Founder of the legendary brand Enzo Ferrari began his career as a designer and tester of Alfa Romeo cars. The first model under the Ferrari brand was released in 1946 and became a real embodiment of the dream of its creator: properties racing car it combined with the comfort of the cabin. Enzo Ferrari chose a black prancing stallion on a golden background as his emblem. This is exactly the symbol that was depicted on the fighter of World War I pilot Francesco Baracca, who was shot down near Montello. During his speech at race track In Ravenna, Enzo Ferrari met the hero's parents. It was they who invited him to depict their son’s black horse on a car, assuring him that it would bring good luck.

Since 1947, the production of “street” sports cars with the characteristic Ferrari badge began. A year later, the first victories were won in the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio races, and a little later the team’s triumph was reinforced by winning the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans competition, which was facilitated by unsurpassed specifications Ferrari.

The Ferrari 340 America model included in the lineup Ferrari in 1951 with a four-liter engine was an incredible success in Europe and Asia, although it was originally intended for sale in the United States. Among the owners of the cars were the Emperor of French Indochina Bao Dai, the Dutch Prince Bernard, the Belgian King Leopold and the Italian Count Giovanni Volpi di Misrata.

When creating his road masterpieces, Enzo Ferrari resorted to the services of various design workshops. A long-term collaboration with Pininfarina began in 1954 with the release of the Ferrari 250 GT.

The Ferrari manufacturer owns the most memorable cars of the 60s: the 250 GTE with a “2+2” body, the 330 GT with the original “squinting” headlights and the 250 Gran Turismo Omologata.

The Ferrari automotive phenomenon has captivated the whole world: nine Formula 1 championship titles, eight victories in the Constructors' Championship, nine in the Le Mans Marathon. Sports cars traditionally red with a body “from the best European maestros” did not leave indifferent even the Americans, who were ready to wait for months and pay huge amounts of money. “Ferrari is proof of our country’s ability to successfully respond to the new demands of technological progress,” as the President of the Italian Republic said.

Being a hardworking and unyielding self-taught man, Enzo Ferrari did not forgive himself or those around him for the slightest weakness. According to the stories of his employees, Commendatore (translated as “old master”) was only interested in the victory of his car, and not in the fate of the pilot. But the history of the formation of the Italian brand is also filled with tragic events: twelve Ferrari drivers died in world-class competitions alone, for which the Vatican newspaper dubbed Enzo “a modern-day Lucifer sacrificing his children.” Many did not understand the “old master,” who led a reclusive life, especially after the death of his 24-year-old son Dino as a result of a serious illness. The Dino model, which appeared in the early 70s with an engine unconventional for Ferrari, was created in his honor.

In 1988, at the Maranello plant, the gloomy Enzo died while fine-tuning the new Ferrari racing cars. The Commendatore’s last wish was that “the work should not stop for a minute.” Luca di Montezemolo has been the head of Ferrari since 1991, and in honor of the founder of the Italian company in beginning of XXI century, the Ferrari Enzo model was built. The two-seater sports car was first introduced in 2002 at Paris Motor Show. An automaker with a great past and a promising future is now part of the Fiat group and specializes in the production racing coupes and luxury convertibles and roadsters.

Probably every person who hears the word “auto racing” or “speed” in his subconscious imagines the car brand - Ferrari and will never classify it as a car. This brand has always been and will be an integral part of racing. It is simply impossible to even imagine competitions that will take place without a Scuderia Ferrari car. And the “king of racing” Michael Schumacher achieved great achievements thanks to the fact that most of the races he used a Ferrari car.

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How it all began

The history of the appearance of Ferrari began in the distant past, or rather in 1900, when a little ten-year-old boy named Enzo Ferrari was brought (by his father and brother) to one of the auto racing competitions. This race immediately captured the young man’s heart. Three years later, Enzo got behind the wheel of a car for the first time. His father taught his son quite quickly. But after the outbreak of the First World War, all the guy’s dreams of participating in auto racing were abandoned. The young guy had to constantly work at the factory in order to earn his living. It, of course, was not easy, but there was money. It is worth noting that Enzo’s entire family never begged.

