HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARS

The BMW 7- Series turns 40 next year; The Lada Niva ( right); and Ferrari Testarossa ( below). Technically, the earliest Ferrari dates from 1940, but we will concede — while pushing our spectacles back up our nose and taking a quick puff of Ventolin — that the company was only recognised as an automotive manufacturer in 1947.

Despite its near- perfect record of delivering unforgettable performance machinery to a slavishly devoted chequebook- waving audience, the company has certainly had its ups and downs. It has survived financial uncertainty; attempted buy- outs and restructurings. Thanks to Ferrari’s “carpet bomb” approach to marketing its merch, the brand might seem ubiquitous these days, but the cars remain very special indeed; after 70 years only around 130,000 have been built. Most mainstream manufacturers — even the premium European ones — produce more than twice that each year. In true Ferrari style, rumour has it the carmaker will be releasing several anniversary models to coincide with next year’s birthday celebrations . . . with existing customers having first option to purchase.

Still, snobbish exclusivity aside, whether you’re privileged enough to drive one at the weekends, or the closest you’ve come to owning one is that 1: 18 scale die cast that sits on your desk, the brand remains an exotic touchstone. Even if you’re not into cars, you’ll still recognise a Ferrari at 20 paces . . . especially if it’s red. After 70 years, Ferrari still represents everything that is sexy, crass, overblown and unobtainable about true performance cars. Buon compleanno, Ferrari.