Racing to the Winners' Circle
As early as 1929, Ferrari was all about high performance. The Italian company was founded by Enzo Ferrari and was dedicated to sponsoring racing teams. It is from this early era, however, that the signature horse (cavellino, in Italian) used on the Ferrari logo first appeared. Legend says that a countess suggested to Enzo the image would bring his racing team good luck as it had been used by her son - a WWI Ace pilot - on his plane.
The idea of becoming a manufacturer of stylish and fast road cars was far from young Enzo's mind, even in 1938, when he became the head of Alfa Romeo's racing division. His focus was on high performance cars and racing until his division was sidelined by WWII. After the war, Enzo Ferrari came into his ow
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Racing to the Winners' Circle
As early as 1929, Ferrari was all about high performance. The Italian company was founded by Enzo Ferrari and was dedicated to sponsoring racing teams. It is from this early era, however, that the signature horse (cavellino, in Italian) used on the Ferrari logo first appeared. Legend says that a countess suggested to Enzo the image would bring his racing team good luck as it had been used by her son - a WWI Ace pilot - on his plane.
The idea of becoming a manufacturer of stylish and fast road cars was far from young Enzo's mind, even in 1938, when he became the head of Alfa Romeo's racing division. His focus was on high performance cars and racing until his division was sidelined by WWII. After the war, Enzo Ferrari came into his own, producing the first Ferrari road car in 1947 - the 125S. But, his eye remained on the high performance prize. It's reported that he only produced and sold the Ferrari road cars to finance his racing passions.
High Style, High Performance
Car fanciers world over took note of the very sleek styling and superior performance of Ferrari road car models and demand rose. Ferrari reportedly was unimpressed with his popular success, thinking that wealthy people were purchasing his artfully designed road cars as mere "accessories" and not for the high performance under the hood.
At the same time, Ferrari race cars tore up tracks throughout the racing world. Ferrari's racing division, Scuderia, was in the first Formula One World Championship in 1950. The following year, Ferrari's team won the British Grand Prix. Since then, the team has logged hundreds of wins and claimed 15 World Driver Championship titles. Scuderia drivers claimed 201 Grand Prix victories and dozens of racing worlds' top drivers.
Meanwhile, lovers of high performance cars with equally high style, continued to want Ferrari road cars. The company produced a handful of "types" that include the Sports, GT, Spyder/Cabriolet, 2+2 and America lines. It's most successful and popular model is the Two-seat Gran Turismo.
Ferrari's "Supercars" reached a whole new level of performance, luxury and price. These cars are produced in limited editions and sport futuristic design along with Ferrari's own rules about where and when they may be driven by their owners. The 2005 Ferrari XXX, for example, carried a price tag of $2.5 million. Famed race driver Michael Schumaker was presented with the last of only 20 Ferrari XXX's to be produced when he retired from Formula One racing in 2006.
Thriving in both the racing and road car world, Ferrari is undisputedly synonymous with high performance and automotive success. The majority of the company is now owned by the Fiat Group and Enzo's son, Piero, retains a 10% interest.
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