After the end of the war, it was impossible to find a job. The country's economy was in a very bad situation; soldiers were returning from the front and could not get a job. However, luck smiled on Enzo in 1918, and he got a place to test in what was quite a large company at that time. car company Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali. And a year later the debut took place Ferrari car in the Parma-Berceto auto racing. Ferrari did not show any special achievements in these auto races, but he looked decent on the track. After two years at CMN, young Enzo took a first step that few people understood. He moved to the little-known and young Alfa-Romeo team. Ferrari immediately realized that the cars that Alfa-Romeo produced were much improved compared to those in which he competed in the Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali. In addition, Alfa-Romeo itself understood its priority in the auto business, because sports competitions serve as the best advertising for the company.

In the 1920s, the Italian government provided good financial support for local auto racing. The reason for this was the desire to open a national automobile industry in Italy, and therefore the government generously invested money in the Fiat company. Automakers, in turn, put a lot of work into their work in order to produce the highest quality cars possible. And if you win auto racing, you will receive good advertising for the company.

There were victories, of course, but not as often as expected. Enzo Ferrari was not a high-class racing driver. An ordinary average driver who got victories occasionally by luck and was not in the lead in the championship. And Ferrari himself did not particularly strive to become a famous racer. He was more interested in creating his own racing team. Good success befell young Enzo when he met the Baracca family after one of his victories. The Baracca family at that time was famous throughout the country. Their fame came from the pilot Francesco. The fearless hero shot down many enemy planes during the war, and died bravely during one of the battles. The key point was that Francesco Baracchi's plane was represented by a black stallion. After this meeting, Enzo Ferrari will create the now famous Scuderia Ferrari logo - a black stallion on a background of yellow paint.

Italy also experienced a crisis in the late 1920s. I especially felt it Automotive industry. Alfa-Romeo even decided to give up racing for a while. Enzo's career is about to collapse. It was necessary to do something, create our own team that would collaborate with Alfa-Romeo as a partner, under the name Scuderia Ferrari. As a result, in 1929 the Scuderia Ferrari team opened its doors in the Italian town of Modena.

In order to create his team, Enzo needed money. He borrowed them from his friends, who were themselves fans of auto racing and were happy to lend them to him. In addition to all this, Ferrari was also helped by the Alfa-Romeo company, because Scuderia Ferrari at that time was like a company enterprise. (Alfa-Romeo supplied Scuderia Ferrari with its chassis and some other parts).

As 1993 approaches, Alfa-Romeo makes a statement to the whole world that the Scuderia Ferrari team is now its official representative racing. By this time, the Ferrari team had good racing success (in the first of the seasons they won 8 races out of a possible 22). The best racing masters in Italy joined the team with great pleasure. Why? Because the young racer Enzo Ferrari offered them a new and improved payment system. In earlier times, all racing drivers received a fixed salary, regardless of their place in the race. It turned out that the rider who came last would receive as much as the first. In the Ferrari team, the entire salary depended on the winning places. This was significantly more than the salary of other teams and this is what attracted professional pilots to the team. It is worth noting the fact that the Ferrari team cars themselves were produced more efficiently than those of their competitors. Thanks to the work of Enzo, who spent 16 hours a day at work.

Ferrari founded

And having collaborated like this for several years, Enzo Ferrari begins to understand that the team needs independence. And at the end of the 30s, a rift began between Enzo and the Alfa-Romeo company. As a result, the team managed to gain independence, but car production was never established due to the onset of World War II. During the war, the Ferrari plant was moved from Modena to Maranello, where it had to produce military orders. Production lasted until the Allied army blew up the plant.

With the war over, Ferrari finally begins its story. The company is no longer patronized by Alfa-Romeo, and has a well-known Komendante (director). Enzo Ferrari received this nickname from his team. Largely because he spent a lot of time at work, laughed very rarely and had good restraint.

In 1946, Ferrari released the first car designed by Enzo himself. In addition, he also founded a second company, Auto Avia Construzione Ferrari, which was supposed to produce sports cars for the sales market. And already in 1947 the company released its first car with a black stallion. Sales were stunning for two reasons: the first reason was good reliable quality, and the second reason was that people already knew about the brand because of its participation in racing.

