75 Years of the Prancing Horse

Thiss year one of the greatest marques in automotive history celebrates its Diamond Anniversary. In the fateful year of 1947 Enzo Ferrari finally liberated his talents from Alfa Romeo, after running their highly successful racing team, and built his very first Ferrari badged automobile. The concept was to use that 1.5-litre V12-powered 125 S to fund Scuderia Ferrari, Enzo's nascent motorsports team. In the 75 years that have followed, the Cavallino Rampante has dominated both the racetrack - with Ferrari earning more Grand Prix victories, Formula One Constructor Championships, and Drivers Championships than any other manufacturer - and the streets as well, building the most valuable and exclusive sports cars the planet has ever seen. In the following pages we take a look at the greatest Ferraris of all time; highlight the latest halo car in the Prancing Horse's stable; and sit down with Piero Ferrari, Enzo's only living son and the current Vice Chairman and ambassador of Ferrari...

- By Nicolas Stecher

A Royal Bloodline

PIERO FERRARI

Enzo Ferrari’s son grants his first-ever interview with MAXIM on the eve of the marque’s 75th anniversary...

Upon the death of his grandmother in 1965, an eager20-year-old Piero Ferrari first joined the company of his birthright. His father, the marque’s legendary founder Enzo Ferrari, followed his beloved mother’s wish as written in her will and initiated Piero’s time in Maranello; famously decreeing that Piero start at the bottom and work his way up the various departments of the Scuderia and motorsports divisions.

Half a century later, Piero is now not only the marque’s Ambassador, but its Vice Chairman, with responsibility for Ferrari Classiche, the brand’s vaunted restoration program – making Piero the literal conduit bridging the classic era of Ferrari with the modern one. In that time the Italian businessman has also invested heavily in Piaggio Aero Engineering and yacht builders Ferretti Group, fortifying his regard not just on asphalt but in the air and sea as well.

Now as Ferrari celebrates its Diamond (75th) Anniversary, we were given the opportunity to speak with Piero about the shining past, flourishing present and promising future of the Prancing Horse. From his early days helping launch the Dino 166 Sport, to memories of his father and the electrified promise of the coming decades, we hear it straight from Enzo’s only living son.