Interested in learning more about the power
and prestige of Ferrari? Well on this page you can read a guide to some of the
most exciting Ferraris as well as find out facts and figures about the history
of Ferrari. Ferrari, the famed Italian auto manufacturer, not only has an
unrivalled reputation in motor racing but a status for high performance and luxury
on the road which is unmatched.
Ferrari Overview
The Ferrari company, which celebrated its
60th anniversary in 2007, was kick-started when Enzo
Ferrari an employee of Alfa Romeo throughout the 1920s began building his own
race and road cars. The company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars
before moving into production with road vehicles in the late 40s. Ferraris success
was instant and has been consistent ever since, building up a brand associated
with both models famed for racing success and road cars which were not far
behind the technology of the competitive racing Ferraris. Arguably, Ferrari is the
only car production company to apply Formula 1 technology to its entire range
of production cars throughout its complete history. The company has enjoyed
amazing success on the racetrack, especially Formula 1, with periods of
dominance during the 50s, 60s, 70s, 90s, and beyond.
Memorable road models down the years have
been the 250s, 500s, 365s and the F40 and F50. Ferrari has always prided itself
on building the best high performing road cars available and as such many of
its vehicles have been built in limited numbers for an elite ownership. Now
even though Ferrari is owned by Fiat, the Italian firm continues an independent
tradition but with a bigger company offering support and financial clout behind
it. Ferrari looks set for a bright future as it continues to create exclusive sports
cars which look, drive and sound like no other.
Selected Ferrari Models
- Ferrari
250GT Classic sixties sports coupes and convertibles. Ultimate retro
Ferrari with still awesome pace and handling.
- Ferrari
360 Exotic futuristic 2 door super car coupe and convertible with a
reputation for unbeatable prowess on the road. Expect around 400bhp and some
hi tech gadgetry.
- Ferrari
400 Practical looking seventies coupes with more than decent Ferrari
capabilities and automatic drives. Now available for reasonable prices
second hand.
- Ferrari
500 Produced in 1964 this was ultra expensive, fast, wonderful
looking and exclusive then and it is now. Total prestige and cool.
- Ferrari
F50 Ultimate high-performance Ferrari supercar made for the Ferrari
50 anniversary year. Most of us can just dream...
Ferrari Facts
- Ferrari set up his business in , Italy where it continues to
this day.
- Ferrari is the only car constructor to have competed in every
single season of the Formula 1 World Championship since 1950.
- By 2004, Ferrari had won a total of 14 World Driver and 14
World Constructor titles. Ferrari also holds the record for the number of
Formula 1 wins and pole positions.
- Ferrari produced in 1948 - the
166. It was the start of a Ferrari tradition, a name derived from single cylinder
displacement in cubic cm.
- Ferrari also has a merchandising line of products including perfume
and bicycles.
- The 1950s and 1960s was a golden era for Ferrari with classic
such as the 250 GT, 250 GTO and 275 GTB designed by ,
the Italian design house Ferrari continues to use
- Until Ferrari was taken over in 1969 by Fiat, all cars were
custom built and so no two are completely the same.
- The red, white, and green stripe across the top of the Ferrari badge
represents the Italian national colours.
- Ferrari
himself retained control of the racing division until his death in 1988 at the age of
90.
Ferrari Key Dates
- 1898 - The founder Ferrari born
in Modena
on February 18th 1898.
- 1929 - Ferrari originally founded in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari and named
Ferrari.
- 1939 - Ferrari left Alfa Romeo.
- 1940 - Ferrari built his first car under the name of Auto Avio
- 1946 - Ferrari began producing street cars.
- 1947 - Ferrari introduced the 125S. [B]
[B]
- 1948 - Prancing Horse grand prix car was the single-stage supercharged
125 F1 which finished third at the 1948 Italian GP.
- 1953 - Ferrari entered its first World Sports Car
Manufacturers Championship and immediately won, repeating its success in
1954, 1956, 1957 and 1958.
- 1958 - The classic 250GT Ferrari California
launched.
- 1961 - won both the Driver
and the Constructor titles on two occasions - in 1961 with 156 F1 and in
1964 with 158 F1.
- 1965 - Ferrari is renamed Ferrari .
- 1969: Fiat purchases 50 percent interest in Ferrari.
- 1971 - Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer launched.
- 1975 - Ferrari once again won the world
title in 1975 thanks to
and again in 1977.
- 1984 The Ferrari 288 GTO offered.
- 1987 - Jaw dropping F40 launched.
- 1988 - Ferrari dies. Fiat
increases stake in Ferrari.
- 1989 - Ferrari Company renamed Ferrari .
- 1990 - Work on the Ferrari F50 began.
- 1992 - Unveiling of the Ferrari 456 GT at the 1992 Paris Auto Show.
- 1997 - Fiat sells 50 per cent stake in
to Ferrari leading to eventual take over by Ferrari.
- 1999 - Ferrari won back the Constructors World title in 1999,
marking the start of a six-year dominating record run of wins to go along with
Michael Schumachers six Drivers titles.
