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Ferrari: The Italian Stallion

© Dan Cooper

There is an almost magic attraction elicited by the names of certain makes of car. That attraction reaches deep inside the psyche of the automotive enthusiast. Everyone seems to have a favorite make of automobile. And it is undeniable that some marques command an intense loyalty among a very broad base of fans. One of the most intense and vocal fan bases, as well as one of the broadest, is the one found hovering, almost reverently, over the name, Ferrari.

There are innumerable reasons why Ferrari inspires such a broad and almost rabid fan base. The company's history, the man who started it all, and the longevity of this marque's influence on the motoring as well as the racing world, all play a part in the mystique that surrounds this company's name.

The history of Ferrari is storied and proud. Some American companies have definitely appeared envious of this heritage. So envious were some, they tried to buy the Italian company for their own. While Ferrari ultimately balked rather demonstratively at the idea of an outright purchase by an American company, Ferrari has a history of financial and other relationships with automakers and companies related to the automotive world. The most influential of these include Fiat, which currently owns Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Shell Petroleum, Pirelli, and others. Ferrari continues in many of these very successful relationships today.

The man who started it all, Enzo Ferrari, was remarkable. He stands as an icon in the automotive world. And the racing record of his cars is so long and studded with accomplishments, that it is little wonder some people equate the name with racing, itself.

During some periods, Ferrari seems to own the Formula One World Championship series. The present time is an excellent example of this. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have the best drivers. But why do the best drivers always seem to want to find a ride in Ferrari cars? Among other reasons, it's because they have a well-developed habit of winning.

Born before the turn of the last century, in 1898, Enzo Ferrari lived in an entirely different world than exists today. Over a century later, we take for granted things like the almost natural feeling of cruising in an automobile at 75 to 100mph. When Enzo was 20 years old, in 1918, a prosperous and growing automaker had just begun to brag that it had made the very first 100mph Packard automobile.