Famous exclusive Ferrari cars have been the top among super sports cars for over 60 years. Everyone knows them and almost every boy wants to own a car with a rearing horse emblem. But not everyone knows how painful Ferrari's journey to stardom was. Let's go together into the history of the most famous brand in the automotive world.
The car company was founded by Italian mechanic and racer Enzo Ferrari . Originally he didn't want to make road cars. The avid racer and sports car lover's goal was to support amateur racing drivers and produce circuit winners. But only the production of racing specials would not support the car company and so Enzo was forced to produce road cars by the financial situation. Paradox what? The lack of funds made Enzo Ferrari a millionaire and the founder of one of the most luxurious and traditional car brands. How did this happen?
Enzo Ferrari
Photo by wikipedia.org
Enzo Anselmo Ferrari (February 20, 1889 – August 14, 1988) was born in the northern Italian city of Modena. A young man with a basic education fell in love with the world of fast bikes and at the age of 21 he started racing himself. Without much success, he began to focus more on the work of a car mechanic. Controlling fate, Enzo made his way to the Alfa Romeo car company, where he worked as a mechanic, test driver and racer. This work fulfills him so much that in 1929 he decided to become partially independent. He founded the Scuderia Ferrari racing team, which races Alfa Romeo cars and repairs their cars in return. The emblem of the Scuderia is a black rearing horse. However, Enzo's desire for complete independence was great, so Ferrari broke up with Alfa Romeo for good and ended their cooperation.
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Scuderia Ferrari
Photo by John Filiss of www.seriouswheels.com
In 1939 Ferrari buys land in nearby Maranello and establishes a business called Auto-Avio Construzioni . Because of his departure from Alfa Romeo, he is bound by a contract not to use the Ferrari brand for another 5 years. In 1940, he manages to produce the first two Tipo 815 two-seater sports cars with a maximum output of 55.5 kW. Unfortunately, they did not succeed due to the failure rate. Then World War II breaks out. During the war, Auto-Avio Construzioni is forced to produce aircraft parts for Benito Mussolini's fascist government. A small factory in Maranello is bombed and Ferrari moves to Modena.
Towards the end of the war, the racing stable moves back to Maranello , where it begins to literally build a new factory on the ruins. It is completed in 1946 and the following year the company can start producing racing cars bearing the Ferrari name. Today's Ferrari SpA car company is founded. The company logo again features a rearing black horse on a yellow background with the Italian tricolor at the top of the coat of arms . The shape of the emblem was not invented by Ferrari , it is a legacy of one of the first pilots in the world, Francesco Barraco . He died in the air battle of the First World War and the emblem was offered to Ferrari as a gift from Francesco's parents – noblemen.
Photo by evercool, flickr.com
The first race in which Ferrari cars took part took place in Turin in 1948 and the first victory came in 1949 at Lago di Garda. Since 1950, Ferrari has been participating in the Formula 1 world race, and the first victory in the English Grand Prix followed in 1951. The first car of the official car company was the Ferrari 125S with an output of 53 kW. This model makes its debut in the same year (1947) at the race in Piacenza. It is deployed for the second time in the VC Roma race, where it wins with an average speed of 88 km/h.
Ferrari 125S
Photo by ikerlaes, flickr.com
In 1948, the model was improved (159S) to 88 kW by installing a Roots two-stage supercharger . In the same year, the 166 Sport/Inter models are also introduced. Within a few years, Ferrari racing cars are gaining an exceptional reputation. No wonder, production and sales have unique know-how – the owner and director of the car company is a former car mechanic, racer, sports and technical director and designer all in one! His cars represent the historical beginning of a long series of racing cars of various technical concepts that will gain success and attention on all the world's racing tracks!
The Ferrari cars of that time are characterized by various variants of closed and open bodies and will remain in production until 1950. The power of the models ranges from 66 kW to 118 kW. They achieve numerous sporting successes, such as winning the Le Mans race (France) or the Mille Miglia (Italy). After the engine volume was increased, the models were renamed Sport/Inter , and from 1951 these engines were characterized by a power in the range of 96 kW – 125 kW. 212 Export Touring Barchetta two-seat open-body models are often used for racing.
The first large-volume Ferrari sports car, type 340 America , with an output of 162 kW, intended for the US commercial market, is presented in 1950 in Paris.
Ferrari 340 America
Photo by JaseMan, flickr.com
In 1952, another racing model leaves the Ferrari factory – the 500 F2 , the first car with a four-cylinder engine. It is definitely not stronger or lighter than the 125 type ! However, its low fuel consumption, excellent acceleration, reduced tire wear and balanced handling make it one of the most brilliant World Championship racing single-seaters. Racing driver Alberto Ascari wins 16 races with this car and wins two world championship titles. All this in just two years! With the Ferrari car, it can stand up to competition, such as Maserati cars.
In the same period, the car manufacturer will introduce two more models – a car for normal operation, type 375 MM and type 375 America with a power of 250 kW. The production is characterized by a collaboration with the Pininfarina body shop, which continues to this day.
