The logos were created during the Porsche Prize design competition in 1951.
The Porsche Crest is one of the most recognizable logos in the industry, representing thrilling sports cars like the 911 and some of the most historic moments in motorsports. But did you know that the logo could've differed vastly from what we know today?
In 1951, Dr. Ottomar Domnick, one of the very first avowed Porsche fans, launched the Porsche Prize to find a new logo for the brand. Before the competition, the German automaker only used the “PORSCHE” script, featured on its first-ever sports car, the Porsche 356 'No. 1' Roadster.
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The design competition saw some rather interesting logos submitted that looked stranger than the crest. Porsche has now revealed what some of these entries were, revealing five designs. While one is monochromatic (a slanted black 'P' with its reflection creating an arrow-like design), the other four all encompass the signature colors of the brand: red, black, and gold.
None of the various designs were said to fit the bill. Who knows, one of the logos could've been perceived differently in over 70 years if approved. Instead, the logo Porsche settled on was designed by Franz Xavier Reimspieß, a talented draughtsman, in 1952. Below is how Porsche describes the decisive design.
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“A rearing horse, taken from the seal of the city of Stuttgart, depicted within the contours of a golden shield. Together with the name of Stuttgart above it, the design represented a clear commitment to the production of cars in Zuffenhausen.”
“The surrounding red and black state colors and the stylized antlers are taken from the traditional crest of Wurttemberg-Hohenzollern – with the Porsche logo forming a protective arch over everything else.”
The current Porsche crest has been through seven iterations: 1952, 1954, 1963, 1973, 1994, 2008, and for the first time in 15 years, the automaker redesigned the logo in 2023. It is designed to bridge the “history and the future of the brand” but does a fair job of modernizing the iconic crest.
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Keyword: Porsche Logo Was Nearly One Of These Weird Badges