Stories > Six things you may not know about Ferrari
Six things you may not know about Ferrari

Six things you may not know about Ferrari

Published 2021-02-26 by Peter Ternström

In the fall of 2017, I was in Maranello. Ferrari celebrated 70 years and it was a gigantic party. The highlight was September 9 in Ferrari's hometown of Maranello.

Maranello was filled to the brim with thousands of cars and tens of thousands of fans. There was a carnival-like atmosphere in the village, with howling engines and a lot of expensive cars both driving and parked in the street. LaFerrari, F40, 288 GTO – everything was there.

It was a fantastic experience and I am a great fan of the brand. My first supercar, about 20 years ago, was a Ferrari F355. This is how Gran Turismo Events started in the early 2000s.

Few brands are as legendary as Ferrari. Much of what you hear is true, but some is definitely not. Here are six things you may not know.

1. The official brand colour of Ferrari is not red

It's yellow. That's because the city where Enzo Ferrari was born, Modena, has the colour yellow in its coat of arms. That is why the background of the Ferrari brand on the front of each car is yellow. The horse is black.

But, hey, almost every Ferrari is red? Yes, although the red colour comes from red being Italy's official racing colour. Just like Germany has silver-grey and England green – British racing green. Previously, it was customary to paint a racing car based on the nationality of the brand. Therefore, Italian cars were red, and the Ferrari and Alfa-Romeo cars were associated with the colour.

Did you know? There are fifteen shades of the official Ferrari red paint. Have ideas for a best selling novel? I'm in.

2. There are two versions of the logo

The rectangular one is for the street-legal cars. The shield is for racing cars. The shield has the two letters S and F under the horse. This stands for San Francisco. Enzo Ferrari was a hippie in the late 60s.

Just kidding, it is for Scuderia Ferrari, or "Team Ferrari". If you want the shield on your street-legal car it costs a little bit extra. It is quite uncommon to see cars without this option. Everyone wants it.

All Ferrari emblems and shields are made by the company Coinairt in Florence. This is an amazing company where we commission our Gran Turismo trophies and the red lion badge for our leather goods. Our red lion is made in the same machine as the prancing horses on the Ferrari cars.

3. What about the horse?

The horse was the symbol of the nobleman Francesco Baracca, a legendary aviator who scored many wins (for Italy) during the First World War. He had the horse painted on his aircraft.

Enzo Ferrari on one occasion met Francesco's mother during a horse race. There she asked Enzo to put the black horse on his cars, it would give him the same success in car races that Francesco had in the air.

The horse is still used in the air force today. It is the official symbol of the 9th air wing based in Grosseto in Tuscany. There is a black Ferrari horse on the Eurofighters based there.

I hope you now understand the extreme emotional sentiment many Italians have toward Ferrari and the black prancing horse. It goes way beyond cars. The prancing horse is an important part of Italian history.

3. Why are Ferrari's Cabriolets called Spider?

This is a great story. I am not sure if it is one hundred per cent true. Porsche launched its 550 Speeder at a car show in the US in the early 50s. A journalist from Italy called Turin and the Alfa factory to tell them what he had seen. The Porsche 550 Speeder was...well, somewhat misinterpreted as Spider in his home country.

This little misunderstanding over a bad telephone line across the Atlantic is the reason why almost all Italian cabriolets are called Spider. Or, maybe not. You can find a more plausible explanation following the link below.

>> Why are so many Italian cars called spider.

4. The last car Enzo Ferrari oversaw was the Ferrari F40

Then Luca di Montezemolo took over. His first project was the Ferrari F355. He created an extremely much better car than its predecessor 348. Luca di Montezemolo's time as CEO was characterized by great progress in quality and ease of use, paired with performance.

The Ferrari 360 became much less expensive to own than an F355, as you could change the cam belt from the engine bay. The engine no longer needed to be taken out, which saved enormous amounts of time and money for the owner. In the F430 they switched to a timing chain, and the car became almost as reliable as a Porsche.

Sergio to the left, Luca to the right, the horse stuck in the middle (with you).

5. Sergio Marchionne

Luca stepped down and was replaced by Sergio Marchionne. He was much more focused on revenue and quarterly results. He was extremely good at this, the Ferrari stock price has increased considerably since the introduction.

However, he has been criticized for being a little too eager to sacrifice the Ferrari brand to reach short-term profits. Ask yourself – is it perfectly okay that Ferrari's logo is on a children's crayons box you can buy in Lidl? Hm. Good question.

Sergio streamlined the production of the cars – rumours say that a 488 was considerably cheaper to produce than its predecessor 458. Furthermore, much effort was being made to standardise components. Use the same part across many models. This included engines.

This does not have to be bad at all – one of the world's best engines, the Ferrari 3.9 litre V8 with twin turbochargers – is now available in nearly all models (excluding LaFerrari). This is an amazing motor that has won the engine of the year award for many years.

Sergio Marchionne passed away in 2018. The current CEO of Ferrari is John Elkann.

