The fabled origin story of the legendary Ferrari – an amazing journey.

Ferrari’s History

Ferrari is one of the most admired manufacturers of luxury sports cars in the world. The company was formally established in 1947. However, the legendary founder and namesake of the car manufacturer, Enzo Ferrari, was involved in the industry long before that.

 

Enzo Ferrari was born in 1898 in Modena, Italy. He started out as a racing car driver. In the 1920s, he became an Alfa Romeo driver and won several racing prizes, including the second Circuito di Modena.

In 1929, Ferrari founded Scuderia Ferrari, which today is the official racing car division of Ferrari. However, it began as an Alfa division that specialized in the production of racing cars for male drivers. This was when sports car racing really took off as a hobby for the rich and famous, who were really the only ones who could afford it.

In 1931, Enzo finished second at the Circuito Tre Provincial, his last time competing as a driver. He wanted to focus on his family and the birth of his first son, Alfredo, better known as Dino.

However, he continued to work with the Scuderia and build cars for Alfa until 1939. In September of the same year, he left his position as head of Alfa Corse to found his own car company, Auto Avio Costruzioni, in his hometown of Modena, Italy. 

As a condition of his departure, he was obliged not to use the Ferrari name on any of his cars or races for at least four years thereafter. In honor of the agreement, the name of the company was changed to Auto Costruzioni Ferrari only in 1957, and the first car bearing the Ferrari name, the Ferrari 125 S, was released.

enzo-ferrari

 

Initial Years 

 In 1945. Ferrari first used the V12 engine in its cars.signatures It wasn’t until 1947, almost ten years after Enzo left Alfa, the first Ferrari model, the 125 S or 125 Sport, rolled out of the factory entrance on Via Abetone Inferiore in Maranello, Italy. Only two models were originally produced. The car took part in its first race at the Piacenza circuit in May of that year and won the Rome Grand Prix on the 25th. 

The car was supposed to come out earlier, but the date was moved due to the effects of World War II. After the Modena factory bombings, the company moved to Maranello and built a legendary factory that continues to operate today.

During the following decades, the Italian car company found success with cars that competed in and won major races, including the Mille Miglia (1954).8), the 2Hours of Le Mans (199), and the Formula 1 World Grand Prix (1951).

In the early 1950s, racing driver Luigi Chinetti opened the first Ferrari showroom and dealership in the United States. Until now, Ferraris were only available to wealthy racing enthusiasts and competitors. Later, the location moved from Manhattan to Connecticut, but the American Ferrari market became and remains one of the most profitable in the world.

Tragic events struck in 1956 when Enzo Dino’s eldest son died of muscular dystrophy. The 1960s were a time of change for the company. First, in 1961, members of the company, including chief engineers Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini, left and founded another car company called ATS.

 

Their intention was to make it a direct competitor to Ferrari. The 1960s were a time of change for the company. First, in 1961, members of the company, including chief engineers Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini, left and founded another car company called ATS. At the time, their intention was to make it a direct competitor to Ferrari. The reason for the separation was said to be disputes over Enzo’s wife, Laura, and her large involvement in the management of the company.

Engineer Mauro Forghieri and body designer Sergio Scaglietti completed the 250 GTO, which ironically became known as one of the most iconic sports cars of all time.

In the late 1960s, Enzo realized that to succeed and grow in the face of competition and market challenges, he needed a partner. In 1969, it found one in the Fiat Group, which bought a 50% stake in the company. In 1 was released. It would be the last model created under Enzo Ferrari. The following year, he died at the age of 90, and the Fiat Group increased its investment in the company to 90 percent.

After Enzo’s death, Luca di Montezemolo was appointed as the new chairman of Ferrari from 1991 to 2001.
He was replaced by former CEO Sergio Marchionne, and plans to separate Ferrari from the Fiat Group were announced. In 2015, Ferrari N.V. went public and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a value of nearly $10 billion and on the Milan Stock Exchange in 2016.

Ferrari Logo

Although the origin of the name Ferrari is quite clear, the history of the Ferrari logo requires a little more explanation. During World War I, Italian fighter pilot Francesco Baracca painted a horse on the fuselage of his fighter plane. But how did it end up in Alfa Romeo racing cars and define the Ferrari brand for a century? In 1923, Baracca’s mother suggested that Enzo Ferrari put her son’s flying horse into cars for good luck.

While the horse was, and still is, stark, flat black, Ferrari placed it on a canary yellow background to celebrate his birthplace, Modena. The original Ferrari logo first appeared at the Spa Grand Prix in 1932, and it was used on the first vehicle produced by Ferrari as an independent company in 1939.

Ferrari as a Brand Today

In addition to being known for being the best and fastest car in history, Ferrari is most associated with its symbol, the Cavallino Rampante, or crooked horse, and its bright red color. 

The red color was only part of the tradition. According to the regulations, international racing cars arriving from Italy had to be painted red. After the 1960s, it was no longer required, but Ferrari wanted to stick to the tradition and kept it. Now it is part of the overall image of the brand. The attachment to Ferrari red goes so far that in the 1990s, at least 85 percent of owners had this color.
As for the famous black jumping Ori logo on a yellow background, it was inspired by the war hero Count Francesco Baracca. Enzo himself was drafted into the Italian army during the war. Barracca was an Italian air force pilot in World War I who had a horse painted on the side of his plane. On the plane, the horse was red, but the color of the Ferrari logo changed to black.
The Ferrari brand is one of the most iconic in the world. Since its inception, the Italian automaker has won more than 5,000 awards and competed on tracks around the world. When it comes to Formula 1 racing, Ferrari holds the title of longest-running and most successful competitor.

Key dates: 
1929:
Enzo Ferrari establishes Società Anonima Scuderia Ferrari to acquire and race automobiles.
1940:Enzo Ferrari leaves Scuderia Ferrari and establishes Auto Avio Costruzione, which initially manufactures aircraft engines.
1947: The design and production of Ferrari sports cars begin.
1960: The company is restructured into a joint stock company and founded as Società Esercizio Fabbriche Automobili e Corse Ferrari (SEFAC S.p.A.).
The early 1960s: Ford agrees to buy the company, but the deal falls through.
Ferrari S.p.A., Exercise Fabbriche Automobili, and Corse are the company names in 1965.
1969: Fiat buys 50 percent of Ferrari and takes control of the passenger car business; Enzo Ferrari retains 50 percent and controls motorsport operations.
1988: Enzo Ferrari dies, and Fiat increases its stake in Ferrari to 90 percent.
1989: The company name is changed to Ferrari S.p.A.
1992: Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is hired as head of Ferrari and begins a major overhaul.
1997: Fiat sells 50 percent of Maserati to Ferrari, which takes control of Maserati management.
1999: Ferrari acquires full ownership of Maserati. More information Production

Get more news and Insights about Global Automobile Industry here

Corpradar is a next-gen digital IR 4.0 corporate media house that combines the power of technology with human capital to bring decisive and insight-driven content on key business affairs. In an absolute sense, we create a space for leading business houses and visionary corporate leaders to chime in with their opinions and thoughts on relevant industry-specific matters that provide a detailed expert perspective for our followers.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TOP