In this article, we hit the gears into the world of car racing and in this
realm, there is a name we have to consider at the very outset “Ferrari”, a name
that has become synonymous with speed and dominance and recognized with the
signature sound of its engines, a dominating red color, a brand name that is
worth four billion dollars. Established in 1939 by the automotive genius Enzo
Ferrari, the company launched its first car in 1940, more than 75 years ago
Ferrari was made with an underlying dream of creating the biggest name on the
racetracks all over the world, a passion that Enzo Ferrari developed at an age
of 10 and was determined to pursue it at all costs, something he definitely
managed to achieve during various time periods. With an annual output of around
8,000 cars, Ferrari generates north of three billion dollars of car sales per
year, with all that being said here are 15 things you didn't know about Ferrari.
N° 1
The iconic Ferrari logo which shows a prancing horse was inspired by
Italian aviation hero Francesco Baracca, the Italian flying ace Francesco
Baracca for which Enzo's brother Dino worked as a part of his support crew when
he joined the military, flew a plane with his symbol the prancing horse on its side,
Enzo Ferrari would later be advised by Barajas family whom he met after having
won the First Circuit O'Dell Savio to use the horse symbol as a mascot for his
cars for good luck. It certainly worked out well for him
N° 2
Enzo Ferrari was a racing driver as a part of the Alfa Romeo team. After
racing for a number of teams, Ferrari made it to become an official Alfa Romeo
driver in 1921 where he made very satisfying successes and was later appointed
head of the alfa corse racing division. When
Alfa Romeo withdrew from racing in 1932, Enzo decided to establish his own
racing team that is when he started the Scuderia Ferrari team which later
became the racing division of the Ferrari Company. When Alfa Romeo went back
into the game, a fierce rivalry on the tracks ensued between them and Enzo
Ferraris team.
N° 3
The Ferrari Road cars were only a means for Enzo Ferrari to finance his passion for car racing. Being a car racing fan would not suffice to describe Enzo Ferraris love for car racing which supposedly developed when he was 10 years old after his father took him and his brother to watch their first car race in Bologna Italy. Since then, it's safe to say that almost every step Enzo Ferrari took was triggered by his car racing passion including his business decisions as owner of Ferrari which you'll discover later in this article.
N° 4
Fiat owns a big stake in Ferrari and thus controls it. In 1969, Fiat Group
bought 40 to 50 percent of the company from Enzo Ferrari, it was money that
Enzo Ferrari needed to finance his Ferrari SP, a racing team. Eventually, Fiat
stake increased to reach 90% of the company, Enzo's only aim was to retain
control over the racing unit which he did, but meanwhile Fiat was not going to
run the business in the same way he did in terms of having road cars merely to
finance car racing. Fiat started modernizing cars and the sales went up
substantially and the brand started creating even more success
N° 5
The world's most valuable car is a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. In 2012, a 1962
Ferrari 250 GTO made the all-time world record for highest price after it was
sold at 38 million 115 thousand dollars at an auction in California. This car,
which up to this day still holds the highest selling price on record was
originally made for British Formula One legend Stirling Moss, it managed to
surpass by almost nine million dollars the previous world record which had gone
to a Mercedes W 194 Grand Prix car that was sold for 29.7 million dollars. However,
even that price was a disappointment to some Ferrari experts,some of whom
expected its value to hit the 60 million dollar bar.
N° 6
Purchasing a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO in the U.S. used to require an approval
from Enzo Ferrari himself. When his precious automobile was first released in
the US, it cost $18,000 which adjusted for inflation would be around 140,000 dollars
today, every person who wished to purchase a 250 GTO back then needed an approval
from Enzo Ferrari himself as well as from his dealer for North America Luigi
Chinetti. The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO has always been Ferraris most precious
production and up to this day, it has managed to preserve for itself a special
status among other Ferrari vehicles. Ralph Lauren is one of the names that
instantly bring to mind the luxury and high status and knowing that Ralph is
among the few who owned a 250 GTO who would tell us a thing or two about the
kind of life you would get inside this vehicle.
