Origin of the Porsche Crest

[racerpaul]

I lifted this from the recent 'Purely Porsche' Newsletter that I get in my email box every month.

Interesting... does anyone have more to add?

>>>
Porsche's company logo is based on the coat of arms of the Free People's State of Württemberg of the former Weimar Germany, which had Stuttgart as its capital and became part of Baden-Württemberg after the political consolidation of West Germany in 1949.

The centre of the crest shows a black horse rampant, an expression both of forward thrusting power and a derivation of the Stuttgart city seal. Stuttgart, established in 950 as the stud farm of 'stuotgarten', has had horses in its coat of arms in varying designs since the 14th century. The crest has the outer contours of a shield with the word Porsche as the overarching signature.

The crest first appeared (on the steering wheel) in 1952 and on the bonnet from 1955.<<<

Regards
Paul

[scottmandue]

Nice story,

Don't know for sure but I heard it was sketched on a napkin by a salesman who felt Porsche need a badge to improve sales.

[Por_sha911]

Dr Porsche and Max Hoffman (first American Importer) met at lunch and sold him on the idea of a crest. It was sketched on a napkin.

[kach22i]

Concours Porsche - MILWAUKEE WI area Porsche dealer in Milwaukee Wisconsin 53209. MILWAUKEE WI Porsche dealer WAUKESHA Wisconsin Porsche MENOMONEE FALLS WI Porsche dealer NEW BERLIN Wisconsin dealer

Hoffman was also an astute marketer. In 1952 while dining in a New York restaurant, Max told Dr. Ferry Porsche all cars of some standing in the world have a crest. "Why not Porsche, too?" he asked. "If all you need is a badge, we can give you one, too!"

Ferry then grabbed a napkin and began to draw the crest for the state of Baden-Würtenberg with its curved stag horns. He added a black prancing horse from Stuttgart's coat of arms and the word PORSCHE across the top and handed it back to Max asking, "How about something like that?" With a bit of refinement and color, the famed Porsche Crest was born and today remains true to Ferry's original sketch more than half a century ago.

[TRE Cup]

napkins are apparently great inspirational tools:
the mini was designed on the back of a napkin

[andrew15]

Well, you guys are both right. A few years back I was at the factory museum and they were out of the English version of the guide book, but were getting more the next day. After making a special trip back the next day, the counter guy remembered me and gave me a free mousepad and napkin replica to go along with my book purchase.

AM

Pics of replica:

[GH85Carrera]

I have several of those napkins. They are pretty cool.

[m110]

Why did the colour of the hood badge change?

[MRM]

Porsche drew with what he had on hand - a blue pen.

[URY914]

I have heard that the napkin was actually designed on the back of a business card.

[smg911]

A very close friend of Erich Strenger told me that Erich (Porsche's graphic artist from 1951-1987) was also heavily involved in the Porsche Crest design. Although he's never received any credit for it.

[Rick Lee]

That explains why there was no badge on the very first Gmuend Porsches, which, of course, were built in Austria before Porsche moved to Germany. In fact, the older Gmuend Porsche in the museum has a "K" license plate for Kaernten (Carinithia, Austria).

[Zeke]

Wouldn't be the first Porsche employee that never saw any credit.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by URY914

I have heard that the napkin was actually designed on the back of a business card.

Noooooooooooooooo.

Back of cigarettes pack, back then there was no such thing as Political Incorrectness