a black horse over a yellow background.
The black horse was originally a symbol of Count Francesco Baracca, a legendary Italian air force ace during World War I; he painted it on the side of every plane he flew. Some historians trace the horse back to 1692, where a similar design was found on a banner of the Duke of Savoy, while others claim the horse was simply a reminder of home and his family’s stables, but there are also accounts of the horse being a badge — evidence that Baracca shot down a pilot from Stuttgart, Germany, where the city crest bears a similarly styled prancing horse.
What we do know is that Baracca flew into battle with a black prancing horse on his planes, and he died young. On June 19, 1918, he was shot down after 34 victorious duels. His reputation made Baracca a beloved national hero, but how did his horse arrive on Ferrari models across the globe? In 1923, Enzo Ferrari won an opportunity to meet Count Enrico Baracca and Countess Paolina Baracca in person after winning a race at the Savio circuit in Ravenna. And it was there when the Countess suggested Enzo should brand his vehicles with the prancing horse for good luck.
What about the canary yellow background? That’s a tribute to Modena, Italy, the hometown of Enzo Ferrari. And the letters “S” and “F” that you’ll see on early versions of the Ferrari logo and on modern “shield” versions stands for “Scuderia Ferrari,” literally “Ferrari Stables.”
We pride ourselves on knowing the past, present, and future of Ferrari; it’s just one part of being your Chicagoland Ferrari dealer. Be sure to check back with us regularly; you’ll find deep dives into Ferrari history, the latest model specs, and much more. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to see a new Ferrari firsthand, too; we’d love to put you behind the wheel.
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