Watching cars go fast around the track brings us back to the days of some of the most iconic racing liveries with colorful paint schemes.

While none of us were around to see the early days of motorsports, bright colors were used from an early time. Before racing became big business, race teams often painted their cars in colors that represented their countries. This was especially true in Europe, where many countries closely border each other and competed on the track. Once the big business portion of racing came about, cars became speeding billboards. Let’s take a look at ten of the racing programs that became iconic in motorsports.

The Porsche 917/20 Pink Pig was Unforgettable

This car wore a crazy pink color that you’d never expect to see on a track dominated by adrenaline and testosterone. This car raced in 1971, and the pink color was the idea of the designer, Anatole Lapine. The car was originally only painted pink, but when nobody would sponsor the car, Lapine added cuts of pig on it to give a look that might have been so ugly it was enticing. Although this car didn’t win during 1971, it was certainly a crowd favorite at every race.

Pure Speed and Success in the McLaren MP 4/4

The red and white look gave this McLaren one of the most iconic appearances of any of the racing liveries on this list. This car became one of the most successful in the history of Formula 1, wearing the colors that reminded many of a classic pack of Marlboros. To this day, this McLaren MP 4/4 is one of the most recognizable cars that ever took to the track.

Jeff Gordon Brought Success in the Rainbow Warrior

It takes a successful NASCAR driver to make us remember a car painted in rainbow colors, or maybe it doesn’t. Either way, Jeff Gordon was one of the most popular and successful racers in NASCAR for a long time. His face and his rainbow-colored car were nearly inseparable. Why the color scheme? DuPont, a popular paint company, was the sponsor, and it gave them a chance to show the colorful way their products could spruce up anyone’s home.

BMW Took to the Arts Scene with the Art Cars

You’ve probably seen various BMW cars that appear to wear murals or other paint themes on them, but did you know how this got started. One of the most iconic racing liveries ever to come to the track started with driver Herve Poulain asked painter Alexander Calder to paint his BMW racing car. This was done for the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the rest is history. We now see these art cars on the track regularly, with various artists showcasing their talents.

The Blue, Gold, and White of the Rothman’s Porsches Became Famous

Before the days when most tobacco companies weren’t part of racing, Rothman’s had a famous Porsche on the track that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This car donned the dark blue, gold, and white colors from the company logo. Unfortunately, as much success as the Rothmans cars experienced, they also found tragedy with Ayrton Senna dying at the wheel of a car sponsored by this brand during a Formula One race.

Several Cars Have Won Wearing Bright Orange

The bright orange color, along with the logo of a deer, have been part of many victory celebrations since the 1970s. This color and logo are part of one of the most iconic racing liveries of all time, which belongs to Jägermeister. Cars wearing this combination have won at DTM, DRM, Formula ONE, and Group C, and it’s been on several Porsche and BMW models around the world. It should come as no surprise that a German drink sponsored cars from its home country.

The Italian Colors Play Well on Any Track

The colors that come directly from the flag of Italy make quite an astonishing look for any car on a race track. It helps that some of the most successful and famous racing teams come from Italy and have used these colors as their paint scheme for a long time. The classic Italian design of the cars and the colors from the flag became famous during many rally car races in the 1970s and 1980s when Italian teams were dominating these dirt tracks.

Tour Car Racing Dominated by Alan Man Racing in Red and Gold

Not all of the iconic racing liveries found their way to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Alan Mann Racing cars, which were red and gold Ford Mustangs, Anglias, and Escorts, were a dominant force in the European touring car circuit of the 1960s. Among these cars, there was a GT40, which could have hit the most popular race in the world. These red and gold color schemes were so popular and attractive that they are still recognizable on many cars racing today.

Black and Gold Made the John Player Special Extremely Cool

The black and gold colors of this Formula One car became one of the most elegant combinations we’ve ever seen. This is a simple way for a car to look sophisticated and amazing, especially while it’s racing around the track. This car was driven by Ayrton Senna, who was one of the most incredible racing drivers before his untimely death. Of course, the Lotus influence certainly helps make this car look even better.

Martini Racing Stripes Add the Right Look to Any Car

Part of many of the most iconic racing liveries is a set of Martini racing stripes. These stripes have been around since the 1960s and give cars the beauty we admire when out on the track. These stripes are often blue in color and run across the bodywork perfectly, giving cars a speedy look desired. Many cars have donned the stripes to give us the look and style we want to enjoy. Cars, including the rally Lancia Delta HF Integrale, have worn these impressive features on the body to show off the car even more.