My history of Ferrari | Ferrarinator editorial

The prancing horse are known for their racing pedigree, paint job and being the best poster cars in the world. Ferrari has done a lot in history so the Ferrarinator presents my history of Ferrari.

1898-1961 prologue

On February 21st, 1898 Enzo Ferrari was born on the outskirts of Modena. When Enzo Ferrari was growing up he wanted to become a racing driver and his father would teach him how to drive but he had to work in the garage with his brother and father.

In 1916 Enzo Ferrari’s father and brother passed away in the war. A year later Enzo Ferrari was assigned to the 3rd Alpine Artillery Division. However, Enzo Ferrari fell ill and nearly died.

Enzo Ferrari attempted to get a job at Fiat, but they declined. So Enzo Ferrari got a job as a test driver at a small company in Turin.

In 1919 Enzo Ferrari made his competitive debut Parma-Poggio di Berceto Hillclimb race. He finished fourth in the three-litre category at the wheel of a 2.3-litre 4-cylinder CMN 15/20.

2 Years later Enzo Ferrari became an official Alfa Romeo racing driver delivering places such as 5th position in Mugello.

The origin of the prancing horse is when Enzo Ferrari won a race and met a famous world war 1 pilot and asked permission "can I use your emblem for my cars". He said yes. From then on he used the prancing horse on all of his cars to bring good luck.

In 1929 Enzo Ferrari founded Scuderia Ferrari. Two years later Enzo Ferrari completes his last race as a driver at the Circuito Tre Province on August 9TH, 1931. He finishes second to Nuvolari in an Alfa Romeo 8C. He retired from racing to take care of his son Alfredo Dino Ferrari.

Two years later Scuderia Ferrari was taken over by Alfa Romeo. On September 6th, 1939 Enzo Ferrari leaves Alfa Romeo with the promise was not to use the Ferrari name for the next four years.

In 1939 Enzo Ferrari founded Auto Avio Automobili, a year later he built his first car. Enzo Ferrari’s factory got bombed twice during the war but luckily it was fixed quickly. In 1945 Enzo Ferrari begins work on the Ferrari 125s, launched in 1947.

In 1948 Ferrari raced at the Miglia mile, a year later Ferrari competed at Le Mans, in 1950 Ferrari debuted in Grand Prix and has never left.

1961-1988 beginnings of their rivals

In 1961 tensions were brewing at Modena. Enzo Ferrari brought his wife to be a manager for Ferrari. In thus time 4 of his drivers died and it was a mess.

Meanwhile, 8 of his employees including Chiti, Bizzarrini, Tavoni and five others handed over the letter to Enzo. What happens next was he fired all 8 of his employees and joined companies including Lamborghini, Bizzarrini, Automobili Turismo e Sport.

A Year later Henry Ford II flew to Modena to meet Enzo Ferrari and discuss if he can buy his company as it was on the verge of bankruptcy.

He said yes. But at the last minute, Ferrari turned Ford's offer. Henry Ford II was furious, so he came up with a plan to beat Ferrari at their own turf, Le Mans.

Over the next months, Ford gets work in a shed in England. Ford lost Le Mans in 1964 and 1965. In 1966 Ford got a 1 2 3 podium. Ford was rubbing it in Ferrari’s face. Ford won three more Le Mans championships after that.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was doing well in the tractor business so he went on a shopping spree buying a variety of cars including Ferraris but they were unreliable. Lamborghini worked on the 350GT then the Miura. Lamborghini are still keeping up with its arch nemesis, Ferrari.

In 1969 Fiat bought a 50% stake in Ferrari and celebrated with the 2.4 Dino Coupe. In the 70’s and 80’s The heat between Ferrari and Lamborghini was strong. Ferrari had the Berlinetta Boxer then the 512 Testarossa and Lamborghini had the Countach.

In 1976 James Hunt, a playboy went up against Niki Lauda, a focused racing driver. Niki Lauda was slaying Hunt for most of the season until Nurburgring where many drivers died. Lauda crashed and had 1st degree burns. The Nürburgring full circuit was never used again in Formula 1.

