Mythical, magic, unique: Ferrari turns 70
MILAN: It’s the black prancing horse’s 70th birthday and gleaming Ferraris are out in force in Italy
Some 500 sleek, purring sports cars are gathering in Milan on Friday before the festivities move Ferrari was born, and end with an exclusive party in Maranello, where Ferraris have been made
“Ferrari is a mythical brand: it has had a fabulous track record in speed and represents the pinnacle of the sports car,” automotive historian and enthusiast Patrice
For luxury motor fanatics and punters alike, there is something “magic” about Ferraris and their
“Having a Ferrari and being watched is part of the game,”
racing driver, formed the “Scuderia Ferrari” (“Ferrari Stable”) in 1929 and prepared and fielded Alfa
It was not until 1947 that the designed by Ferrari, produced at the Maranello factory and bearing the brand’s symbol, a black horse on a yellow background, bordered
back legs, its tail swept upwards, was chosen as a tribute to Francesco Baracca, a World War I Italian air force ace who used to paint a pranc
Ferrari use it as a good luck symbol, and he added the canary yellow background as it was the color
- and still are, reserved for a “happy few” willing and able to shell out at least 150,000 euros ($180,000) -- or over one million euros for
Patience is a must: Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne said last year the waiting list for a Ferrari 488
Fiat Chrysler (FCA) in 2015 and is now listed in Milan and New York, euros turnover in 2016 for 8,014
Its success lies in its ability to combine “industrial craftmanship of the highest quality” with “an extremely close dialogue with its customers,” says Carlo Alberto Carnevale Maffe, professor of strategy at Milan’s
extensive -- from steering wheels, to seats and dashboards -- and customers are welcome to visit the factory, where all requests are welcome as long as they don’t alter
‘Dream factory’
Carnevale Maffe is of the opinion
nouveaux riche who want to be admitted but they are looked at with
Ferrari used to be “a brand for enthusiasts: it needed to be because its cars kept breaking down all the time, though of course no
wealthy middle class” who buy
but the fact remains that the most expensive car ever sold at auction is a 1957 Ferrari 335 S Scaglietti, sold at auction in 2016 in Paris for
On the circuits too, the oldest And it’s after the best birthday present of all, with driver Sebastian Vettel in with a chance of winning the world title against Lewis Ham
After 68 seasons, the Scuderia holds an impressive track record of 228 Grand Prix victories, 16 Most Constructors’ Championships and
Ferrari “is not a car factory”, it’s “a dream factory”, said Car