Founded by
Enzo
Ferrari who, from an early
age, became entranced with the idea of car
racing. After World War 1 he managed to get
a job with a small car maker converting war
surplus, enough to fund his first foray onto
the racetrack at the 1919
Targa Florio. Ferrari
would land a job with Alfa Romeo the following
year, once again competing in the
Targa Florio driving a modified production car, and finishing
a very creditable second. Severing all ties
with Alfa in 1940, Ferrari established his
new company Auto-Avio Costruzioni Ferrari.
During World War II the Ferrari workshop moved
from Modena to Maranello, but this did little
to protect if from allied bombing and the new
factory was almost entirely leveled in 1944.
The factory would not be re-built until 1946,
and upon its completion work would begin on
the construction of the first ever Ferrari
sports-car. In 1948 a Ferrari would take out
the 1948
Mille Miglia, but the best would come
in
1951 with the release of the really big-engined
Ferraris, the 4101cc Type 340 America. Fitted
with a completely new V12 engine, the car had
an awesome top speed of 137mph, which naturally
enough soon saw them racing with great success.
In
1969 Enzo would sell a 50% stake to Fiat
to obtain some much needed funds, that figure
eventually growing to 90% in 1988. Fortunately
the buy-out did not hinder the manufacturers
production, and they remain arguably the ultimate
in desirable automotive sheet metal.
Also see: Ferrari
Heritage |
The Enzo Ferrari Story (USA Edition)