The snake is a well-known symbol interpreted in many different ways. Before examining individual logos, it helps to consider the snake’s broader cultural meaning. It has also entered corporate branding.
So, the symbolism of the snake conveys:
- Fertility. This meaning in snake imagery has evolved historically.
- Creativity and vitality. The snake’s flexibility is associated with adaptability and survival.
- Transformation. This meaning is associated with snakes periodically shedding their skin, renewing themselves.
When a snake image is used in a car brand logo, it can convey a wide range of meanings. But most often, it is about creativity, about the manufacturer’s ability to catch trends and adapt the functionality of manufactured cars to customers’ needs. In this context, the image of a snake looks logical and reasonable. We invite you to explore the logos of several automobile brands that use the image of a snake. At the same time, let’s consider how it is “built” into the overall composition.
Alfa Romeo
The company has worked in its niche since 1910, when it developed its first logo. It is interesting because it looks more like a coat of arms than a familiar logo. Although the emblem has undergone several modern redesigns, its essence has remained unchanged since its creation. And the symbols depicted in the logo are even older. The logo is based on Milan’s coat of arms from the XIV-XV centuries.
Elements of the Alfa Romeo logo:
- Cross. It expresses respect for Milan’s warriors. It is also a tribute to Christian tradition.
- Snake. Not just any snake, but one with a human body in its mouth. This symbol was borrowed from the Visconti family’s coat of arms. This family was once one of the most influential in Milan. The snake symbolizes influence and power.
These two images appear on opposite sides of the round emblem. A stylish black frame surrounds the composition, with the company name running along the perimeter.
If you delve into the history of this Italian automaker, you’ll find the company was initially called something slightly different. Its first name was Alfa Milano. The first word stands for the first letter of the Greek alphabet, which signifies leadership and high quality. The second word refers to the city where the brand appeared. In 1915, a new owner bought the company. His name was Nicola Romeo. The brand name changed in honor of the owner, but the logo’s key component remained the same.
Shelby Mustang
This is the name of the high-performance Ford Mustang model. Shelby American produced the car from 1965 to 1968, and Ford from 1969 to 1970.
When Ford introduced the 5th-generation Mustang, Shelby revived the car for its target audience.
The 1965-1966 cars were small and light. People often call them “Cobras,” as the logo suggests.
Two-seat sports cars powered by Ford engines and produced by Shelby American were popular with buyers. The Cobra logo appears on both models and on the valve covers.
The cobra in this logo looks powerful, strong, and artistic. This logo is far from minimalist, using several ornamental elements for the snake’s scales. The snake’s mouth is open, signifying “ready to attack.” In an automotive context, this can be interpreted as strong performance and as the car always helping its owner by staying alert to his needs on the way to his destination.
Dodge Viper
This was the name of the sports car produced by Dodge from 2013 to 2014 and FCA US LLC from 1991 to 2017. However, FCA US LLC had two production breaks for this car, totaling about four years.
The snake emblem used for the Dodge Viper was current from 2003 to 2010.
If we look at this Dodge Viper emblem more closely, its shape resembles a coat of arms, which already looks very solid. Inside, it depicts a snake’s head with an open mouth. The emblem can look somewhat threatening. However, considering this logo’s automotive theme, it looks powerful. Perhaps it suggests the car will always come to its owner’s aid, helping overcome new distances and obstacles.
The “metallic” color scheme suits car logos, which people traditionally call “iron horses.”
AC Cars
The company’s original name sounded like Auto Carriers Ltd. As far as independent car manufacturers are concerned, it was one of the oldest in England.
The AC Cobra is an Anglo-American co-produced sports car. Ford produced the V8 engine used in these cars intermittently in both the UK and the US in 1962.
The oval-shaped AC Cars logo features several colors: white, red, blue, and a metallic shade. The white background emphasizes the expressiveness of the snake depicted inside the logo. The red border and the background with the company name make the logo more spectacular. The blue snake with red elements at the center divides the space into two symmetrical parts, making the logo distinct and recognizable.
Zarooq Motors
This manufacturer produces cars in the UAE. The company’s headquarters is located in Dubai. These cars are characterized by luxury and high performance, which is why many drivers like them.
The company positions its cars quite ambitiously and emphasizes local flavor. “Supercars that were born in the desert,” Zarooq representatives say about these cars. This positioning shows a commitment to tradition and the cars’ high quality. UAE residents love their desert and luxury cars.
The Zarooq Motors logo’s symbolic shape looks solid. The metallic color in the car logo design looks natural and appropriate. But the snake here differs from those depicted in the previous logos. It smiles, suggesting a completely different emotional tone. So, the manufacturer Zarooq has a confident, powerful, and optimistic logo.
Every company uses well-known objects and symbols in its logos to inspire creative thinking. This is especially true of the snake image. The snake looks original in these logos, making the emblem recognizable and different.