Sculptures of Speed

125 S – 1947

The 125 S marked the official beginning of Ferrari’s history in 1947. At its heart was a V12 engine developed by Gioacchino Colombo in collaboration with Giuseppe Busso and Luigi Bazzi, which produced an impressive 118 PS (87 kW) at 6,800 rpm. This power was channelled through a 5-speed gearbox. Enzo Ferrari described the car’s racing debut in Piacenza as a ‘promising failure’, as Franco Cortese, whilst leading the race, was forced to retire due to a faulty fuel pump. However, success was not long in coming: the car won six times out of 13 starts within four months. With a total displacement of 1,496.77 ccm, the two-seater spider – weighing just 650 kilograms – quickly demonstrated the superiority of the Ferrari concept on the racetrack.

250 GTO – 1962

In January 1962, at Ferrari’s traditional pre-season press conference, a car took to the stage that is today regarded as the ‘Holy Grail’ of motoring. The 250 GTO was the radical pinnacle of the 250 GT series. Surprisingly, at that time it was the only car in the Ferrari line-up that still featured a front-mounted engine, whilst the single-seater racing cars and prototypes had already switched to a rear-engine layout. The true wonder of the GTO lies in its duality. Despite its uncompromising racing specification – evident in the air vents in the roof pillars and the complete absence of any comfort features – it officially remained a road car. It epitomises an era in which one could drive a car to victory on the racetrack on a Sunday morning and then pull up in style outside the casino on Monday evening.

F40 – 1987

The F40. If the term ‘legend’ may be used without reservation, then it is certainly apt for this Ferrari. Unveiled to mark the company’s 40th anniversary, it was the last model that Enzo Ferrari personally presented to the world before his death. Demand was unprecedented: even before production began, enthusiasts were filling the waiting lists for the F40, which outclassed the competition with its twin-turbo V8 and a specific power output of almost 160 PS per litre. Equipped with no electronic driving aids, but featuring a striking wraparound rear wing, the F40 accelerated to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds. With a top speed of 324 km/h, it set new standards. By the time production ended in 1992, 1,311 units had rolled off the production line at the Maranello plant.

F355 – 1994

Five valves per cylinder, 109 PS per litre of displacement, 8,500 revolutions per minute – Ferrari’s smallest model became a major player and a bridge between tradition and modernity. Still hand-built, yet packed with high-tech features, including an aerodynamic underbody, adaptive suspension, an optional sequential F1 gearbox and an unprecedented standard of build quality, the F355 heralded a new era at Ferrari. Niki Lauda, not known for flattery, simply described the F355’s engine performance, handling and brakes as ‘perfect’. For many, it is also visually the most harmonious mid-engined Ferrari.

Enzo – 2002

In 2002, Ferrari celebrated its absolute dominance in Formula 1. To crown this era and pay homage to the company’s founder, the Enzo was created – a supercar that perfected the transfer of technology from the racetrack to the road. Limited to just 399 units, it joined the exclusive lineage of icons such as the GTO, F40 and F50. The Enzo was far more than just a sports car; it was a synthesis of carbon fibre, aerodynamics and pure power. Thanks to its direct link to the Formula 1 team, Ferrari developed a human-machine interface that enabled the driver to push the limits of performance into entirely new dimensions. With its radical design and uncompromising engineering, the Enzo remains the ultimate symbol of Ferrari’s golden age in motorsport.

F80 – 2025

In Ferrari’s history, there is an exclusive lineage that represents the absolute pinnacle of what is technically possible: the GTO (1984) as the epitome of racing heritage, the F40 as a radical driving machine, the F50 with its Formula 1 DNA, the Enzo as a technological tribute, and the LaFerrari as a pioneer of the hybrid era. With the F80, Ferrari is now opening the next chapter. Unveiled on the prestigious stage of the Finali Mondiali in Imola, the F80 embodies the spirit of victory. Its powertrain is a direct derivative of the 499P, the race car that won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 and 2024. Combined with Formula 1 E-Turbo technology, the V6 hybrid system generates 1,200 PS. There is only one thing left to add: To be continued ...