6. Is Ferrari an Italian company?

The answer is, incredibly enough, no. In connection with the IPO in 2015, the company Ferrari NV in the Netherlands was registered as the parent company and owner of Ferrari SpA. Ferrari is now, at least on paper, a Dutch company.

There you go! Now you are more well informed about Ferrari than 90 per cent of your petrolhead friends. Have any more interesting facts about the brand? E-mail me, we'd love to hear from you.

Peter Ternström
Peter Ternström
peter@granturismo.org
Subscribe to our newsletter

The latest news and stories. All the best roads, hotels and restaurants. Invitations to exciting events. Be the first to know by subscribing to our newsletter.

Mondo Gran Turismo

More news and stories from the world of Gran Turismo

A postcard from Rome and The Vatican
A postcard from Rome and The Vatican
On March 23, we did a private tour of the Vatican.
Meet James Holm, our in-house photographer
Meet James Holm, our in-house photographer
Arguably the best automotive photographer in Scandinavia, James has been our event photographer since over a decade.
Houston, we have a massive problem
Houston, we have a massive problem
I love flying. This particular flight though, every pilot's nightmare became my reality.
Porsche is developing a hybrid 911
Porsche is developing a hybrid 911
It will utilize the latest hybrid technologies from the 919 Hybrid
Alfa Romeo is working on a new supercar
Alfa Romeo is working on a new supercar
They are pursuing a new Alfra Romeo tipo 33
Wallypower 118 - the coolest luxury yacht in the world
Wallypower 118 - the coolest luxury yacht in the world
Meet the luxury yacht from the movie "The Island"
Did you know? Rolex was founded in London.
Did you know? Rolex was founded in London.
The story of Rolex goes far beyond luxury watches.
The Ferrari F356 is the best Ferrari you never heard of
The Ferrari F356 is the best Ferrari you never heard of
Over the years, the F356 became one of the most sought-after cars in the world.
Sued by Ferrari because they deserved it
Sued by Ferrari because they deserved it
Guess what? Ferrari will sue you if you use their brand in a malicious way
Mr Bond, you have what the Greeks call thrasos
Mr Bond, you have what the Greeks call thrasos
Why James Bond films are so important.
The bizarre naming convention of Ferrari cars
The bizarre naming convention of Ferrari cars
Have you ever wondered how Ferrari determines the name for their cars?
I have no idea, I just stole the Lotus from a brat at Stureplan
I have no idea, I just stole the Lotus from a brat at Stureplan
The flashing blue light in the rear-view mirror approached at breakneck speed. Then I saw that the police blocked the road.
How to go from zero to owning a Ferrari in just one year
How to go from zero to owning a Ferrari in just one year
Dreaming about a Ferrari? Here is how you can make it happen in just one year.
Why the adorable Fiat 126p is the best car in the world
Why the adorable Fiat 126p is the best car in the world
Forget supercars like Lamborghini and Ferrari. The best car in the world is the Fiat 126p. Bear with us and let us explain.
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 1 to 20
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 1 to 20
As every year, we select the best pictures from the season. Here are places 1 to 20.
Mister Kawasaki and the most expensive chicken wings in the world
Mister Kawasaki and the most expensive chicken wings in the world
When you have unlimited money, amazing things can happen.
Forget the Fiat 500 of the 70s - The Lancia Stratos was really cramped
Forget the Fiat 500 of the 70s - The Lancia Stratos was really cramped
Fifteen years ago, I was the king of SEGA Rally. And the fastest car in the game was the Lancia Stratos.
Here comes the Swedish banker and his disgusting Italian girlfriend
Here comes the Swedish banker and his disgusting Italian girlfriend
Cencio la Parolaccia - The most fun restaurant in Rome.
No good deed shall go unpunished - How a Christmas gift went horribly wrong
No good deed shall go unpunished - How a Christmas gift went horribly wrong
A Christmas gift goes horribly wrong in Stockholm, 20 years ago.
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 21 to 40
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 21 to 40
As every year, we select the best pictures from the season. Here are places 21 to 40.
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 41 to 60
The best pictures from 2022 - Places 41 to 60
As every year, we select the best pictures from the season. Here are places 41 to 60.
I hereby pronounce you dead (he said)
I hereby pronounce you dead (he said)
Mr Andersson had followed our advise and selected "Doctor" when booking flights and hotels. This became a massive problem on the return flight.
The Aventador successor is  due - here is what we know.
The Aventador successor is due - here is what we know.
Here is what we know about the successor to the iconic Lamborghini Aventador.
A look at the Lamborghini Sterrato
A look at the Lamborghini Sterrato
We got a glimpse of the latest Lamborghini, the off-road Huracan Sterrato.
The secret behind a great Olive Oil
The secret behind a great Olive Oil
A great olive oil is simple to make, but hard to find in a store.
How a brand new Ferrari got ruined by a vomiting passenger
How a brand new Ferrari got ruined by a vomiting passenger
This was the work of the Olympic heavyweight champion of in-car puking. A true masterpiece.
A postcard from the most beautiful country in the world
A postcard from the most beautiful country in the world
Here are some pictures from our last driving event in Italy, Gran Turismo Italia.
Greetings from Monaco
Greetings from Monaco
Our annual Gran Turismo Europa-tour ended today. As always, thousands of great pictures were taken. Here is a small selection.
They should have sent a poet. We lack words to describe how beautiful Sardinia is.
They should have sent a poet. We lack words to describe how beautiful Sardinia is.
Here are the best pictures from our 2022 driving event on Sardinia.
Gran Turismo Nurburgring - here are the best pictures from our 2022 event
Gran Turismo Nurburgring - here are the best pictures from our 2022 event
Our annual Nurburgring event took place at the end of May. Here are the best pictures.
Hello from Croatia and Montenegro
Hello from Croatia and Montenegro
Our first big event of the 2022 season was our annual drive on the Adriatic coast. Here are the best pictures from our team of photographers.
A postcard from Paris and The Louvre
A postcard from Paris and The Louvre
It is difficult to describe. We can’t find the words. Being in the most important museum in the world, that hosts Mona Lisa, all by yourself.
Postcard from St Moritz
Postcard from St Moritz
Last week we went to St Moritz and our special event on the Olympia Bobsleigh track.
VIDEO: Happy New Year from Gran Turismo Events!
VIDEO: Happy New Year from Gran Turismo Events!
With this short film we would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Welcome to Gran Turismo and the most beautiful countries in the world in 2022.
The digital nomad’s guide to Montenegro
The digital nomad’s guide to Montenegro
Looking to spend winter far away from the cold north? Here is a personal favourite of mine: Montenegro.
The best pictures from the 2021 season
The best pictures from the 2021 season
As every year, we have selected the best pictures from the season.
Everything you need to know about the Riviera in under five minutes
Everything you need to know about the Riviera in under five minutes
The Riviera has been a popular destination for over a hundred years.
The best pics from Nurburgring in August
The best pics from Nurburgring in August
Some great shots from our event at the Nurburgring in August.
Everything we knew about the Ferrari SUV was wrong
Everything we knew about the Ferrari SUV was wrong
Much of the rumours regarding the coming Ferrari SUV seems to have been wrong. Now, we have much better information.
VIDEO: Thank you for a great 2021 season
VIDEO: Thank you for a great 2021 season
Driving on the Nürburgring, mountain passes in Switzerland and Italy, Portofino, Monaco, and Saint-Tropez. Thank you all drivers for a fantastic 2021 season and hope to see you all in 2022.
More stories

