Ferrari was founded by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), a former racing driver who ran Scuderia Ferrari as Alfa Romeo’s racing team in the 1930s before building cars under his own name. The first Ferrari, the 125 S, ran in 1947 from the factory in Maranello, near Modena. Ferrari built road cars mainly to fund racing, and it became the most successful team in Formula 1 history. Its prancing horse emblem came from a First World War flying ace.

Timeline

Year Event
1929 Scuderia Ferrari founded (racing Alfa Romeos)
1939 Enzo leaves Alfa Romeo; founds Auto Avio Costruzioni
1947 First Ferrari, the 125 S
1950 Enters the first Formula 1 World Championship
1969 Fiat buys a major stake
1988 Enzo Ferrari dies
2015 Ferrari lists on the New York Stock Exchange

Before Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari raced for Alfa Romeo in the 1920s and founded Scuderia Ferrari in 1929 to run Alfa’s racing cars. After leaving Alfa Romeo in 1939, he was barred for several years from using the Ferrari name on cars, so his first company was called Auto Avio Costruzioni.

The prancing horse

The cavallino rampante was painted on the plane of Francesco Baracca, an Italian First World War fighter ace. According to Enzo, Baracca’s mother suggested he use the horse for luck. Ferrari added a yellow background, the color of Modena.

Racing first

Ferrari entered the first Formula 1 World Championship in 1950 and has competed every year since, winning more races and championships than any other team. It also won Le Mans many times in the 1950s and 1960s.

Road cars

Ferrari’s road cars, from the 250 GT and 250 GTO to the F40 and today’s hybrids and the Purosangue, are among the most desirable cars in the world. Read the Ferrari Purosangue and the Lamborghini history for the famous rivalry.

Ownership

Fiat bought a large stake in 1969 and later majority control. Ferrari was spun off and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2015.