wartburg Logo - History, Design, and Meaning
Company Overview
The Wartburg was a car marque manufactured in East Germany. The name 'Wartburg' derives from Wartburg Castle, which overlooks the town of Eisenach where the cars were produced. From the 1950s, Wartburgs featured a three-cylinder two-stroke engine with only seven major moving parts (three pistons, three connecting rods, and one crankshaft).
Key Information
- Founded: 1955
- Founder(s): Automobilwerk Eisenach
- Headquarters: Eisenach, Germany
wartburg Logo Meaning and History
The visual identity of the German automaker was an elegant tribute to the roots and legacy of the brand and the city of Eisenach where it was founded. The classy badge looked appealing on the company's cars as well as on all printed materials, reflecting style and dynamics.
The Wartburg logo consisted of a sharp geometric badge with a triangular bottom part and an arched upper section. The elongated left and right sides resembled the wings of a plane, adding an 'aviation' mood to the overall logo.
The arched part of the emblem 'covers' a black silhouette of the city, showcasing roofs of various shapes and heights. Four diagonal lines frame the image from both sides, with two on the left and two on the right.
The 'Automobilwerk Eisenach' nameplate is placed on a horizontal white line with a black outline, which intersects the black city silhouette at its bottom. Additionally, the letters 'VEB' appear beneath the image.
When placed on the car, the Wartburg badge was executed in a cream-beige color with black and silver detailing. This tender and chic color scheme made the insignia look expensive, evoking a sense of retro style.