La Guida - The Supercar Owner's Guide to Europe

Our favourite roads, hotels, restaurants and places to visit

Kempinski Palace Portorož
Kempinski Palace Portorož
A palatial five star hotel on the shores of Pororož bay on the Slovenian coast.
Regent Porto Montenegro
Regent Porto Montenegro
A lavish hotel in the Porto Montenegro marina
Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
An elegant hotel in the center of Dubrovnik.
More locations

Events Calendar

Beautiful road trips and famous racing tracks since 2002. Supercars only.

Gran Turismo Vatican
23-24 March 2023
Rome, Italy
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Adriatica
6-14 May 2023
Slovenia - Croatia - Bosnia - Montenegro
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Nurburgring
29 May - 1 June
Nurburgring, Germany
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Riviera
5-9 June 2023
Forte dei Marmi - Santa Margherita - Monaco - St Tropez
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Sardinia
14-20 June 2023
Sardinia, Italy
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Polonia
6-12 July 2023
Warsaw - Gdansk - Kolobrzeg - Poznan
Gran Turismo Europa
3-10 September 2023
Innsbruck - St Moritz - Andermatt - Monaco - Saint Tropez
Fully booked
Gran Turismo Italia
17-24 September 2023
Florence - Maranello - Sirmione - Cortina - Verona
Gran Turismo Toscana
11-15 October 2023
Florence - Chianti - Grosseto - Lucca - Florence
The Drivers Collection
Contact us

While our head offices are in Geneva, Switzerland, the team is spread throughout Europe: Sweden, Poland, Italy and Croatia. Please select the appropriate team member to contact below.

For general enquiries, you can always use info@granturismo.org. For event registrations, please use registry@granturismo.org.

Justyna Weclawiak Justyna Weclawiak
Head of event organisation
+48 509 706 651
Björn Lagercrantz Björn Lagercrantz
CFO
+46 (0)70 844 64 00
Michal Weclawiak Michal Weclawiak
Event coordinator - General
‭+48 602 134 467‬
Chiara Mannucci Chiara Mannucci
Event coordinator - Italy
+39 346 763 22 74
Zdravko Anticic Zdravko Anticic
Event coordinator - Balkans
+385 (0)91 917 32 77
Pietro Bonuccelli Pietro Bonuccelli
Supercar fleet manager
‭+39 349 888 33 89‬
Marcin Jellinek Marcin Jellinek
PR and Media
+48 519 189 081
Joakim Niss Joakim Niss
Head of merchandise
‭+46 (0)70 468 60 75‬
James Holm James Holm
Photography
+46 (0)70 713 71 42
Peter Ternstrom Peter Ternström
Founder
+39 331 332 50 80