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Tag: Ferrari

November 20, 2011 – Famed Ferrari designer Sergio Scaglietti dies
20Nov By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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November 20, 2011 – Famed Ferrari designer Sergio Scaglietti dies

Scaglietti, left, in his body shop Sergio Scaglietti opened Carrozzeria Scaglietti, an auto repair and body shop, in 1951 in the small town of Maranello, Italy. It just so happened to sit across the street from another young business, Ferrari. Scaglietti and Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the sports car company, had an existing relationship prior to Scaglietti opening his shop. Though the ease of access made the new facility Enzo’s first choice for body repairs for his race cars. Soon, Enzo would be asking Sergio for full bodies, and Sergio delivered on a grand scale. Ferrari 410 Spider, designed by Scaglietti By the mid-1950s Scaglietti was a primary body designer and fabricator for Ferrari race cars. He would go on to design and build some of the company’s most elegant and succes...
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October 11, 1928 – Alfonso de Portago is born
11Oct By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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October 11, 1928 – Alfonso de Portago is born

Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, Marquis of Portago, better known as Alfonso de Portago, was a Ferrari race car driver, Olympic bobsledder and stunt pilot from Spain, who was born on this day in 1928. Although a storied race car driver, one of his first transportation feats wasn’t by land but by air, when the millionaire heir flew his plane beneath a bridge at age 17, winning a $500 bet.  Above: Alfonso racing at the 1957 Cuban Grand Prix in Havana. Top: Alfonso and co-driver Edmund Nelson at the 1957 Mille Miglia. They'd die later that day. After meeting a Ferrari importer in 1953, Alfonso began a successful racing career. He took first at many prestigious events. Notable wins include the Tour de France automobile...
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October 5, 1919 – Enzo Ferrari enters his first race
5Oct By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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October 5, 1919 – Enzo Ferrari enters his first race

A young Enzo Ferrari in an Alfa (Ferrari.com) On this day in 1919 a young Italian by the name of Enzo Ferrari took fourth place in a hill climb in Parma, Italy, marking his first professional auto race. He'd go on to compete in a variety of classes and vehicles. Throughout his racing career, which lasted all of 47 races, Enzo took home 13 first place awards. It was said he could have won more but his love for the automobiles prevented him from pushing them to a breaking point. Perhaps that is the reason why he left the driver's seat in the mid 1920s to pursue his passion for building cars instead.  In 1929 Ferrari formed the Scuderia Ferrari racing team in Modena while head of Alfa Romeo’s racing department. By 1933 his team became the official racing department of Alfa Romeo a...
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August 20, 2011 – A Ferrari breaks the record for most expensive car sold at auction
20Aug By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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August 20, 2011 – A Ferrari breaks the record for most expensive car sold at auction

1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa that sold for $16.39 million. (Gooding & Co.) On this day in 2011 a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, the first one to be built, sold at the Gooding & Co. Auction in Monterey for $16.39 million (with premiums), the most ever paid for a vehicle at a public auction up to that date. The car has quite a history, aside from being the first 250 Testa Rossa. It was campaigned by Scuderia Ferrari when new and driven by several infamous racers including Masten Gregory and Phil Hill. Luigi Chinetti bought it to be used as part of the NART team at the 1958 Le Mans where Dan Gurney and Bruce Kessler would be at the wheel. At Le Mans, Kessler almost destroyed the car after a collision with a Jaguar D-Type. The car went through a factory rebuild and Chinetti sold...
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August 14, 1988 – Enzo Ferrari dies
14Aug By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

August 14, 1988 – Enzo Ferrari dies

Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the sports car company that bears his name, passed away on this day in 1988 at age 90. His professional auto racing career began October 5, 1919, when he took fourth place at a hill climb race in Parma, Italy. He'd go on to compete in a total of 47 races, including 13 first place awards. Many believe he would have won more if his love for automobiles did not from pushing them to a little bit harder. Perhaps that is the reason why he stopped racing cars in the mid 1920s to pursue a passion for building them.  In 1929 Ferrari formed the Scuderia Ferrari racing team in Modena at about the same time he took over as the head of Alfa Romeo’s racing department. In 1933 Scuderia Ferrari became the official racing department of Alfa Romeo after canceling its in...
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June 11, 1986 – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off premiers, Ferrari steals the show
11Jun By Brian CoreyNo Comments
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June 11, 1986 – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off premiers, Ferrari steals the show