From now on, Ferrari factories began to produce sports cars that amazed everyone with their power and were assembled by hand. The company has preserved these traditions to this day and produces cars priced from 100 to 500 thousand dollars.

In the 20th century, Ferrari gained great popularity among the class of cars participating in Formula 1. It was this type of racing that Enzo Ferrari decided to focus on. In 1952-1953, the famous driver Alberto Ascari brought the Scuderia Ferrari team two championship titles in Formula 1 racing. Thanks to the fact that Ferraris have a full-fledged race track, the city of Maranello becomes the capital for motorsport fans. More than one team has never done this. At the same time, the Ferrari brand became one of famous brands and the real dignity of Italy.

Tragedies

However, the history of Ferrari is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Success came along with tragedies. The driver who brought the Scuderia Ferrari team two championship titles, Alberto Ascari, crashes in 1955 during a test in Monza. This death was followed by the death of one son Enzo, Dino Ferrari. This tragedy significantly affected the founder of Scuderia Ferrari. While working with the public, he began to appear more and more often wearing black glasses. Dino, held the position of designer in the team, and almost completed his new project Ferrari 246 car. This model will leave the assembly line in 1958, and pilot Michael Hawthorne, having tested it, will become the winner of the world championship. He dedicated the victory to Dino Ferrari. New tragedies will follow the championship. Racers Phil Collins and Luigi Musso will crash in Ferrari 246s.

In the mid-50s, Ferrari was ready to produce 200 in one year regular cars for sale to the public and 250 racing ones. It should be noted that the company had a good reputation not only in Europe. Special orders were also supplied to the USA. The cars were GT class.

Transformation of the company into Joint-Stock Company happened in 1960. To this Enzo added that Ferrari is now a people's company, and anyone can buy shares. A good event for the company happened in 1969, when Gianni Agnelli from Fiat bought a 50% stake in Ferrari.

Ferrari was a constant favorite in every season of Formula 1 racing. Their struggle took place with famous car brands, sometimes with McLaren, sometimes with Williams, sometimes with Benetton. But the first places were always occupied by Ferrari. One of the most famous and titled teams. In the 70s, the famous racer Gilles Villeneuve joined the team, he immediately began to help the elderly Enzo and his son. Enzo made every effort to ensure that Villeneuve won the title. He probably would have won if he had not crashed in 1982.

In the 60s, new problems were added to Ferrari. Worthy competitors began to appear on the auto racing circuits, which could take away a significant part of the market from the company. Among them were: Lotus, Lamborgini, Mazeratti and a little cheaper was Porsche. However, not one of them achieved great success in racing, and the word "speed" still remained with the Ferrari car.

What happened besides racing?

Regarding the personal life of Enzo Ferrari. He was married to only one woman (who gave birth to Dino), but this did not stop him from constantly having a mistress, Lina. After the death of his wife, he legalized his relationship with her. This Lina will even have time to give birth to Enza’s son, Pierrot, who could not be the heir and head the company, because he could not endure hard work.

At the age of 90, Enzo Ferrari dies in 1998. According to Enzo's will, he left 50% of the Ferrari shares that he owned at that time to Fiat.

Despite the fact that Italians to this day consider Ferrari a personal asset. The founder was buried modestly, without any processions.

After the death of Enzo Ferrari, the company will be in a slight crisis. Due to the fact that the Benetton team will begin to lead in the Formula 1 races (after McLaren and Williams). After a little time, problems will begin to appear at Fiat, as a result of which it will go bankrupt (then the situation will normalize). Regardless of the number of sales of cars in racing, the company will regain its leading position thanks to the most professional racing driver in history - Michael Schumacher. And selling Ferrari cars has always been and remains a luxury to this day.

The Ferrari company is today based in Maranello (Italy). Until 1947, it was involved in the production of racing cars and sponsorship of racers. Then her main activity became the creation of Street-legal cars. Ferrari's history is characterized by constant participation in competitions, mainly in Formula 1.

