Exploring the Cars of Ferrari
By Fei Lim

The Ferrari brand of car is attached to an Italian sports car manufacturer situated in Maranello and Modena, Italy. Over the years, the brand name has paved the way for a multitude of Ferrari-related products to gain attention and sell beyond their respected vehicles. Today, consumers may sport eyewear and don perfume that represents the Ferrari name as they drive their high-priced automobiles about town.

Brief History on Ferrari Cars

With a founding date of 1929, Enzo Ferrari began the legacy of the well-known car company as a sponsor for drivers and manufacturer of racecars. It wasn't until 1947 that Ferrari began to produce vehicles that the public could legally take onto the street. Over the years, the brand became one of the most recognizable status symbols of wealth and prosperity in the world. As far as luxury cars go, the Ferrari is a rather desirable item to possess.

When Enzo Ferrari first established the company, he never thought that he would produce the road cars that would later become so popular. The first Ferrari road car was the 1947 125S, which possessed a 1.5 L V12 engine. With a looming financial need, Enzo decided to build and sell automobiles for the public to fund his racing car sponsor interests. Spreading like wildfire, the beauty and speed of his cars quickly earned a reputation within the industry. Secretly, Enzo harbored a disappointment in the consumers that purchased his vehicles for prestige and not performance.

After years of financial complications, Enzo Ferrari was forced to sell the sports car division of the company to the Fiat group - a deal that took place in 1969. Although another company now handled the sports car production of the Ferrari brand, the racing division remained an Enzo Ferrari concern until 1988 when he passed away at the age of 90.

Throughout the history of the car brand, Ferrari established a stronghold on the racing world, dominating an assortment of races, especially Formula One. The car company took pleasure in many successes over the years, especially during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 2000s. Today, Ferrari is owned by the Fiat Group (85%), Mubadala (5%), and Enzo's son, Piero (10%).

Types of Models

A wide-range of Ferrari models was produced between the 1960s and the 21st century, becoming some of the most popular collector items in the car world. Produced from 1968 to 1973, the Ferrari Daytona was a Gran Turismo vehicle that possessed a 5-speed manual transmission and 4-wheel independent suspension with coil springs. Fixed headlights situated behind an acrylic glass cover served as a distinct feature of the early Daytonas.

During the early 1960s, the Ferrari 250 GTO became a popular supercar and auto racing car that later turned out to be one of the most famous of the Ferrari models. Between 1973 and 1984, the Berlinetta Boxer was known as a series of Ferrari cars that were produced to support a mid-mounted flat-12 engine. This particular model was made to replace the FR Daytona. The Ferrari Mondial was a 2+2 coupe vehicle that decorated the car market from 1980 to 1993.

Current Ferrari Models

In an effort to boost future concepts, company executives allowed four universities to take part in a 2005 competition centered on creating the latest Ferrari vehicle models. Known as "Ferrari Concepts of the Myth," twenty winners were chosen to display their ideas in the form of a half scale model for board members to select three winners that earned the chance to work within the Ferrari design studio located in Maranello.

Today, Ferrari produces an assortment of satisfying cars that range from the 575M Superamerica to the 2007 599 GTB. One of the cars that the current market offers includes the F430 Spider, which provides a 6-speed manual or semi-automatic transmission, computer-controlled limited slip differential, steering wheel mounted control knob, and a feature that resembles the "Terrain Response" offered in the Land Rover. The 2006 575M Maranello was originally launched in 2002 and presents an attractive coupe with two seats and two doors.

The 612 Scaglietti was released in 2006 and provided car owners with a front-engined 2+2 coupe body style with a 5.7 L Tipo F133E V12 engine. This Gran Turismo style of car has been produced since 2004 and possesses a large 2-door fastback coupe construction that was designed to replace the smaller Ferrari 456M. The size of this particular model is considered a "true" 4-seater as enough rear seating space is offered to accommodate adults.