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Newsletter 46: THE FERRARI NUMBERING SYSTEM

HERE’S HOW…………. WHY!

First, let’s take a look at how it all began in the car industry.

The first-ever car was called the ‘’Benz Patent-Motorwagen’’. Karl Benz, the founder of Mercedes-Benz, applied for the patent of the automobile on the 29th of January 1886, it was, therefore, a logical choice to name it after himself and his patent. He revealed it to the public in July of that year.

Very old car

When Ford began production in 1903, it started with Model A. Model B and C followed and the next production Ford was the Model K. Henry Ford mainly used lettering designations between C and K for development and prototypes. Model N, R and S were also production cars. In 1908 the Model T was revealed.

Vintage old car

The reason why manufacturers use certain methods is to keep the bloodline quite simple.

Because of the innovations in every Ferrari, the names are easy to create but there are no real rules when it comes to numbers.

The moment you discover a pattern or method, it’ll change to a new or an old one.

old red car side angle with engine capacity

The first Ferrari, the 125 S, was named after its engine (a 1500 cc V12): if you divide 1500 cc by 12 you’ll get 125, but the V12 cars were not the only ones designated by this method. The first four-cylinder Ferrari, the 500 Mondial, featured a 1985 cc 4-cylinder. You can do the math.

Slightly unusual, but this type of designation was used until the Ferrari 456 (5473 cc / 12-cylinders = 456) was replaced by the 612 in 2003.

Most of the rounded designations, such as the 400 Superamerica and 500 Superfast received their name after the engine capacity was divided by ten. The 550 and 575 also received their name after the Italians grabbed their calculator and divided their engine capacity (5500 cc and 5750 cc respectively) by ten. The 599 features a 5999 cc V12, hence its name.

Although you have to do some math, this method was all fine when Ferrari primarily produced race cars. The designation was to name the cars but was not created from a marketing point of view. However, when Ferrari started building more road cars and they needed to market them, a new system had to be designed.

This new method still consisted of three numbers, but the first two represented the engine capacity and the third represented the number of cylinders.

The first production mid-engine Ferrari featured a 2.0-L V6 and was therefore named the Dino 206 GT.

This method continued until the Ferrari 348 and was also used for the 512 BB (5.0-L flat-12).

When the successor of the 348 arrived, called the 355, a new method arrived as well: the first two numbers refer to the capacity of the engine (3500 cc), but the second 5 refer to the number of valves per cylinder.

Side of a red Ferrari named after engine capacity

Its successors, the 360 and 430, were named after their capacity was divided by ten.

The 458 was named after its engine capacity + the number of cylinders and the 488 received its name from the capacity of one cylinder (488 cc).

Ferrari cheated a little with the 612 Scaglietti. You would assume it’s powered by a 6.0-L V12, which it isn’t because it has a 5.8-L V12. The reason why Ferrari named it 612 is simply because they rounded it up a bit higher than usual, must have been one of those “Isa fiva pointe aita, isa nearly a sixa, shudupa your face” moments!

Both the GTC4Lusso and GTC4Lusso T, just have one number referring to the number of seats. The F in F12 refers to Ferrari and 12 refers to the number of cylinders. The 812 Superfast is named after its rounded power output (789 bhp became 800) and the number of cylinders.

3 parked Ferrari with powerful engine capacity

Ferrari revealed the Ferrari 275 GTB with a four camshaft engine in the late 1960s and it became known as the 275 GTB/4, 275 refers to the capacity of one cylinder (275 cc) and 4 refers to the more powerful 4 cam engine.

A blue car on a round a bout

Both the F40 (1987) and F50 (1995) refer to the 40th and 50th anniversary, respectively. The reason why Ferrari celebrated their 50th anniversary earlier was that the US emission laws were scheduled to be overhauled and tightened in 1996/7.

2 red Ferrari with great engine capacity outside a stable

The Enzo was revealed in 2002 and wasn’t called the F60 because there was much too early for the 60th Anniversary (2007).

The F60 name was used for a Formula 1 car, although it was two years after the 60th Anniversary (in 2009), and for the F60 America (2014), which celebrates the 60th anniversary of Ferrari’s presence in America.

So, there you have it. Just about all you need to know about the various Ferrari numbering systems.

In any event, it will no doubt change again, when the boffins in the design studio get bored or have too much cappuccino and pizza!

With Thanks: Max Lammers

Newsletter 45: FIORANO, NOPE, NOT THE CAR, NOT THE TOWN, THE TEST TRACK!

BRAVO, BRAVO, SCUDERIA FERRARI!!!

As we are all probably aware, The Scuderia got off to a blistering start at the Bahrain Grand Prix circuit last weekend with a 1-2 finish.

Congratulations to them!

This weekend is the Saudi Arabian GP, and all the signs are there to be fighting for a similar result.