Niki Lauda was in hospital for a couple of weeks and returned for the Italian Grand Prix, where he finished forth still in ruins. James Hunt over the next few races gained on Lauda. James Hunt won the 1976 Formula 1 championship with a point more than Lauda. James Hunt and Lauda were rivals when racing but mates outside of the track.

Ferrari shut down the brand Dino in 1986, the year that Porsche reached 199mph with the 959. Then Ferrari reached the moon with the F40 in 1987 with a top speed of 201mph. Whilst the rocket war for top speed was going on, Lamborghini was nowhere near.

1988-2018 the new wave

Sadly in 1988, Enzo Ferrari died at 90 years old. The last car he inspected was the F40. His death caused the car to skyrocket in value.

The 90's marked a new wave of Ferrari models which include a four-seater 456GT, a sports car F355, a 2 seater GT 550 and a supercar F50. But Ferrari was recovering from Enzo death.

Around the same time, Ferrari was doing badly in Formula 1, but in 1996 Michael Schumacher joined Ferrari. Over the next few years, he won 5 titles in a row.

In the 80's and 90's, Maserati made rubbish cars such as the Biturbo and Quattroporte III. Ferrari knew that Maserati had potential so they bought them in 1997. The first car to kick off the renaissance was the 3200GT. Ferrari and Maserati were once enemies now family.

In 2002 Ferrari made the Enzo, named after its founder. The Enzo sold 399 units to customers that bought the F40 and F50 but pushed it to 449 units due to popularity.

Versions of the Enzo included Maserati MC12, Ferrari Enzo's distinctive brother, Ferrari FXX and the Ferrari FXX Evoluzionze.

In 2007 Ferrari launched special projects, a program which gives wealthy customers a one-off car. They only produce 3 cars a year and they cost €3m+. They've produced cars like the Ferrari SP12 EC and Ferrari J50.

In 2009 Ferrari debuted the 458, the successor of the F430. This car is better than it's predecessor in and out.

In 2011 Ferrari debuted the FF, Ferrari's dip in the SUV market. The FF name stands for 4WD Four Seater. In my opinion, the FF was an average car but a disappointing car for Ferrari, which got better over time with the GTC4Lusso.

A year later Ferrari introduced the F12 Berlinetta, Ferrari's most powerful car in their range at the time with 730bhp. The Ferrari F12 was the last car fully designed by Pininfarina.

In 2013 Ferrari debuted LaFerrari, Ferraris first hybrid with 963bhp, It's impossible to turn this car fully electric because Ferrari wants you to hear the V8.

In 2016 Fiat spun-off Ferrari to Exor, an investment company for $6.4b.

2018- what’s the future of Ferrari

The future of Ferrari is interesting with Marchionne the chairman of Ferrari threatening to quit Formula 1 by 2021 when their contract ends with more affordable engine regulations.

"We're walking into this meeting next Tuesday with the best of intentions, we'll see where it takes us, I am attending those meetings on strategy because it's important, because it matters a lot to this business, The financial implications of the wrong choice for the moment going forward are pretty significant to Ferrari."

Ferrari is planning to make an SUV which is most likely replace the GTC4Lusso. This car will apparently be more utilitarian. Compared to what? An iPhone or Hilux.

Ferrari are considering reviving Dino as a mid-engined V6 sports car or brand.

If Ferrari rebooted Dino as a brand they should consider having a sports car, convertible and SUV in their range but cheaper just how the original brand was conceived.

Porsche left Le Mans in 1999 to build an SUV and that hasn't ruined the brand, in fact, it helped the brand expand. At the moment every car company has jumped into the SUV boom and reaped the rewards.

Ferrari has the double dip with their exclusive brand, special projects, making 3 cars a year. For the normal line-up, its the same but their goal is to double their margin, hence why they are developing an SUV.

Conclusion

Since 1939 Ferrari been busy producing the greatest cars of all time such as the Daytona 365, F40 and counting. Enzo Ferrari got into many fights such as the great walkout, Henry Fords Le Mans battle and the spawn of Lamborghini.

If Ferrari didn't exist the Supercar industry would be a completely different place and Formula 1 may not be the pinnacle of motorsport. On That Bombshell BOOM!!