The American cult classic film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off premiered on this day in 1986, featuring a 1961 Ferrari in a starring role. Written and directed by John Hughes, the comedy follows high school senior Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) as he pretends to be sick to get out of going to school. He uses his time to hangout in downtown Chicago with his girlfriend Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara) and best friend Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck). The stakes of playing hooky are raised immensely when Ferris convinces Cameron to “borrow” his father’s 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California to cruise the city. The teenage joy ride ends when… well, if you haven’t seen it, this article won’t spoil it. While the film featured three replicas, tight shots of the car were of a real California, of which only 10...
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March 6, 1995 – Ferrari F50 introduced at Geneva Motor Show
6Mar By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Business

March 6, 1995 – Ferrari F50 introduced at Geneva Motor Show

Ferrari F50 by Thesupermat - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 The sound of pens scratching at checkbooks could be heard during the introduction of the Ferrari F50 on this day in 1995 at the Geneva Motor Show. Perhaps that isn't entirely true, given only 349 left the assembly line between 1995 and 1997, but it certainly left many mouths agape. Powered by a 512 horsepower 4.7 liter, 60 valve V12 engine connected to a six speed gated transmission, the car reached a top speed of 202 miles per hour, one more than its predecessor, the Ferrari F40. The now iconic supercar originally sported a sticker price of about $450,000. Today, expect to pay upwards of $3 million for this rare Ferrari. This Ferrari is the closest model to a street legal F1 car the Italian automaker had built to date. Inspired by...
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January 23, 1980 – Automotive designer Giovanni Michelotti dies
23Jan By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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January 23, 1980 – Automotive designer Giovanni Michelotti dies

Giovanni Michelotti, a most accomplished automotive designer, passed away on this day in 1980. Born in Turin, Italy in 1921, Giovanni would eventually make incredible contributions to the European sports car market. His career began at coachbuilders such as Stabilimenti Farina, Vignale and Carrozzeria Allemano. In 1959 he opened his own design house. This allowed him ultimate freedom of expression while working with brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, and Triumph.  Above: 1971 Triumph GT6. By Riley, cc2.0. Top: Cover: Michelotti at right, with Enrico Nardi and the 1960 Plymouth Silver Ray. A one off car built in 1960 on a Nardi chassis that Michelotti designed and had power from a Plymouth Golden Commando V8. Throughout his career he brought an astounding portfolio of cars to the ...
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October 30, 1963 – The first Lamborghini
30Oct By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
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October 30, 1963 – The first Lamborghini

When Enzo Ferrari refused to see a wealthy customer who had some concerns about his recently purchased Ferrari, that customer pledged to build his own sports car out of spite. The dissed customer, Ferruccio Lamborghini, stood by his word, sparking one of the greatest rivalries in automotive history. Ferruccio's revenge became tangible when he debuted the Lamborghini 350 GTV on this day in 1963 at the Turin Motor Show. While the car appeared whole from the outside, its internals were rather lacking. Had one popped the bonnet of the Lamborghini at the show they'd discover a pile of bricks. Unsatisfied with the engine the ex-Ferrari engineers Ferruccio hired had created, stating it was too similar to those in Ferraris, he instead weighed the car down to give it an appropriate stance....
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August 25, 2018 – 1962 Ferrari becomes most expensive car ever sold at auction
25Aug By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day, Videos

August 25, 2018 – 1962 Ferrari becomes most expensive car ever sold at auction

Monterey Car Week is host to a stream of automotive events that leave enthusiasts drooling every year. It's a week of shows, cruises and auctions that are capped off by the historic Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. With many of the week's activities geared toward the uber wealthy, it's no surprise that the shows and auctions attract the most prestigious automobiles to ever caress the pavement. It was on this day in 2018 that five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell drove a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis no. 3413 GT, up onto the block at RM Sotheby's Monterey auction. The applause from the crowd turned to sharp gasps when the auctioneer opened bidding at $35 million. The 1962 Ferrari on the auction block before selling for $48 million, via Hagerty. Top image via RM Sotheby's For nearl...
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