[Chest Rockwell]

Can anyone elaborate on the origins on the McLaren "Swoosh"? It would be nice to know so that I can educate people that it is not a shuttle from the Constitution Class: Starship Enterprise.

 

[HyperMac954]

If anyone here knows, it'll be Peloton

 

[sumbaco]

Someone else posted a bunch of pics of the evolution. Apparently, it is a stylized version of the original Mclaren kiwi logo.

 

[sumbaco]

And then, I guess, there is a different story about how it came about....From a post on: http://www.grandprixgames.org/read.php?4,401081,401081

"its not a kiwi. It was just a coincidence that the design looked similar to a kiwi.

I live in new zealand and we have a guy called Bob McMurray, who used to work for McLaren, that co hosts the motorsport show when the F1 is on. Someone asked if the logo was a kiwi but he said they were simply mucking around with designs that one came out and just happened to look similar to a kiwi."

 

[texas mongrel]

the folk at MTC told me its a highly stylized version of a Kiwi's head; as the McLaren brand grew, the original badge (shown in a post earlier in this thread) turned into just the Kiwi's head. This then morphed into the swoosh. Of course the folk at MTC could all actually be secret 'Enterprise' crew who've travelled back in time to give thier superior technology to Ron (too bad they forgot to carry the Iris knowledge.....)

 

[AugustWest]

I seem to recall that the the mark above the 'n' in "McLaren" was actually the Marlboro chevron (this may have been on the F1). I *know* I've seen it that way (I just can't find a pic)... this isn't it, but is from the same period. When tobacco became taboo, they had to change it, and the current swoosh was born!

 

[AugustWest]

Thank Peloton25 for this... This is the logo I recall seeing (the blurry one in the foreground)...

Caption of the photo: "Philippe Alliot sits aboard the #7 Marlboro McLaren Peugeot McLaren MP4-9 Peugeot 3.5 V10 during practice for the Marlboro Grand Prix of Hungary on 13th August 1994 at the Hungaroring Circuit, Budapest, Hungary." Source of the photo: http://www.daylife.com/photo/09hZfRoerdfDe?q=Hungaroring

 

[AugustWest]

I also found these, which I thought were cool, too:

and

 

[AugustWest]

Here's another of that logo appearing on MP4-9...

 

[RONDEL]

Here's another of that logo appearing on MP4-9...

I think we have a winner

 

[roundincircles]

Actually your all way off the mark. It originated here.

 

[Marin 12C]

I seem to recall that the the mark above the 'n' in "McLaren" was actually the Marlboro chevron (this may have been on the F1). I *know* I've seen it that way (I just can't find a pic)... this isn't it, but is from the same period. When tobacco became taboo, they had to change it, and the current swoosh was born!

The swoosh definitely predated the tobacco ban, as it was part of the West Mercedes McLaren branding. But I don't know when/where it came from...

 

[falb]

Seems like an evolution. Based on the Marlboro brand more than the kiwi.

2002