Perhaps every car enthusiast knows that the yellow one depicts a stallion rearing up, and the classic color of the car is red. But not everyone knows exactly how this company appeared and what path it went through before reaching its scale. We will talk about this further.

A little about Enzo Ferrari

The famous Enzo Ferrari was born in 1898 in Modena. He recalled that from a very young age he was an avid fan of car racing and. At the end of the First World War, he joined the CMN sports team. In 1920 he worked at Alfa Romeo. The period of service in the Italian concern played a significant role in the guy’s professional growth, although he worked there as a simple test driver. Enzo later assembled his own team (it was called " Scuderia Ferrari").

The main activity of the group was the improvement of Alfa Romeo designs that were used in racing. A picture of a rearing horse was used as an emblem. Ferrari served here until 1938.

After 2 years he created his own enterprise " Avio Construction". Initially, the company was engaged in the manufacture of metal machines. Then Enzo developed his first car model - “815” - but did not give it his name, since the designer signed a contract upon leaving Alfa Romeo. According to its provisions, the designer could not produce for 4 years. Therefore, then no one knew about Ferrari's development.

Moreover, in 1940, Rangoni and Ascari raced it in the Mille Miglia. However, they never managed to reach the finish line. After the outbreak of war, Enzo moved his company to the small town of Maranello. At the end of the war, the company suffered several air raids. In 1946, the plant was reconstructed. Then the production of racing cars began. This date is considered the moment of the official appearance of the Ferrari concern.

The first Ferrari cars

The first creation that came off the company's assembly line was the -125 GT. Then they released models 125S, 159S, 166. All these cars had 12-cylinder engines. These engines had a single overhead distributor for all cylinder heads. This design was distinctive feature Ferrari car.

Let us note that these cars made their debut in big-time racing without success. But Ferrari was not going to stop there and decided to further implement his plans. 1948 is the year when he created another car - the Ferrari 125. This model became the prototype of the first racing car, which participated in Formula 1. Then Aurelio Lampredi becomes the technical director of the company. It was this man who carried out the complete reconstruction of the Ferrari 125.

The corporation's leaders soon realized that they needed their own department for the development and production of sports cars. Therefore, in 1969, Ferrari became part of the Fiat concern. Enzo Ferrari, as the creator of the enterprise, insisted on his right to manage it independently. And he led the company until his death (1998).

On video biography of Enzo Ferrari:

1970–2005

In the early seventies, Ferrari had already earned a reputation as a manufacturer of racing and high class. In 1971, the public was presented new model- Berlinetta Boxer. Two years later we established mass production this car.

In 1984, the Testarossa appeared, which was modernized in 1992. In 1994, this model was again modified. It was equipped with a 12-cylinder engine (volume - 4943 cm 3, power - 440 hp). This car was capable of reaching 315 km/h. After another 2 years it was released new car Maranello 550.

Supercars and coupes

For recent years Ferrari produced less expensive cars. For example, in the eighties, a four-seater Mondial appeared on the market. It was produced in two versions (convertible/coupe). In 1989, models 348TB and 348TS were created. In 1994, the F355 family was made based on these cars. Ferrari also produced highly comfortable 4-seater premium coupes.

The pride of the company is incredible. In their design, they are very reminiscent of racing developments for Formula 1. This is mainly the F40 model, which began to be produced in small batches in 1987.

Ferrari F40

Then Enzo Ferrari personally headed the design department, whose employees were involved in the creation of the F40 model. The result was the best creation of the Italian company for the entire period of its existence. The car has a number of unique characteristics:

• presence of turbocharging;
• high strength Kevlar panels;
• longitudinal arrangement;
• power of 478 horsepower.

Made of carbon fiber and super durable material - Kevlar. , but this cannot be called a disadvantage of a sports car. However, this prevents the seats from being adjusted. Note that if a Ferrari is made to order, the driver’s seat is created in accordance with the build and dimensions of the buyer.

Beautiful dynamic characteristics And low level comfort is the motto of the Ferrari F40, which weighed 1118 kilograms. was indifferent to the unevenness of the track, steering“felt” any hole, powerful motor demonstrated the unlimited capabilities of the car. This car is considered a unique creation of Ferrari.

