How much do you know about the mind behind the most famous Italian car brand? Read on to learn some intriguing facts about Enzo Ferrari!
Born Enzo Ferrari is believed to have been born in Modena, Italy, on February 18, 1898. However, his birth was officially recorded on February 20, as it couldn’t be reported at the local registry office promptly due to a snowstorm.
Enzo Ferrari’s legacy extends far beyond his birthplace as he went on to become one of the most influential and legendary figures in the world of motorsport and the automotive industry.
In his twilight years, Enzo Ferrari was affectionately called L’Ingegnere (“The Engineer”) or Il Grande Vecchio (“The Grand Old Man”).
As the visionary founder and chief designer of the famous automobile marquee Ferrari, he propelled the brand to iconic status, making it the epitome of success in the sports car manufacturing world.
16 Intriguing Facts About Enzo Ferrari
Now, let’s check out more intriguing facts about Enzo Ferrari that you might not know.
1. Enzo Ferrari worked with metals early in life
Enzo Ferrari’s father loved working with metal and set up a workshop at their home to craft metal parts. It was in this workshop that Enzo gained valuable hands-on experience and honed his skills in working with metal.
Today, the Casa Enzo Ferrari Museum occupies this very same workshop in Modena.
EXPLORE FURTHER: Best Car Museums in Italy To Visit
2. Enzo Ferrari fought in World War I
Enzo Ferrari served in World War I with the Italian Army’s mountain artillery regiment, surviving the conflict but grappling with shell shock, post-traumatic stress disorder, and an ensuing morphine addiction that took a toll on his health.
3. He lost his father and brother to the flu pandemic
Enzo Ferrari faced profound personal loss during the devastating flu pandemic in 1916, which claimed the lives of both his father and brother.
Tragically, his father passed away prior to the onset of World War I, while his brother succumbed to the flu during the war.
Enzo himself faced a life-threatening bout of the flu in 1918. He ultimately survived but was subsequently discharged from the Italian military service.
4. He started racing at the age of 20
Enzo Ferrari entered the racing scene at the age of 20, although he had harbored dreams of it since he was 10.
His journey began with CMN (Construzioni Meccaniche National), a small car manufacturer that boasted a racing team. Ferrari took the wheel of their 15 hp open-wheeled racer, marking the start of his racing endeavors.
5. He built a robust racing team from scratch
Following his departure from CMN, he became a mechanic/racer at Alfa Romeo. There, he went on to establish the iconic racing team known as Scuderia Ferrari (Ferrari Racing Team).
Starting from the ground up in 1929, he recruited some of the most renowned pre-war drivers in Europe, leading the Scuderia to numerous victories.
6. Enzo Ferrari founded his namesake car brand in 1947
Later on, Scuderia Ferrari became its own separate thing. Ferrari started making cars with his name on them after the war. He created Ferrari S.p.A., an automobile marque, in 1947. This showed the start of Enzo Ferrari’s important role in the car industry.
READ ALSO: Best Italian Car Brands That Are Synonymous with Luxury and Performance
7. Ferrari’s logo comes from an Italian pilot during the World War II era
The famous Prancing Horse emblem has its origins in the World War I era, attributed to Italian pilot Francesco Baracca. For good luck during battles, Baracca adorned his plane with a horse atop a white background.
Following Baracca’s death, his mother asked Ferrari to adopt the horse symbol for continued good luck on his cars. Ferrari agreed, and to this day, the Ferrari brand continues to use the logo, albeit with a slight modification — now featuring a canary yellow shield as a background. This particular shade of yellow is the color of Modena, Enzo Ferrari’s hometown.
8. Enzo Ferrari was a very competitive and ambitious person
Enzo Ferrari thought that competition could make people better, but he also saw how it could go too far.
He himself was very competitive and ambitious. He wanted to win every race and every championship.
He also aspired to establish dominance across various markets and industries.
9. He was very superstitious as well
Enzo Ferrari had a lot of superstitions. He believed in lucky numbers, colors, and symbols.
To avoid bad luck, he always wore dark sunglasses and had a habit of touching iron when he felt nervous or anxious.
EXPLORE FURTHER:
10. Enzo Ferrari was a huge fan of opera
Enzo Ferrari was a very passionate and loyal fan of opera. He enjoyed the works of Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Richard Wagner.
He also frequently went to watch opera shows and became friends with well-known singers like Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, and Placido Domingo.
11. He was highly creative and innovative
Enzo Ferrari was a highly creative and innovative person.
He designed and built some of the world’s most stunning and high-performance cars, including the 250 GTO, 288 GTO, F40, and F50.
Ferrari led the way in developing various technologies and ideas, including the mid-engine layout, monocoque chassis, and turbocharger.
12. He was also very secretive
Enzo Ferrari seldom did interviews or public appearances, opting for communication through letters or phone calls.
Additionally, he maintained a network of spies and informers to stay informed about the actions of his competitors and adversaries.
13. He married twice and had four children
Enzo Ferrari had two marriages. His first wife was Maria Teresa de Berti (1907–1974), whom he married in 1920. His second wife was Marlene Dietrich (1901–1990), whom he married in 1960.
Ferrari had four children: Alfredo (named after Enzo’s father), Piero, Edoardo, and Maria Teresa.
14. He lost his firstborn to muscular dystrophy
In 1956, Enzo Ferrari lost his son Alfredo -nicknamed Dino – at the age of 24 due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Dino was born in 1932 and was groomed to be Enzo’s successor.
After his death, Enzo dedicated the Dino series of cars to his son, using the V6 engine he suggested.
15. Enzo Ferrari outlived nearly all his closest family members
Enzo Ferrari died on August 14, 1988, in Maranello due to leukemia. He was 90 years old.
Nearly all his closest family members had passed away before him, including his son Dino, and they all faced health complications.
16. His death was announced publicly a day after he was buried
Due to his intensely private nature and concerns about potential public backlash following Ferrari’s team being consistently defeated by McLaren throughout the 1988 season, Enzo Ferrari requested that news of his death be disclosed in the media only on August 16, the day after his burial.
This decision aligned with his wish for a discreet burial, witnessed solely by his family on August 15.