N° 7
The popular red in Ferrari cars was not really the company's choice. The International
Automobile Federation decided that all Italian Grand Prix race cars were to be
all red, even though later on, Ferraris started to be produced in colors like
bright yellow or metallic grey, an overwhelming 45% of Ferrari sold since the
company's inception were red
N° 8
There is a Ferrari theme park in Abu Dhabi with an F1 rollercoaster. In
2010, Ferrari opened its first theme park in Abu Dhabi making the record for
the world's largest indoor theme park.
Ferrari world includes an f1 inspired formula rollercoaster which is the fastest
roller coaster in the world with a speed of 150 miles per hour. Licensed drivers
can even apply for a chance to hit the gears of a Ferrari California and take
it for a spin around Yas Island where Ferrari world is located
N° 9
The oldest remaining Ferrari is the 166 Spyder Corsa. Ferraris second vehicle since its inception was the Ferrari 159s, only two of these were ever built then one of them was rebuilt as a Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa. Today the 166 Spyder Corsa is the oldest Ferrari we have
N° 10
Ferrari just released its fastest car in history, the 812 superfast Ferrari.
Preparing for the Geneva Motor Show in March, Ferrari refused to attend the
show with anything short of the fastest, most powerful production in its
history,” the 812 superfast” is deserving of the super and inarguably the fast
parts of its name. As far as has been revealed, the car has a top speed north
of 200 miles per hour and a power output of 8500 rpm, which according to
Ferrari is the most power ever produced from a front-engine car.
N° 11
Ferrari’s first factory was bombed by the Allies during World War two.
Ferrari’s first factory was not actually in Maranello but fractally it was the factory
before that one in
Modena. Enzo Ferrari built the factory under the name Auto Avio Costruzioni
that was supplying parts for other racing teams, although the factory was restricted
from designing cars for four years, Ferrari was able to produce two cars for
the 1940 Mille Miglia. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the factory
was forced in 1943 to join in the war production for Mussolini's government. After
the Allied Forces bombed the factory, it relocated to Maranello which remains
as Ferraris headquarters up to this day.
N° 12
Ferrari once donated an Enzo to the Pope. In 2004, the Ferrari corporation
donated the 400th and last produced Ferrari Enzo to Pope John Paul the second,
but since it wasn't so suitable to the Pope's ride, he requested that the car
be auctioned off and the proceeds be donated for the victims of the same year's
tsunami. The car found an owner at six million fifty thousand dollars.
N° 13
The 2002 Ferrari Enzo was made in tribute of Enzo Ferrari who died in 1988.
In tribute of the man whose last name became synonymous with speed and luxury,
it was only fitting that the company have a car designed under his first name
that excelled at both qualities. Not only is it a road monster, it also has the
quality of exclusivity because only 400 people would ever get to own one
N° 14
Enzo Ferrari declined to takeover deal by Ford because he wanted to stay in
control of the racing team. In 1963, Henry Ford flew to Italy to sign a takeover deal with
Enzo Ferrari but before signing it, Enzo asked who would be making the final
decisions regarding the racing team, when Ford said it would be him Enzo showed
him the door. This is how important the racing team was to Enzo Ferrari. Ford
decided to seek revenge, so in the 1964, LeMans event three 4 GTS arrived and
not one of them made it to the finish line. Ford kept up his attempts to beat Ferrari
for three consecutive years and it wasn't until 1966 that he was able to succeed
only after having spent around 1 billion dollars on the GT40 program according
to some rumors.
N° 15
Ferrari is the world's strongest brand. According to brand finances ratings,
the
Ferrari brand was one of among eleven brands including some of the biggest names
like Coca-Cola, Google and Rolex to get a Triple A plus rating. The brand aces
all the criteria set by the index which include visual identity and loyalty and
given that Ferrari comes to mind just by the mention of the color red and with
a brief conversation with one of Ferraris customers it wouldn't be a surprise
that Ferrari would gain the title.
With all that said we are curious to know which Ferrari would you say best
suits you? tell us in the comments