Little-Known Facts About The Most Iconic Car Brand
Ferrari is a car brand steeped in tradition. From its humble beginnings as a small Italian racing team to being one of the most exclusive car brands in the world, the company has seen many changes in its long history. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is its ability to make awesome cars. Here are 20 facts you probably didn't know about Ferrari.
1. The First Ferrari Wasn't Called A Ferrari
The first car Enzo Ferrari built was actually called the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815. This is because he signed a contract with his former company Alfa Romeo preventing him from creating any cars using his own name for four years.
2. The Logo Has WWI Origins
The iconic prancing horse logo was inspired by the symbol used by decorated Italian fighter pilot Francesco Baracca who died in WWI. Enzo went to Baracca's mother to ask permission to use the symbol.
3. Enzo Ferrari Didn't Initially Want to Build Road Cars
Ferrari started exclusively as a race car manufacturer with Enzo refusing to build anything else. He finally folded and started building road cars when he realized they needed to fund their racing endeavors somehow.
4. Ferrari Engines Are Hand-Built
Each Ferrari engine is hand-built by a single engineer at the factory in Maranello. This ensures precision, detail, and a level of artistry not seen in other cars.
5. Ford Tried Buying The Company
In the 1960s, Henry Ford II tried to buy Ferrari but Enzo wouldn't budge, igniting somewhat of a rivalry between the two. This prompted Ford to build the GT40 which took first, second, and third place at the 24-hour Daytona race in 1966.
6. The Ferrari Factory Was Bombed In WWII
Allied forces bombed the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy in 1944, forcing the company to rebuild. As a result, they started making road cars so they could turn a profit, unveiling their first one in 1947.
Unknown photographer on Wikimedia
7. Fiat Owned 50 Percent Of The Company
From 1969 to 2016, Fiat owned 50 percent of the company, making it Ferrari's parent organization. Fiat finally sold off their Ferrari shares to focus on expanding into the global market.
8. Ferrari Is The Oldest F1 Team
Ferrari is the only team to have competed in every single championship since Formula One began in 1950. They're also the most successful team, with 16 championship wins.
Unknown photographer on Wikimedia
9. The F40 Was The Last Car Enzo Approved
The F40 was the last car Enzo Ferrari approved before his death in 1987. With that legacy, it just had to be stupendous, and it was! It was the first 200-mile-per-hour production car with a twin-turbo V8 engine that generated 471 horsepower.
10. The Ferrari Factory Has Its Own Race Track
You know they take speed seriously when the factory has its own race track. The Fiorano Circuit in Maranello is a private test track used for tuning cars and it's also where Ferrari drivers practice before big races.
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11. Ferrari Only Makes 10,000 Cars A Year
Ferrari only makes around 10,000 cars a year ensuring they stay rare and exclusive. Only around 220,000 Ferraris have been made in total since the company's inception.
12. Ferrari's Hybrid Model Sold Out Before It Was Unveiled
Ferrari's first plug-in hybrid, the SF90 Stradale, sold out before it was even unveiled in 2019. It's equipped with three electric motors along with a twin-turbocharged V8 engine giving it nearly 1,000 horsepower.
13. A Ferrari Once Sold for $70 Million
Ferrari holds the record for the most expensive car ever to sell at auction, fetching $70 million in 2018. The car in question was a beautiful 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO.
14. Ferrari Has A Theme Park
The United Arab Emirates is home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. Fittingly, the theme park features the fastest roller coaster in the world, reaching speeds of 149 miles per hour.
15. Enzo Ferrari Fought In WWI
Enzo Ferrari served in the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment of the Italian Army during WWI. He was discharged after becoming ill with the Italian flu, the same disease that took the lives of his brother and father.
Unknown photographer on Wikimedia
16. The Ferrari Red Originated From Racing Rules
Crimson has become synonymous with the Ferrari brand, with 45 percent of their cars made in red. However, the signature color didn't start as a personal choice, it was simply assigned to all Italian cars in international races.
17. Ferrari Makes $1.5 Billion In Retail
Ferrari rakes in $1.5 billion per year in retail sales worldwide. This includes merchandise like shirts, watches, and hats that Tifosi go gaga over.
18. Ferraris Are Customizable Beyond Limits
If you buy a Ferrari, you can customize it to your heart's content from color to finishes and trims. However, the company does discourage buyers from modifying the engine as this would ruin the essence of the already meticulously tuned-to-perfection Ferrari.
19. Enzo Ferrari Was A Race Car Driver
Enzo Ferrari got his start in the automotive industry as a race car driver. He drove for Alfa Romeo between 1920 and 1929. He won a few Grand Prix but developed more of a taste for the organizational aspect of motorsport.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
20. Ferrari Hand-Picks Their Buyers
Ferrari is known to be picky about who they sell their cars to, especially limited edition ones. They'll refuse a buyer if they feel they don't represent the brand well.
