Can you show us some examples of car logos you like? Maybe they just look so much cooler, because they are in chrome and not in black and white? ;-)

When it comes to those script-like car logos, it makes a big difference to make ONE word look good or to make a typeface, because of the problem of all the letter ligatures. I am just in the process of making a font inspired by car logos, and I can tell you it's not easy. Without the relatively new OpenType technology it would be impossible at all. So I learned pretty quick, why there are not much fonts in this style.

Ralf

> Then why aren’t they making fonts this cool?

Well, it is a lot easier to make six or eight letters "cool" than an entire set of glyphs. With a font you might have to change the shape of one letter to provide visual consistency with others.

Basically, there is a big difference between creating a logo and creating a font.

I love type on cars. 5-6 years ago i walked around Oslo for a couple of hours and took some snapshots for an article i wrote. One beer to the first one to spot my old car!
I have to add that the snaps are of both good and bad examples.

Here are a couple I've liked. The first is the new Civic logo.

I think the Mickey Mouse is yours Magnus :-)
When do I get that beer?

ChrisL

ChrisL

ChrisL

So, what font is that?

FYI --
Here's a link to some interesting bites on some of the better known auto logos -- History of Car Logos

why aren’t they making fonts this cool?

They are, but you have to know where to look.

another industry that generates as much custom type?

It's not custom type. but custom logos. Retail, fashion, architecture, music. And the publishing industry, of course.

Porsche has all it's own fonts. It has the script it has been using for years and no one has ripped off or digitized. It has even taken Franklin Gothic and put it's own spin on it, so that when you see a genuine Porsche ad it is in genuine Porsche Franklin Gothic.

Land Rover has been using fonts that the public can buy. Last year they switched their body copy to a font that is sold in England, and well, I couldn't see spending the money they were asking. (I've put it in Eurostile, and Y&R have been okay with the results -- because we are getting paid.)

Many of the cars have fonts that look original, but they have been modified to get the "logo type look."

It remind me of publishing -- during the days when every titled was handlettered. Only, they weren't all handlettered -- so many were handtailored. A swash added here, a line deleted there - and voila - a great looking three word title...

"So, what font is that?"

That is "Align", one of my own type designs.

http://typophile.com/files/Gadget_MagUpdate.pdf

ChrisL

Is that for sale? It reminds me of a more contemporary spin on a style similar to Delta Jaeger/Russell Square, both of which I love. That may not have been the intention, but I think that is fantastic.

Mike,
Thanks for your kind words. It is not on the market just yet but will be probably this Spring.

ChrisL

>It is not on the market just yet but will be probably this Spring.

Can't wait! ;-)

Chris, sorry about the Steelers this year - came close to making a comeback though - and made Cincy suffer for losing our man Kitna. Hope you'll be rooting for the Hawks in the playoffs ;-)

Hehehe... PDX Cruiser :)

Chris
The next time you are in Oslo i will buy you that beer
:-)

Si,
I sure will root for the Hawks, certainly over the Ravens. The Steelers gave away too many games this year to make the cut. The Niners sure surprised me (and Seahawks) though.
Go Hawks!

ChrisL

Magnus,
I don't think I will make it to Oslo this Winter--unless global warming has had a great effect already :-)
There might be a knock on your door some warm Summer day though so keep that beer cold ;-)

ChrisL

I don’t think I will make it to Oslo this Winter—unless global warming has had a great effect already

I don’t know about Oslo but in Helsinki it’s been 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit so global warming has had a great effect. I think it’s warmer in Oslo it being closer to Golf stream.

Interestingly, the American and Japanese automakers (Honda, Toyota, Ford, etc.) tend to create custom wordmarks for every model. The European makers (BMW, Mercedes, VW) avoid this and have a standard typeface for their entire line.

Dalton Maag made the new BMW fonts for the Corp and the car dashboard.
http://www.daltonmaag.com/browse/custom/clients/bmw

AND the (BMW) MINI
http://www.daltonmaag.com/browse/custom/clients/mini

AND Skoda.
http://www.daltonmaag.com/browse/custom/clients/skoda

the beds on the Toyota are rubbish in the snow and the NE when I lived there since they all rotted out in 2-3 years.

FYI --
did you know that "A TOYOTA" is not only a palindrome, but reads correctly when set in caps and viewed in a mirror. I used it in a type promo piece I did once.

The things you reflect on Norbert :-)

ChrisL

This might be a better resource for you: http://www.cartype.com/

That is a fun site! Thanks for the link Andrew!

ChrisL

Looks like Terry's version of the Crown Vic :-)

ChrisL

Here's a font I made 8 years ago that emulates the 6th generation Honda Civic lettering... I could post it for free again if there was any interest.

The V and W is much more visually interesting, now that we look at it divorced from its context.