Later (1995), the F40 model was modernized and received the name F-50. The Ferrari concern is also famous racing cars, which are used in Formula 1. Every year they improve. 1997 was marked by Ferrari finishing second in the Constructors' Championship (Formula 1 World Championship).

Ferrari Enzo

In 2002, the Italian concern began producing a model called the Ferrari Enzo. The most powerful production supercar in Europe. It was created and named after the brilliant designer and founder of the company to recall the role of the leading design school Ferrari in the development of racing. This double Sport Car has a 12-cylinder engine (volume - 6, power - 650). In 3.5 seconds it can accelerate to 100 km/h and reach more than 350 km/h.

The design of the car was developed by the famous Pininfarina studio. The car combines the characteristics of Formula 1 cars - it has a streamlined body, a narrow interior, and the doors open upward. Basic control functions, including gear shifting, are concentrated on the steering wheel. The car is equipped. Over three years, 399 cars of this model were produced - the company sold them only to the most famous clients upon prior request. The cost of the car was at least 500 thousand euros, which is why not everyone can afford it.

Ferrari is not easy car brand, but a cult brand. To purchase such a car, it is not enough to have a lot of money. You must also have an appropriate position in society.

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In 2015, Ferrari went public and was then valued at almost $10 billion. Two years later, the brand's value has almost doubled - it now stands at $21 billion. Now Ferrari is considered one of the most expensive and recognizable brands in the world, and its prancing horse logo has become a symbol of sexuality, money and luxurious life. We look back at the company's 70-year history - from creating racing cars to selling licenses for the production of branded clothing and jewelry.

In 1908, ten-year-old Enzo Ferrari saw a racing car for the first time and immediately fell in love with it. The first one has begun World War, and young Enzo went to serve in Italian army. After the war, Enzo had difficulty finding work in the auto industry. He applied to Fiat but was turned down due to the oversupply of unemployed war veterans. Enzo ended up working for a small car manufacturing company.

In the early 1920s, Enzo got a job as a racing car driver for a company Alfa Romeo. His colleague was the legendary professional racer Tazio Nuvolari.

In 1929, Enzo opened Scuderia Ferrari, or "Team Ferrari". In fact, it was not a full-fledged company, but simply a community of drivers who drove their own race cars.

Mostly Alfa Romeo cars were used in the community. By 1933, Scuderia Ferrari had become Alfa's racing division.

In 1937, Enzo closed Scuderia Ferrari and became director of the Alfa Corse racing division at the Alfa Romeo factory. But he was not happy with this position, and later he left it.

In 1939, a week after his departure, Enzo opened the startup Auto Avio Costruzioni. The AAC 815 was the first machine that his company assembled independently.

In 1940, the startup Ferrari assembled two AAC 815 cars. Enzo could not release them under his own name due to a non-compete agreement with his previous employers. This agreement prohibited Ferrari from using its name in the racing and racing car industry for a minimum of four years.

The outbreak of World War II forced Ferrari to curtail its business, but after its end the startup quickly returned to operation. In 1945 the company introduced new engine The V12, which became one of Ferrari's signature products.

In 1947, Ferrari released the 125. By that time, the agreement with Alfa had just expired, and this car became the first car under the Ferrari name.

In the late 1940s, Italian-born American racer Luigi Chinetti approached Ferrari with a request to produce sports cars for the consumer market.

Ferrari was hesitant because his company primarily built cars for racing. Only occasionally did the startup sell sports cars to private owners. Chinetti began racing and winning Ferrari cars.

By the early 1950s, Luigi Chinetti received consent to mass production sports cars. He became the first Ferrari dealer in the United States. The company's first showroom opened in Manhattan, then moved to Connecticut.

Photo: Flickr/Stephen Hennessey

Ferrari cars have successfully performed at American market- and he remains the most attractive to them to this day. Soon such legendary cars like California Spider....

By the 1960s, Ferrari cars had proven their dominance both on and off the race track.

In 1963 CEO Ford company Henry Ford II decided to buy the Ferrari business. The deal fell through when Enzo learned that Ferrari would have to ask for money from the Americans at Ford to participate in the races.

