Cagiva is an Italian company that was founded in 1950 in Varese by Giovanni Castiglioni and hence the name (Castiglioni Giovanni Varese). In the beginning, the company’s activity was not related to motorcycles but was involved in the production of small metal components. Only in 1978, Cagiva began producing motorcycles.
Meaning and history
The company’s logo is one of the most unusual, memorable and has changed only three times in its entire history.
1978 – 1985
The first company logo was in the form of a number 1, painted in the colors of the Italian flag. The name of the company was written on a white background at the foot of the figure. The main and most interesting element of the logo is the gray elephant, which is depicted against the background of the number 1.
1985 – 2000
In 1985, the number 1 disappeared and the company logo consisted only of a slightly modified elephant silhouette.
2000 – present
In 2000, the logo was modernized, became more present-day, and resembled the logos of many automotive companies of those years. The logo consisted of an oval with an elephant head with large tusks inside it. The entire logo was red.
Emblem and symbol
Using an animal’s head as an emblem is a fairly popular solution. But companies often use animals such as lions, tigers, wild cats, etc. The elephant is not the most common animal on the logos of car companies. Despite this, the silhouette of an elephant symbolizes the strength, reliability, stability, and endurance of the Cagiva Company.