Let’s all wish them the best for Sunday!!

Two drivers hugging

Car Winning on circuit

FIORANO,
NOPE, NOT THE CAR, NOT THE TOWN,
THE TEST TRACK!

Enzo Ferrari commonly used the Modena Auto-drome for testing his cars throughout the 1960s, however, with the ever-growing regulations at the Auto-drome hindering Ferrari’s testing, Enzo took the decision to build his own test facility.

It was an idea that would allow Ferrari to extensively test any production or racing models the company conceived, straight from the factory and without disruption.

Arial View Track

The circuit was constructed on a piece of land already owned by Ferrari, near the factory in Maranello, and adjacent to the town of Fiorano Modenese.

Construction started on the circuit in 1971 and was opened and ready for use on the 8th of April, 1972.

The length of the initial layout was 3 kilometres, with a maximum circuit width 8.40 metres.

The circuit is based on some of the most renowned corners from that period of F1, including the Tarzan corner at Zandvoort, the Brunnchen jump at the Nurburgring and the Gasometer corner from Monaco, more commonly known today as La Rascasse.

Fiorano Track Diagram

The track stayed relatively the same until the introduction of a chicane in 1992, as well as a chicane in 1996 thanks to the input of then-new Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher. He asked for the use of a possible hairpin upon the circuit’s renovation the same year.

The renovations made in 1996 saw the circuit being shortened by 24 meters to a total length of 2.997 kilometres. A new corner was also introduced during the circuit’s revision, a faster first corner at the end of the pit straight to replace the sharper corner that was originally in place.

Car on Circuit

In 2001, a skid pan was introduced at the circuit as well as an irrigation system to allow the simulation of a wet circuit and wet tyre testing. Further on-site improvements included the installation of a telemetry system, which allowed for the capturing and recording of data from cars on the circuit.

Thanks to the technical, challenging layout of the circuit, it has also proved valuable to various Ferrari drivers through the years as a practice and testing area for coming seasons.

The lap record at Fiorano is currently held by Michael Schumacher, who, in 2004, set a lap of 0:55.999 in that year’s F1 car, the Ferrari F2004.

Andrea Bartolini holds the fastest racecar time with the Maserati MC12 Competizione with a 1:11.711, while the fastest road car is the 2019 Ferrari SF90 Stradale, with a time of 1:19.000.

Fastest Lap Diagram

Il Commendatore’s old quarters, a whitewash-walled former farmhouse, sits within the track’s confines, not far from the modern-day pitlane.

Spookily, his old office has been preserved more or less as he left it, right down to the black and white TV he used to watch F1 Grands Prix on when he was no longer able to attend the races in person.

White house red shutters

Today, certain valued clients are invited to stay in the house overnight when visiting Ferrari, and well-heeled members of the public can do the same, for a few thousand Euros….. Sacrilege! Seems there’s nothing at modern-day Ferrari that can’t be turned into merchandise, even Old Man Ferrari’s own pad.

Inside Enzo House

Many of the streets around Ferrari’s base are named after the F1 team’s former drivers. but five-time Ferrari drivers champion, Michael Schumacher, gets an entire Piazza.

It’s the space in front of Enzo’s house, flanked by the red-doored, rustic-bricked farm building used as garages in the ’60s, and a former barn opposite that’s now used as a briefing room for track clients and V.I.P’s.

Back in his days testing for Ferrari, Schumacher used to base himself in Ferrari’s former house, converting the top floor into a gym and reputedly playing football with the mechanics outside in the evenings.

Schumacher Sign Post

With the circuit being situated right beside Enzo Ferrari’s house, it is well known that, from the construction of the circuit, till his death in 1988, he would often sit in his house or even out by the track to watch and listen to his beloved cars.

The circuit itself is closed to the public, but customers are often invited to test their newly-purchased models on the track. Various Tifosi are also known to watch from the roadside when Ferrari are testing, particularly any F1 testing.

Multiple drivers have expressed their love for the circuit through the years, including Niki Lauda, Gilles Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher, to name a few.

The circuit has seen the debut of many famous names in F1, the latest being Charles LeClerc and Carlos Sainz, as the Fiorano circuit gave them their first taste of F1 with the Scuderia

Circuit Driver collage

There are still spaces available for the Finali Mondiali Tour in October.

If you are interested in going, please send an email to:

info@ferriscars.com

Finali Mondiali

Newsletter 42: AUTO AVIO, FERRARI’S FIRST BUILT CAR.

“Factories are made of people, machines and buildings.
Ferrari, above all, is made of people.”

That was a famous quote by Enzo Ferrari, and words that are being reiterated by the company in celebration of Ferrari’s 75th Anniversary.