Ferrari 375MM
Photo by exfordy, flickr.com
The popular Ferrari brand, successful in sports car racing, is literally forced to frequent model innovation and rapid development. The most famous of the road Ferraris , successful on the American market, is the 410 series with the Superamerica model (power 250 kW). A distinctive feature are aerodynamic seats and massive fins. At the same time, other models were produced by Ferrari : 500 Mondial (later called Testarossa ), 750 Monza and type 365 GTB/4 Daytona .
Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
Photo by fklv (Obsolete hipster), flickr.com
In 1950, Ferrari produced 20 cars of the 225S type with an output of 154 kW. In the same year, the improved and very successful 250S model follows, which will remain in the offer for a full twelve years! In 1955, the 250 GT is modernized and the original output of 169 kW is increased to 221 kW. The automaker produced a total of 3,500 of them and they are used for racing as well as for normal driving. Several special versions of this model are also introduced, e.g. Tour De France . These are the last models of racing sports types with the engine in the front part of the car .
The 228 kW Ferrari 250 LM from 1964 already has a mid-mounted engine . A year later, this car wins the Le Mans car race and at the same time becomes the last model of a regular Ferrari that can be raced at the top level. As for the American market, a new type collection of 275 GT four-seaters with a new body and 206 kW power is presented. The gearbox and differential in these cars are located at the rear axle. Four-seater models have actually been an integral part of Ferrari production for 4 years. In the period of 7 years 1960-1967) 1080 pieces were produced.
In 1967, Ferrari began to cooperate with Fiat . Four-seater cars of the 330 GT type, the largest and most spacious for passengers and luggage, leave the factory. Among other things, they are equipped with brake and steering boosters, an electric window mechanism and air conditioning. Since 1969, Ferrari has offered other attractive models of the 365 type, such as the GTS cabriolet or the newly shaped GTB four-sedan with a power of 259 kW. As regards the Turin car company Fiat , a contract has been concluded for cooperation on the production of the Fiat Dino car, which lasted nine years. Dino is the shortened name of engineer Alfredino Ferrari , Enzo's son. As a designer, he developed an excellent design of a fork six-cylinder engine. However, at the age of 25, he died of chronic kidney inflammation.
Ferrari Dino 246 GT
Photo by exfordy, flickr.com
In the years 1967-1969, the Ferrari company ran into financial problems , which were solved precisely by concluding cooperation with Fiat . The Turin automaker bought more than half of the shares from Ferrari, which allowed the attractive brand unlimited financing. The development and production of the comfortable four-sedan Ferrari did not stop, and the 456 GT and 456 GTA models from 1993 continue the tradition.
In 1984, the Testarossa V12 super sports car with a maximum power of 287 kW, a maximum speed of 291 km/h and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds is launched. The successor to this high-performance model was the Ferrari 512 TR car with a power of 315 kW in 1992. The latest modifications follow in 1994-1996 (F 512 M), which dazzle with a modernized front mask, a new location of the headlights and higher power (342 kW). In the same year, the Ferrari 288 GTO model with fantastic driving performance (294 kW) and a speed of 305 km/h is presented in Switzerland.
Ferrari 288 GTO
Photo by Karrmann, wikipedia.org
In 1987, the Ferrari car company celebrates its 40th anniversary. It launches the next and at the same time the last Ferrari F40 V8 model with a respectable power of 352 kW (two turbochargers in the engine) and a maximum speed of 324 km/h. The body of the car has an amazing, well-crafted aerodynamic shape ( Pinifarina ) that makes it a legend. The model gets the designation of one of the best supercars in the history of racing cars. An incredible 1331 pieces will be produced in five years!
Ferrari F40
Photo by damors, flickr.com
Enzo Ferrari dies in 1988 and heads the company until the end of his life. The glorious history of automobiles did not end with the death of its founder. In the 1990s, Ferrari continued its successful models and launched, for example, the successor to the famous F40, the Ferrari F50 . The 550 Maranello was also a successful model, which was named after the number of the automaker's hometown.
At the beginning of the new millennium, Ferrari will launch a model with a V12 engine named in honor of its founder Ferrari Enzo. The Enzo was released in a limited edition of 400 units and is one of the most expensive cars in the world .
Ferrari Enzo
Photo by Nrbelex, wikipedia.org
The car company does not only produce super super sports such as the Ferrari Enzo , but also relatively more affordable cars. These include the Ferrari 360 model produced from 1999 to 2005 , its successor the Ferrari F430 introduced in 2003 and its successor the Ferrari 458 Italia produced from 2009 . Let's also not forget the California model – a stylish front-engined GT. All models belonged and belong to the top of motoring. This, of course, also applies to the current Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, the most powerful non-racing Ferrari in history.
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Photo by mjhbower, flickr.com
Enzo Ferrari. His cars won around 5,000 sports events and received 25 world championship titles in automotive disciplines. The Ferrari brand and the rearing black horse in the logo became symbols of sports motoring in the post-war generation. In addition to countless victories in races, they are also characterized by high driving speed, above-standard performance and atypical body shapes designed by the best Italian designers. After Ferrari's death, FIAT became the majority owner of Ferrari with a 90% share. But the spirit of Enzo Ferrari lives on in the cars of his brand.
