Galopp in die Automobilwelt: Die faszinierende Geschichte von Autos mit Pferdenamen

Cars Named After Horses: From Haflinger to Mustang

The term "horsepower" really applies to these models

Looking at the Olympic Games, it's clear: Germany knows its horses. But also horsepower, even though PS is now an outdated unit of measurement. The noble steeds are featured, for instance, on the emblems of Ferrari and Porsche. But what about when it comes to model names related to horses?

Well, it's not that common. Perhaps because "Mold" or "Lipizzaner/Lipica" doesn't really have a global appeal. Moreover, many horse breed names are more local and can't be encapsulated under a single global name. As per our research, there was at least one car brand with an equine connection: Stallion or Red Stallion from the United States, where they produced around 120 replicas of the AC Cobra from 1976 to 1980.

Photo Exhibit: Cars Named After Horses

The Toyota Stallion, a sort of SUV designed for emerging markets, also adopted the equine-themed moniker, known by various names including Kijang in certain regions. Speaking of SUVs, do you recall the Hyundai Galloper, a licensed replica of the Mitsubishi Pajero? Meanwhile, Ford revived the Bronco in 2020, named after a wild horse similar to the Mustang. This is clearly depicted on the Bronco emblem:

1984 Model of the Ford Bronco

The Mustang name swiftly takes us to the most famous car associated with an equine moniker, the Ford Mustang. Launched in 1964, its first model soared in popularity. Initially, the name drew inspiration from the P-51 Mustang, a fighter plane from WWII. However, it became apparent during the design phase that customers would more likely associate the brand with the feral horse. Thus, the iconic Mustang emblem was created.

Today, a similar emblem adorns the latest Mustang model, which notably does not feature Ford's traditional badge. The premier model, dubbed the "Dark Horse," continues the equine motif. Originally, the Ford Mustang gained fame for establishing the "Pony Car" category. In Germany, it was initially marketed as the "T5" because the Mustang name rights were owned by Krupp and Kreidler.

1965 Model of Ford Mustang

The Pinto produced

Ford faced controversy with their Pinto, a "Compact Car" sold in the United States starting in 1970, named after a breed of pony. Throughout its production run, the model was involved in a scandal when it was discovered that the car's rear end design made it prone to fuel tank damage in rear-end collisions.

Leaking gasoline significantly escalated the danger of fire in the event of accidents. This led to numerous fires, which resulted in fatal outcomes for some of the vehicle occupants. During the course of investigations, it was revealed through internal documents that Ford was aware of this vulnerability but was unwilling to incur the expenses required for a design modification.

The 1975 Hyundai Pony

Hyundai's Luxury Model –

Regarding the term "Pony Car," South Koreans are more likely to associate it with Hyundai's Pony. This vehicle marked Hyundai's initial foray into independently manufactured cars in 1975, with Giugiaro providing the design. In the early 1990s, the Pony made its way to Europe, succeeded by models such as the Accent and i20.

What else is available? From Austria, we have the compact climber, the Steyr-Puch Haflinger, and from Spain, the Pegaso, inspired by Pegasus. Hyundai once manufactured a large sedan dubbed "Equus," encompassing the whole horse species. (In English, "equestrian" refers to the sport of horseback riding.)

Vehicles for towing horse trailers:

Those who spent time in front of the TV many years ago might remember the black-and-white show called Fury. The series was named after its American Saddlebred Horse, a black stallion. From 1956 to 1978, Plymouth featured a model named Fury, and an early version of it was famously showcased in Stephen King's horror film "Christine."

In 1975, Rolls-Royce introduced the Camargue, a design that sparked debate among observers. The vehicle took its name from a region in France, which is also known for its iconic white horses called Camargue. Names can sometimes take on a life of their own: The Mitsubishi Colt, available in the United States as the Dodge Colt, wasn't named after the firearm as commonly misconceived. Instead, "Colt" refers to a young male horse, perhaps suggesting that this model is the smallest in Mitsubishi's lineup.

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