Ferrari 75 Years

Ferrari is introducing a 75th Anniversary logo to commemorate Enzo Ferrari setting up shop back in 1947.
While his first car was the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 in 1940, the 125 S race car introduced seven years later was the first Ferrari-badged model in history.
On February 17th, Scuderia Ferrari will take the covers off the 2022 Formula 1 car and reveal it to the world.
The Italian team has already announced that the car will be called:

The F1-75.


THE ‘SECRET’ FIRST FERRARI

Whilst the first-ever car to wear the Ferrari badge was the 125 S, in 1947; seven years earlier, Enzo Ferrari created the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815.
It never bore his name, but it is the very first car built by Ferrari.
There is only one remaining Auto Avio 815 example in existence, and as such, you would think it would be housed in a room made of Tungsten, built on a hill only accessible by unicorn, and guarded by a three-headed dragon, but no………………………….
The Auto Avio is kept in an old castle, in a town called Panzano, a stone’s throw from Modena, in a room that looks like the roof may give way any minute.

Collection of old cars
The Auto Avio sits between a Giulietta SZ (left) and a Lamborghini 350 GT, in the castle of Mario Rhigini.

When Enzo left Alfa Romeo in 1939, he had to agree not to use the Ferrari name, or be involved in motor racing for four years.
While the official line these days is that Enzo “quit… to set up his own company,” he was in fact (as he himself admitted) fired.
As Brock Yates wrote in his seminal biography of Enzo Ferrari, the firing became “something of a cause celebre in the Italian sporting press,” and led to a minor palace revolt at Alfa Corse, with other top names, such as Enrico Nardi, joining Enzo as victims of the bloodletting.
But this was 1939, there was bloodletting of an altogether more serious kind spreading across Europe.
To again quote Brock Yates, “Even as the acrid smell of cordite drifted slowly south over the Alpine peaks, Enzo Ferrari had one final gesture of defiance in mind before Italy plunged into the fighting.”

Black and White Car
This was the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815.

Enzo’s act of defiance was the result of a visit in December 1939, from the young Alberto Ascari, who wanted Ferrari to build two sports cars for the 1940 Mille Miglia, one for himself, and one for his friend, who went by the wonderful name of Marchese Lotario Rangoni Macchiaveli di Modena.
Enzo agreed, and his decision was a middle fingered gesture aimed at Alfa.
Since the Mille Miglia was scheduled for 28 April, they had just four months to create two racing cars from scratch.
For this reason, and also because the regulations demanded that a production car chassis form the basis of the racer, the new cars were based on the Fiat 508C Ballila.

Auto Avio

The main problem was that the Ballila’s engine was far too small.
So Alberto Massimino, a highly experienced designer and another victim of the Alfa revolt, came up with the plan of building a straight-eight engine block and topping it with a pair of modified Fiat Ballila cylinder heads.
The new car’s name: 815 refers to the engine’s 8 cylinders and 1.5-litre capacity.

Car engine

Meanwhile, the open-topped, large-grilled bodywork with its ultra-modern Plexiglas windscreen was styled by Carrozzeria
Touring Superleggera, and the cars were fitted with Borrani wire wheels.

Car Wheel

The potential of the cars was proved in the Mille Miglia itself, as both led the 1500cc class in turn, before suffering mechanical problems that forced them to withdraw, hardly surprising when only four months previously, the two racers had been nothing but a twinkle in Enzo’s eye.
They were clearly worthy of further development, but Italy’s rapid entry into the ongoing war put paid to any such plans. By 1945, Enzo was free to develop cars with his own name, the first being the famous Ferrari 125 S.
There’s little doubt that Enzo learnt a great deal from his act of defiance and the ‘secret’ Ferrari of 1940.

Auto Avio angle

The last remaining Auto Avio 815 currently belongs to Mario Rhigini and, as if owning the rarest Ferrari on the planet wasn’t enough, he also owns a couple of hundred other cars …………………. including an extremely rare Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza, which was personally owned by Tazio Nuvolari, a Mercedes Benz once belonging to Adolf Hitler,
a Formula 1 Ferrari 512T raced by Gilles Villeneuve, Benito Mussolini’s private car, the fearsome “cigar” on four wheels,… the unique Fiat Chiribiri, powered by a 7-litre, 300-horsepower aircraft engine!
Plus, hundreds more significant, historic vehicles.

Collage of a car collection

Rhigini was renowned for buying all the scrap, test and crashed race cars that Ferrari discarded.
He purchased the Auto Avio (Chassis 021) from Enrico Beltracchini, who raced the car in 1947 before selling the
car to a museum. After re-purchasing the car, Enrico sold it to Righini.
As of 2020, the car remains in the Rhigini Collection.
Mario Rhigini can regularly be seen tearing up the streets of Panzano when he takes the Auto Avio out for a spirited Sunday drive ……………………….. something that takes big kahunas, in something so rare!!

Auto Avio side view
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