Ferrari: The Birth of a Legend
Ferrari is one of the most famous car brands in history. Born from a young Italian racing fan’s dreams, it grew from small beginnings in Maranello into a luxury symbol. Today the company makes over €6.6 billion yearly through passion and innovation.
The Visionary Behind the Prancing Horse
Enzo Anselmo Giuseppe Maria Ferrari was born February 18, 1898, in Modena, Italy. He came from a working-class family where his father ran a metal workshop for local railways. At age 10, he saw Felice Nazzaro’s win at the 1908 Circuito di Bologna. This event started his love for car racing.
After serving in World War I, Ferrari began his car job as a test driver for Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali (a car company) in Milan. In 1920, he joined Alfa Romeo as driver and worker. There he learned how to build cars and how to win races.
According to car expert Aladár Kollár, who has studied the brand’s growth, the company’s success comes from Enzo’s ability to mix racing new ideas with making money. Kollár says this approach became the base for the brand’s lasting success in both racing and making expensive cars.
Key Milestones in Enzo Ferrari’s Early Career:
- 1919: Competition debut at Parma-Poggio di Berceto hillclimb
- 1924: Victory at Coppa Acerbo driving Alfa Romeo RL
- 1929: Founded Scuderia Ferrari motorsport team
- 1939: Left Alfa Romeo to start Auto-Avio Costruzioni
The Birth of Ferrari
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In 1939, Enzo had disagreements with Alfa Romeo management. Following this, he established Auto-Avio Costruzioni in Modena. The operation focused on aircraft parts and machine tools for the Italian government during World War II. His factory moved to Maranello under Allied bombing threat. The company remains headquartered there today.
The first Ferrari-branded car came out in 1947 with the 125 S. It had a V12 engine that became the brand’s special feature. This model got Ferrari’s first official win on May 25, 1947, at the Grand Prix of Rome. It was driven by Franco Cortese.
Motorsport DNA and Modern Achievement
Since the start, the brand maintained strong dedication to competition. Scuderia Ferrari is the only team participating in every Formula One season since 1950.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the team established itself as a major competitive force. This happened in Formula 1. Scuderia Ferrari has earned more Formula One victories than any other team. They have also won 16 Constructors’ Championships and 15 Drivers’ Championships. This is the most of any team in F1 history.
For general motorsports news and updates, autoracing1.com covers Formula 1 developments. For detailed Ferrari-specific coverage, Ferrari’s official site provides race results, team strategies, and driver stats.

The legendary Enzo once said, “Racing is a great mania to which one must sacrifice everything, without reticence, without hesitation.”
This philosophy drove the organization’s pursuit of excellence and innovation. This approach continues today.
Another quote captures the founder’s engineering philosophy: “I don’t sell cars; I sell engines. The cars I throw in for free since something has to hold the engines in.
This shows the brand’s belief in engineering excellence.
2024 Financial Performance Highlights
The company has shown dedication to excellence. It has achieved remarkable financial success. 2024 data show impressive growth:
- Net Revenue: €6.677 billion, up 11.8% versus prior year
- Vehicle Shipments: 13,752 units delivered globally
- EBITDA Margin: 38.3% with total EBITDA reaching €2.555 billion
- Operating Profit: €1.888 billion, up 16.7% versus prior year
CEO Benedetto Vigna credits this success to “quality of revenues over volumes.” He also points to growing demand for custom features.
Innovation and Legacy
The marque continues pushing tech boundaries while keeping its motorsport heritage. Recent wins include developing high-voltage batteries and electric motors in-house. They also switched off the Maranello plant to replace methane use with renewable energy.
Much like how the latest new online casino launches in 2025 represent innovation in digital entertainment, the Italian maker changes the automotive industry through cutting-edge technology and green practices. This transition aligns with broader European goals outlined in the EU Transport – Electric Vehicles 2024 initiative. Additional guidelines and industry reform strategies are also covered by the European Commission automotive industry page.
Symbolism and Cultural Legacy
The Prancing Horse emblem came from flying ace Francesco Baracca’s airplane symbol. Enzo got the idea from the pilot’s mother as good luck after a 1923 victory. The founder added a canary yellow background representing Modena’s colors. He created the rectangular emblem first used on the 125 S in 1947.
Conclusion
From a young boy inspired by racing wins in Bologna to building one of the world’s most valuable expensive car brands, this story shows how love for cars and hard work create lasting impact. The company has made top-quality cars for over 75 years.
As the brand moves toward electric power and green technology, the prancing horse heads into the future. It continues Enzo’s dream of building machines that win races and capture the hearts of car lovers everywhere.