A dream car list is not complete without the addition of a Ferrari. It is one of the most popular brands of luxury cars in the world. More people own Ferrari T-shirts and hats than actual cars. That might have more to do with the sticker price.
A low-end Ferrari Roma would set you back around $218,000. On the opposite end, you could pay well over $600,000 for a Ferrari SF90 Stradale. Would you feel confident driving a car worth half a million dollars? You might if that car was a Ferrari.
Humble Car Beginnings
What makes a Ferrari special? The answer is in the car’s fascinating origin story.
In 1929, Enzo Ferrari opened the doors of Scuderia Ferrari, based out of Modena, Italy. The mission for Scuderia Ferrari was to buy up, repair, and put specially designed cars into races. These were not Ferrari racing cars. They were Alfa Romeo racing cars. It took Enzo Ferrari four years to completely take over the Alfa Romeo racing team.
Ferrari did such a great job with the race car that he was offered a job with Alfa Romeo. In 1938, the Alfa Romeo carmaker brought their racing team back into the company fold. Enzo became the manager of the newly formed racing department. His time building cars for another company did not last long.
Enzo left Alfa Romeo a year later to create his own professional racing team. The only stipulation was that he could not use the Ferrari name for the next four years. Instead, Enzo Ferrari’s new company produced parts for aircraft.
The official Ferrari car company started operations in 1947. That is when they began manufacturing cars branded with their famous horse logo.
The First Ferrari
The first official Ferrari was built in 1940. Of course, it couldn’t be called a Ferrari. It was named the Tipo 815 and was built for racing. Sadly, it didn’t have a great debut on the race track. The first race it rode in was the 1940 Brescia Grand Prix. It didn’t even finish the race. There were too many engine problems.
There were only two Tipo 815s ever built. One was scrapped and probably used for parts on another car. The surviving Tipo currently resides in the Ferrari automotive museum.
It wasn’t until 1947 that the first Ferrari, sporting the iconic Ferrari badge, rolled out of the factory. It was named the 125S and came with a mighty 1.5 L V12 engine. Enzo would continue to roll out Ferrari cars to fund his beloved Scuderia Ferrari racing operation. That was his true passion in life.
Ferrari’s Badge
A strong car brand is recognized by its logo. For Ferrari, that logo is a bucking stallion. Does this represent the maximum horsepower found in each Ferrari? Not exactly. That symbol goes back to 1692 and the Royal Piedmont Cavalry Regiment.
During WWI, one of the regiment’s calvary officers was among the first to join the Italian air force. That officer was Francesco Baracca. He painted the stallion symbol of his regiment on the side of his plane. Baracca would go on to become a true hero of the war.
Years after he died in combat, Baracca’s family allowed the stallion symbol to be painted on a race car that rode to victory. The driver was Enzo Ferrari. That symbol has been a part of Ferrari ever since.
Ferrari Red
When you think of Ferrari, you think “red.” That shade of red is called “racing red” and for good reason. In the early days of Grand Prix racing, all the cars were red. It was a rule. Today, you can order a Ferrari in an array of colours, such as black, white, and silver. Most Ferrari owners opt for red. It is a classic.
The Ford Ferrari?
Ferrari is synonymous with Italian car manufacturing. However, it came close to being Americanized. In 1963, the Ford Motor Company made an offer to Enzo to buy out the Ferrari name and brand for a cool $18 million. Today, that would be the equivalent of around $174 million. After several rounds of negotiations, Enzo turned down the offer. Instead, he sold an interest in his company to Fiat. That deal allowed Enzo to remain in control.
The Last Enzo Ferrari
The last Ferrari model supervised by Enzo was the Ferrari F40. This rear-wheel-drive sports car rolled off the assembly line between the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was conceived as a special model to honour the 40th anniversary of Ferrari. Only 400 were ever built. They sold for $400,000 each.
Ferrari Theme Park
Forget Disney World. The ultimate theme park experience can be found at Ferrari World. You will need to travel to Abu Dhabi to enjoy what is the world’s largest indoor theme park. There is even an F1-inspired roller coaster.
Ferrari Merch
There is more going on with the Ferrari design team than creating the new models of its popular cars. There is all the merchandise that is designed. There are around 30 officially sanctioned Ferrari shops around the world. There you can find everything from Ferrari-branded clothing to watches.
There are even scale models of Ferrari cars available for purchase. These models come with a hefty price tag of $5,400. The shops are big business for Ferrari. They bring in around $1.5 billion in annual revenue. Imagine how much more they would make from all the bootleg merchandise.
There Is No Mass Production
There are approximately 80 million cars made each year around the world. The Toyota Camry accounts for around 340,000 of those cars. What about Ferrari? They only make 10,000 a year on purpose. That is the kind of exclusivity that adds to Ferrari’s popularity.
The only place to buy a new Ferrari is at one of their 180 authorized dealers. You could always travel to Italy to have your Ferrari custom-made.
DIY Ferrari
Owning a Ferrari is an expensive investment. If money is no object, then a Ferrari can be totally customized. Ferrari has a Tailor-Made Program. That allows customers to pick out every detail of their new ride.
You will need to travel to the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy, to customize your car. Once there, you can do more than pick out a paint colour. You can create the paint colour and give it a name. You can also pick interior trims and finishes. Even the choice of tire treads can be customized. All of these customizations could end up doubling the cost of the car.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to drive away with your customized Ferrari. The wait time for a custom-made Ferrari is two years.
Ferrari Racers
Ferrari has always been a dominant force in the racing world. The first win was in 1947. Since then, Ferrari races have been the first to cross the checkered flag over 5,000 times. Here are some of the wins:
- 15 Formula One world championships
- 14 Sports Car Manufacturers’ World Titles
- 9 Le Mans wins
- 8 Mille Miglia victories
- 216 Grand Prix victories in Formula One
Ferrari Factory
The first Ferrari factory was built in Modena, Italy. In 1943, the factory was bombed twice. That forced Enzo to pack up and move his operation to Maranello, Italy. That has been where the factor has been ever since.
The Maranello grounds include Enzo’s old home. It also has its own private testing grounds. This is a 186-mile race track used to put new Ferraris through their paces. There is also a special piazza that is dedicated to Michael Schumacher. He rode Ferraris to five World Drivers’ Championships.
The Best Ferraris
Every Ferrari fan has their favourite model. Here are a few that might be on your list:
250 GTO
The 250 GTO is often referred to as the first “supercar” to carry the Ferrari brand. It was built for speed to take on the Jaguar E-Type. This is not a Ferrari race car that was “modified” for the general public. It stayed true to its design origins as a stunning race car.
The 250 GTO holds another record that has nothing to do with racing. In 2018, a GTO was sold for $70 million at an auction. That made it the most expensive car ever sold.
308 GTS
The 308 GTS is kind of a mini version of the GTO. Its V8 engine provides the power, and the exterior design provides the “cool factor.” That is exemplified by the fact that this is the car that was famously featured in Magnum P.I. Magnum didn’t own the car. He just got to drive it around like anyone with the keys to a Ferrari would!
Wrap Up
Have you ever taken a spin in a Ferrari? No matter where a Ferrari rides, it always attracts attention. The majority of Ferrari owners will never experience what it is like to unleash the full power of a Ferrari. The thrill of riding in a car with that much power potential is enough. It also helps to have some very deep pockets!
