The company was founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 as Auto Avio Construzioni and built their first car in 1940. However, the company’s birth was actually registered in 1947 when the first Ferrari badged car was produced, the 125S. In 2014, Ferrari was rated as the world’s most powerful brand and in 2012, the 1962 Ferrari 250GTO became the most expensive car in history, selling at auction for $38.1 million to an American businessman.
Fiat acquired 50% of the company in 1969 and in 2012, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles expanded their stake to 90% and split Ferrari into a separate company, completed in 2016. 10% of the company is still owned by Enzo’s son, Piero Ferrari.
Ferrari has a long and illustrious history in motor racing, holding the most constructors championships (16) and having produced the largest number of winning drivers (15). Even today, the 2017 Formula 1 championship is led by Sebastian Vettel in the classic red prancing horse.
To celebrate this milestone of one of the auto industry’s most illustrious marques, the company’s Tailor Made department have created 70 new liveries inspired by the most iconic Ferrari models. With five of each, this will give the world a total of 350 new and highly unique models.
These include a blue F12, called The Stirling, inspired by the 250GT SWB in which Stirling Moss won the 1961 RAC TT. A red 488 GTB called The Schumacher, inspired by one of their greatest drivers, Michael Schumacher. Two Spiders called The Green Jewel and The Spider. The later has little explanation but the former apes the 365’s raced by David Pier in the 1960’s. And a California that is identical to Steve McQueen’s classic 250GT Berlinetta Lusso.
Then we have the LaFerrari Aperta, an open-top version of the LaFerrari hybrid hypercard and a limited edition special series dedicated to Ferrari’s most loyal customers. It has the same hybrid power unit as the coupé: a 6,262cc V12 petrol engine developing 789bhp coupled with a 120 kW electric motor for a total power output of 950bhp. Few of these will ever see the light of day as, tucked away in a warm and very secret garage, it will trump any long-term investment imaginable. The demand for the Aperta was at least ten times the production run.
Ferrari is one of those rare companies that does not need to sell or advertise their wares. They have but to mention a new model and the orders pile in regardless of the fact that the buyers will not have seen the car - they just know it will be beautiful, know it will drive like the wind and know that it will be worth more than they paid for it the second they drive it out of the showroom.
So, happy birthday Ferrari and long may you reign.
