Ferrari Maranello - Modena Italy thesportscoupe.com Classic Cars & Oldtimers

Ferrari Maranello - Modena Italy Ferrari S.p.A.
Enzo Ferrari, founder of the Ferrari Scuderia was born in 1898 in Modena Italy. His father who ran a local metal-fabricating businessn took him, when he was 10 years old, to an automobile race in Bologna. It was there, when he saw Vincenzo Lancia battle Felice Nazarro in the 1908 Circuit di Bologna race, that he wanted to become a racing car driver.

In 1919 his dream came true when he took up racing and he finished ninth at the Targa Florio. He got a job with Alfa Romeo as a mechanic. In the year 1923 Alfa Romeo offered him the opportunity to become driver for the Alfa Racing Team. Soon Enzo Ferrari was asked to become the team manager of the Scuderia Alfa Romeo. He was very successful and won many races and championships for Alfa Romeo.

When Alfa Romeo decided to stop there racing activities Enzo Ferrari started his own racing team. The Scuderia Ferrari was born. At the beginning the scuderia raced in Alfa Romeo's and won many races. After the war Alfa Romeo decided to stop building racing cars. Enzo Ferrari and his friend Colombo who was engineer, decided to build their own Grand Prix car and in 1947 a 1.5 litre Tipo 125 entered the Grand Prix of Monaco. Ferrari's first victory came in 1951 at the British Grand Prix with driver Argentine Froilan Gonzalez.

The Tipo 166 was Ferrari's first production sportscar (1947). The design was inspired by the open Barchetta style introduced by carroseria Touring. At the year 1950 the Ferrari 166 evaluated into the 195 Inter model. The cylinder capacity of the Colombo V12 engine has grown from 1995cc in the tipo 166 to 2341cc in the 195 Inter. The body's where build by Ghia, Touring and Vignale. The tipo 212 was the next and final evaluation of the 166 concept. The V12 engine was enlarged up to 2562cc with a capacity between 150 an 170 bhp depending on the engine specifications.

Between 1950 and 1955 Ferrari build various special based models on the 166 chassis next to the tipo 195 and 212. These Ferrari's 340, 342 and 375 America and Mexico where very exclusive special models with 4100cc and 4523cc V12 engines with 340bhp and topspeed of 240km/h.

1952 was the start of Ferrari's most successful series: the 250GT. Ferrari 250 Europa ('53-'55), Ferrari 250 GT "Boano"('56-'58), Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France ('55-'59), Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet en California ('57-'60 en serie II '60-'63), Ferrari 250 GT ('58-'60), Ferrari 250 GT SWB ('59-'62), Ferrari 250 GTE ('60-'63), Ferrari 250 GTO ('62-'63) and the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso ('62-'64).

The very exclusive and scarce Ferrari America en Mexico sportscars were succeeded by the Superamerica models in the 250 GT era; The Ferrari 410 Superamerica ('56-'59) and the Ferrari 400 Superamerica ('59-'64).

In the year 1964 the ultimate Ferrari in the America family was born; the Ferrari 500 Superfast. The Superfast was designed by PininFarina. In the Ferrari 500 Superfast the Lampredi V12 engine was enlarged up to 4962 cc cylinder capacity. The engine was fitted with 3 or 6 Weber 40 DCZ/6 carburettors and the engine capacity was an astonishing 400 bhp. at 6500 rpm. The early 500 Superfast models were fitted with a four speed gearbox and a Laycock de Normanville overdrive (just like the Ferrari 250 GT models), the last models were equipped with a five speed gearbox with a hydraulic operated Borg & Beck clutch.

The last model in the America model series was the Ferrari 365 California ('66-'67). This car was fitted with a new V12 engine type (type 217B) with a cylinder capacity of 4390 cc. This engine was going to evolve over the years and would be produced until 1985 as the Ferrari 412 GT was taken out of production.

The year 1965 was the start of the third phase in Ferrari history which runs until 1973. From 1965 until the last front engined classic Ferrari three V12 engines are used for the new model series. The series consists of the following Ferrari models; the Ferrari 275, 330, 365 en 400 (the 400 is an after model which was build much longer). These Ferrari models are characterized by a new designed chassis, suspension and brake system. The cars feature all independent suspension, two circuit power diskbrakes all round and last but not least a gearbox mounted to the differential (Transaxle).
credits:Marc Vorgers/ ClassicarImages - carpassion.com