When science almost met politics
The F80, the fastest, most exclusive, and most expensive Ferrari yet, was revealed on October 17—and is already sold out! But how did Ferrari evolve, and what makes it so unique among high-end automobile marques?
Get into gear and drive through a brief history of Ferrari with this gallery. Click on!
Born in Modena, Italy, in 1898, Enzo Ferrari started out as a race car driver. In the 1920s, he was made a driver with Alfa Romeo and won several racing awards, including the 2nd Circuito di Modena.
Founded by Enzo Ferrari, initially to race cars produced by Alfa Romeo—though by 1947 Ferrari had begun building its own cars—Scuderia Ferrari is the oldest surviving and most successful Formula One team, having competed in every world championship since the 1950 Formula One season. Pictured at the wheel in 1920 is a youthful Enzo Ferrari.
Use of the famous symbol of the Ferrari race, the Cavallino Rampante ("prancing horse")—a black prancing stallion on a yellow shield—can be traced back to Count Francesco Baracca (1888–1918), an ace of the Italian air force and national hero of the First World War, who used to paint a horse on the side of his planes. Countess Paolina, the mother of the pilot, asked Enzo Ferrari to use this horse on his cars, suggesting it would bring him good luck.
The Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 was the first car designed and built by Enzo Ferrari. The 815 raced at the 1940 Mille Miglia.
The first Ferrari factory in Modena operated in 1929 initially to buy, prepare, and field Alfa Romeo racing cars for "gentleman drivers." In 1943, after being bombed by the Allies, the factory moved to Maranello, where it has remained ever since.
In late 1945, Enzo Ferrari commissioned Gioacchino Colombo (1903–1988) with the design of a new V12 engine for use in racing and road cars. The engine became known in Ferrari circles as the "Colombo engine."
Pictured: a Ferrari 599 automobile is transported along the assembly line at the Ferrari SpA plant in Maranello, Italy, in 2011.
The 125 S (pictured, foreground) was the first vehicle to bear the Ferrari name when it debuted on May 11, 1947 at the Piacenza Racing Circuit. Only two of this small two-seat sports/racing V12 car were made.
In 1949, Luigi Chinetti (1901–1994) drove a 166 M to Ferrari's first win in motorsports, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Chinetti went on to open the very first Ferrari dealership in the United States. Chinetti's showroom was located in Manhattan, but was later relocated to Connecticut.
In 1949, Ferrari introduced the 166 Inter. An evolution of the 125 S and 166 S racing cars, the 166 Inter marked the company's significant move into the grand touring road car market. Road cars quickly became the bulk of Ferrari sales.
Argentine racing driver José Froilán González scored Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix.
Alberto Ascari (1918–1955) secured Ferrari's first World Drivers' Champions title in 1952.
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is regarded as the team's home race. Pictured are Ferrari mechanics in 1953.
Michael Schumacher is Ferrari's most successful driver. Joining the team in 1996 and departing in 2006, he won five consecutive drivers' titles and 72 Grands Prix for the team. He's pictured at the wheel of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari F300 V10 with the aerodynamic downforce X-Wing device at the San Marino Grand Prix in April 1998.
Ferrari's iconic rosso corsa color scheme translates into English as "racing red." Today, 40% of Ferrari cars are still manufactured featuring this distinctive paint job, despite alternative color options. Pictured is Alberto Ascari driving his Ferrari 500 at the Grand Prix of France in Reims-Gueux on July 5, 1953.
Ferrari drivers have won over 5,000 sanctioned races, among them the 1990 French Grand Prix victory that made Ferrari the first team to reach 100 wins on the racetrack. Pictured is Alain Prost powering his Ferrari 641 through the famous Eau Rouge corner in Spa Francorchamps on the occasion of the 1990 Grand Prix of Belgium.
Despite Ferrari's FI fortunes dipping of late, it's still the most successful Formula One team: Constructors' wins: 1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008. Drivers' wins: 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007. Pictured is Kimi Raikkonen during the 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix.
By the mid-1950s, the United States had become a huge market for Ferrari. The company's 1959 Ferrari SpA 250 GT LWB California Spider was a great success. Offering drivers a true open-air experience, the vehicle was perfectly suited to the wind-in-your-hair west coast lifestyle.
The appearance in 1957 of the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa turned heads across America. Vintage Testa Rossa's are highly collectible due to their low production (33 total including all 250 TR variants), racing success, and historical influence.
The Ferrari 250 GTO was another stateside sensation. Produced by Ferrari from 1962 to 1964, buyers were personally approved by Enzo Ferrari and his dealer for North America, Luigi Chinetti. In 2018, a 1963 model was sold for US$70 million—currently the most expensive car ever sold at auction.
By the mid-60s, Ferrari was facing financial difficulties. In early 1969, Fiat took a 50% stake in the company. The sale immediately increased available investment funds, much of which was directed towards the manufacture of new Ferrari models. The Fiat Group would eventually increase its stake in the company to 90%.
Enzo Ferrari died on August 14, 1988 at the age of 90, but not before signing off on the F40, a brand new sportscar built to commemorate the 40 years since the first Ferrari-badged car was introduced to the world.
Built from 1987 to 1992, the F40 at the time was Ferrari's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car for sale. A total of 1,315 cars were manufactured, with 213 units destined for the United States.
The Ferrari 360 was manufactured from 1999 to 2005. The first model of the 360 to be produced was the Modena, named after the town of Modena, the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari.
Ferrari driver Fabio Barone and his Ferrari 458 Italia compete against a Roman chariot drawn by two horses on the 'Ben Hur' movie set at Cinecitta World amusement park near Rome. Unveiled in 2009, the marketing campaign surrounding the 458 drew on Italy's historic and cultural heritage.
In 2017, Ferrari unveiled the 812 Superfast. This is currently the most powerful and fastest production Ferrari in the carmaker's history, reaching 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds.
The Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari at Modena is housed in two separate buildings, a former house and workshop that belonged to Enzo Ferrari's father, and a modern wing. The collection is simply priceless and chronicles the history of the company and that of its founder.
An equally compelling experience for motorsport fans is browsing the combination of Ferrari road and track cars exhibited under the roof of the Museo Ferrari in Maranello.
Alternatively, how about going for a spin at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi? Opened in 2010, this dedicated theme park boasts the world's fastest rollercoaster, at approximately 241 km/h (150 mph), the F1-inspired Formula Rossa rollercoaster.
Sources: (Autosport) (Hemmings Motor News) (Top Speed)
See also: Porsche: the origins of a supercar
Ferrari's wheels of fortune
Manufacturer reveals the F80
LIFESTYLE Automobile
Ferrari is one of the most prestigious names in the history of motorsport and vehicle manufacture. Named for Enzo Ferrari, the Italian racing driver who founded the company in 1939 in Modena, Ferrari is today a US$87.02 billion-dollar luxury brand, its cars some of the most sought after in the world.
This year Ferrai revealed the F80, the fastest, most exclusive, and most expensive Ferrari yet. But how did Ferrari evolve, and what makes it so unique among high-end automobile marques?
Get into gear and drive through a brief history of Ferrari with this gallery. Click on!