Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello and Modena, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street legal vehicles in 1947 as Ferrari S.p.A.. Throughout its history, the company has been noted for its continued participation in racing, especially in Formula One, where it has largely enjoyed great success, especially during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, late 1990s, and 2000s. After years of financial struggles, Enzo Ferrari sold the company's sports car division to the Fiat group in 1969 to ensure continued financial backing. Enzo Ferrari retained control of the racing division until his death in 1988 at the age of 90. Ferrari also has an internally managed merchandising line that licenses many products bearing the Ferrari brand, including eyewear, pens, pencils, perfume, clothing, high-tech bicycles, cell phones, and even laptop computers. Financial Times named Ferrari number one on its 2007 list of the 100 Best Workplaces in Europe.
Supercars Models: 1962-1964 250 GTO 1984-1985 288 GTO 1987-1992 F40 1995-1997 F50 1996 F50 GT
2003-2005 Enzo 2006 FXX. Current Models 2008: 2007 F2007 2007 599 GTB Fiorano 2006 F430 GT 2006 F430 Pista 2006 FXX. Concept Models: 1968 Ferrari P5 1969 Ferrari Pininfarina 512S Berlinetta Speciale 1970 Ferrari Pininfarina Modulo 1989 Ferrari Mythos 2005 Ferrari GG50 2006 Ferrari P4/5 2006 Ferrari Zagato 575 GTZ.
The first Ferrari road car was the 1947 125 S, powered by a 1.5 L V12 engine; Enzo reluctantly built and sold his automobiles to fund the Scuderia. While his beautiful and fast cars quickly gained a reputation for excellence, Enzo maintained a famous distaste for his customers, most of whom he felt were buying his cars for the prestige and not the performance. Ferrari road cars, noted for styling by design houses like Pininfarina, have long been one of the ultimate accessories for the wealthy. Other design houses that have done work for Ferrari over the years include Scaglietti, Bertone, Touring, Ghia, and Vignale.
The cavallino rampante is now a trademark of Ferrari. However, other companies use similar logos: Avanti, an Austrian company operating over 100 filling stations, uses a prancing horse logo which is nearly identical to Ferrari's. Many aspects of the cover design of the third Jamiroquai album, Travelling Without Moving, as well as the single Virtual Insanity and some single promos pay homage to the Ferrari logo.
In 2005, four universities were granted the opportunity to design the next vehicle line-up for Ferrari in a student competition named 'Ferrari Concepts of the Myth'. Twenty winners were allowed to show off their concepts in a ¼ scale model and present their work to the board at Ferrari to allow for three winners to have the chance to work in the Ferrari design studio at Maranello. As of 2007, the Fiat Group owns 85% of Ferrari, Mubadala 5%, and Enzo's son Piero 10%. Fiat has shelved plans for an IPO because Fiat Auto has now returned to profitability, thus removing pressure from the group.
Enzo Ferrari's true passion, despite his extensive road car business, was auto racing. His Scuderia started as an independent sponsor for drivers in various cars, but soon became the Alfa Romeo in-house racing team. After Ferrari's departure from Alfa, he began to design and produce cars of his own . The Ferrari team first appeared on the scene after the end of World War II.
Formula 1 Models: 2000 F2000 2001 F2001 2002 F2002 2003 F2003-GA 2004 F2004 2005 F2005 2006 248 F1 2007 F2007 2008 F1 2008.
Although Scuderia Ferrari no longer participated in sports cars after 1973, they have occasionally built various successful sports cars for privateers. These include the 512BB/LM in the 1970s, the 333 SP which won the IMSA GT Championship in the 1990s, and currently the F430 GT2 and GT3 which are currently winning championships in their respective classes. The Scuderia Ferrari drivers for the 2006 F1 season were Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa. At the end of the 2006 season the team courted controversy by continuing to allow Marlboro to sponsor them after they, along with the other F1 teams, made a promise to end sponsorship deals with tobacco manufacturers. A five year deal worth a reported $500 million was agreed. The drivers that are competing in 2007 are Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen. Räikkönen went on to win the drivers championship, with Massa finishing 4th.
2-seat Gran Turismo Models: 1949 166 Inter 1950 195 Inter 1951 212 Inter 1951 342 America 1953 375 MM 1953 250 Europa 1953 375 America 1954 250 Europa GT 1956 410 Superamerica 1956-1963 250 GT
Europa Boano Ellena Pininfarina Coupe Lusso 1957-1960 250 GT Berlinetta/Cabriolet/California pyder/SWB 1960 400 Superamerica 1964-1968 275 1964-1965 275 GTB Coupe 1964-1965 275 GTS Spyder 1966-1968 275 GTB/4 1964 500 Superfast 1964 330 1966 330 GTC Coupe 1966 330 GTS Spyder
1966 365 California 1968 365 1968-1969 365 GTC Coupe 1969-1970 365 GTS Spyder 1968-1973 Daytona
1968 365 GTB/4 Coupe 1968 365 GTS/4 Spyder 1996-2001 550 Maranello 1996-2001 550 Maranello 2001 550 Barchetta 2002-2006 575M Maranello 2002-2006 575M Maranello 2005 575M Superamerica 2007 599 GTB Fiorano.
