The Alfa Romeo Badge Story - George and the Dragon?

The Alfa Romeo logo seems a bit random. What’s an English flag and royal snake spitting venom got to do with stylish Italian motoring? Well, it was borne out of the rebirth of the car company that became known as Alfa Romeo.

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#bigcar

[nieno]

My father owned a 156 when i was a child and when i looked at the emblem i always thought that it was a dragon spitting flames on the english flag 😂

[chargeril]

It's not a child, it's a mechanic...

[theotherpaulmitchell]

As a journalist, I researched and wrote on this topic extensively. And what research showed was that it is not a child, but a Saracen. The child is a bit of revisionist history due to it being unfashionable now to have a snake in your corporate logo devouring a Muslim. This was documented in print all the way back to the 1910s.

[AlbySpace]

You mention an English flag being used on the badge. It’s important to remember that the English flag is actually the Genoa flag given in use by the genoans to England because it was well respected by the seas and had an automatic defense value. It appears that England paid an annual fee to use it and the payment is overdue since 1771

[MLC...]

Snake definitely not eating a child. Eating a man, a Saracen. And that red cross is a reference to the cross of the Crusades. Milano is a very old city with lots of symbolism and the Crusades was part of that history.

[unsung]

The coolest car badge! Merry Christmas and thank you for your hard work. Best wishes from New Zealand

[michaelb]

Now do the evolution of the Skoda chicken badge ! 😆

How's this for an idea on a series of videos . . . the evolution of car badges. Cadillac would be interesting.

[warrendavidson]

I’m an Alfa owner. Some say the serpent represents maintenance costs eating its owner alive…

[AloneRacecar]

You know I’ve always thought that the Alpha Romeo logo had a dragon breathing fire. But now that I know what the TRUTH behind the logo was, it’s actually more creepy than people realize! 😅

[davidsherrick]

I love my 1988 Milano! The Alfa Romeo emblem is so cool. My 'Gold' model even has a four leaf clover on it, and it's not a sports model. Thanks for the video!

[theblackhand]

Back in the eighties friends which were Alfaholic due to Italian roots were desperately seeking for Alfa badge with 'Milano' on it. They said that it gave their Guilia the bite it needed. And yes they added QV logo's as well because their cars were tuned up to 2000cc with double 40 or 45 Weber DCOE's. What a sound that gave. BELLISSIMA!

[goncalo]

It's a gorgeous badge. It's a shame they removed its color. It looks like it lacks a soul now.

[negativeindustrial]

My boss bought an Alfa for his wife a few years back. In it’s first year, It spent so much time in the dealership unsuccessfully attempting to diagnose an overnight battery drain that it nearly cost him his marriage. It’s ironic because it was a gift meant to signify that our newish company was prospering well enough that he could afford to buy his wife something more exotic than she was accustomed to. His Bentley Continental GT has proven to be slightly more reliable but only slightly.

[ctrlaltdude]

The dead lion is from the story of Samson finding honey in the corpse of a dead lion he killed earlier with his bare hands. That's why it's on the label.

[spencerloop]

Great 4 minute heater! Love all the elements of it and how one race win inspired the 🍀 forever

[anniem]

I wanted an Alfa since I was at University many moons ago. I finally got my Alfabar 🍀 3 weeks ago and I just love her to bits 💚💚💚💚

[DJ_Pigg]

Thanks for reminding me that I need to get my QV LineMiTo MOTed before the end of January. It's the only brand new car I've ever owned (from 2015) and, yes, it has had a Christmas Tree's worth of fault lights on its dashboard from about 6 months into my ownership! Merry Christmas to you and all your viewers

[moonstonem]

Your videos are incredibly well researched and I always end more informed and amazed. Please keep up the great work. Here’s to a continued production of informative videos from you in 2024 🎉!

[BOABModels]

The red cross of St Ambrose is also used in the AC Milan badge and has been featured on Inter shirts as well.

Whilst it looks like the cross of St George, FC Barcelona do feature the cross of St George as he (Sant Jordi) is the patron saint of Catalonia.

[supermario]

Love Alfa Romeo’s all look and drive fabulous, such a shame there is no more small affordable models 😢