Frustrated by the failure, Ford decided to teach Enzo's team a lesson on the track - in the 24-hour Le Mans race.

Previously, the Ferrari team had consistently won this race. Between 1960 and 1965, she won six times in a row.

In 1966, Ford produced a rival to Ferrari cars - the legendary Ford GT40.

The GT40 achieved an outright victory in the race and displaced Ferrari from its perennial leader's podium.

After that, Ford won four years in a row.

In 1969, Enzo realized that his company needed additional resources to survive. He sold 50% of his business to Fiat, the company that once refused him a job.

In 1988, Enzo Ferrari died at the age of 90. Before his death he released special car to the company's fortieth anniversary.

This is what the legendary F40 looked like.

After the death of Enzo Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo became president and then chairman of the board of directors. Under his leadership, Ferrari has become a global luxury brand.

The company now sells supercars for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Hypercars cost millions.

Ferrari also licenses the production of various products - from clothing to jewelry - under the brand's name.

There is even a Ferrari theme park.

Ferrari continues to dominate the racing industry. Its Formula 1 team is still called Scuderia Ferrari. Since Enzo's death, she has won the World Championships eight times.

After its IPO, Ferrari finally transformed from a racing startup into a multi-billion dollar global brand. However, its ticker symbol RACE still recalls the company's origins.

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Today, not only every man dreams of owning a Ferrari, but also every woman will not refuse the pleasure of having a car of this class at her disposal. Ferrari has long been a symbol of speed, safety, reliability and quality. The Italian concern has long history formation, during which there were also difficult years, but the wise management of the company made it possible to preserve this legendary brand, which today is considered the excellence of the automotive industry.

A Brief History of Ferrari

Ferrari founded

In 1939, a company called "Auto Avio Costruzioni" appeared. Its main founder was Enzo Ferrari, a famous test driver who worked for Alfa Romeo.

Ferrari led a company whose main task was to produce all kinds of equipment for cars. The racer even entered into a partnership agreement with Alfa Romeo, as a result of which all produced cars bore the logo of this brand.

The first Ferrari cars

First vehicle, which was honored to bear the name “Ferrari”, was released in 1946. It was the original Ferrari 125 model. The car was equipped with a 12-cylinder engine. Enzo Ferrari emphasized that his cars could reach incredible speeds, but at the same time, be comfortable on daily trips. The same principle is used by the company today.

At the same time, the logo for new brand cars. The logo featured an image of a galloping stallion on a yellow background.

1950-1970s

By the 50s of the 20th century, several Ferrari models already existed, which were distinguished by a large engine capacity, as well as a beautiful and comfortable interior.

In 1951, the exclusive 340 America model was released, the engine of which held 4.1 liters. Two years later this model was improved and received a different name - 375 America.

In subsequent years, the company continued to produce high-quality cars, which were extremely popular among car connoisseurs. Thus, the Ferrari 250 GT California, 410 Super America and many other models appeared.

In 1968, the Italian concern presented the premiere of the 365GTB/4, which was capable of reaching a speed of 282 km/h. At that time, this is the most fast car in the world.

The company gains worldwide fame, continuing to win the love of car enthusiasts from all over the world. Ferrari cars participate in various races, winning more and more awards every year.

Present tense

At the Paris Motor Show Italian company represents the most powerful production car throughout Europe. This is considered special model Ferrari Enzo, named after the founder of the concern Enzo Ferrari. It is to this man that the company owes its world fame and advanced design school. Maximum speed The new product reaches 350 km/h, and the car can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

Currently, Ferrari is a concern that produces some of the most expensive and beautiful cars worldwide. Every Ferrari model is a legend that will live forever.

Enzo Ferrari - a wise genius

It is worth noting that Enzo developed his brainchild, the Ferrari concern, as best he could. At a critical time for the company, he managed to find the most optimal way out - to sell 40% of the shares to Fiat, and also to give away the remaining 50% that belonged to him personally after his death.

This saved the company from bankruptcy and preserved the sole Ferrari brand, which remains unsurpassed in the world of automobile manufacturing.