Sit back or lay down. Close your eyes and relax. Now remember. Did you have posters on your walls while you were a child? Or maybe you have them still in your garage? Those posters had cars on them, right? What cars? One of them probably was a white or black Lamborghini Countach. But others? I would bet there was or still are some blood red Ferrari’s. Am I right?
Ferrari is an icon. The prancing horse is a dream for many that may never be attained. Some of us are fortunate enough and are able to afford a Ferrari, but the majority will have to make do with exhibitions that feature various Ferrari machines. Like this expo in Brussels called Autoworld Supercars 2.
I had seen a few Ferraris before. In the wild of course. I had heard them pass by. But only on very rare occasions I have been able to stand next to one and take a closer look. Fortunately, that is what I managed to do when I attended this expo. It featured Ferrari. It had even a section dedicated to the car manufacturers 75th anniversary.
I am more than 30 years old. But I still get goosebumps when I see up close a red Ferrari. For example, this beautiful Ferrari SF90 Spider from 2020 with 3990 cc – V-8 turbo engine with an additional electric motor. Combined they produce 1000 brake horsepower (780 and 220 respectively). SF90 has an 8-speed automatic transmission. This majestic machine runs at a top speed of 340 km/h and from 0 to 100 it gets in 2.5 seconds.
“First production plug-in hybrid of Ferrari. The 90 is a reference to the 90th birthday of the firm from Maranello. Two electric motors drive the front wheels giving a combined power output of 1000 hp. The retractable hard top allows open-top driving.”
Grown men put these cars as their mobile phone background pictures. When you see this beauty in person, then you understand why.
While looking at these beautiful creations and seeing them in the flesh (read: metal), I realized that there truly are fortunate people in this world who wake up, brush their teeth, have their morning Ethiopian coffee, they put on a white shirt and a jacket with a matching Rolex watch and get into their Ferrari that is parked in their garage. I respect that. Just imagine someone having a Ferrari Monza SP2 (manufactured in 2020).
Ferrari Monza SP2 has an 6496 cc – V12 engine that produces 810 break horsepower. It has a 7-speed automatic transmission which helps its engine gain a maximum speed of 300 km/h, reaching from 0 to 100 in just three seconds.
“Limited production sports car (499 ex) in two variants, SP1 single seater and this SP2. They mark the start of a new lineage of models called the “Icona” series, special cars inspired by classic Ferrari models, in this case, the 750 Monza, 250 Testarossa and 166 MM.”
This car truly personifies the name “Icon”.
Of course, there were retro vehicles as well. This article would not be complete without at least one GT. This is a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy with 3286 cc – V12 engine that produces 290 brake horsepower. It has a 5-speed manual transmission. 275’s top speed reaches 256 km/h.
“Front-engined GT with two-seater coupe body designed by Pininfarina. The first road-going Ferrari equipped with a transaxle and independent rear suspension. Among the greatest Ferraris of all time. This example has the rare optional aluminum body.”
I was thinking of ending this article with this beautiful bordo GT. But Ferrari is synonymous with racing. By ending this piece with a racing car, I will have paid my respect to Ferrari. At least in my mind and in my humble opinion.
Therefore, let me introduce the 1977 Ferrari 512 BB Competizione.
It has a 4943 cc – flat-12 engine that produces 455 brake horsepower. Manual 5-speed transmission, top speed is north of 300 km/h.
“Competition version of the standard 512 BB – Ferrari offered a “Le Mans” kit to upgrade standard cars after many requests from serious customers, such as Jaques Swaters of Garage Francorchamps. This car started in the 1978 24 hours of Le Mans with Teddy Pilette/Beurleys/Tourol, but didn’t finish.”
Above is the interior of the standard Ferrari 512 BB.
I am not Jeremy Clarkson when it comes to writing about cars. I think you need to have driven these machines to be able to express yourself more freely and eloquently. I know that someday I will sit and drive in one of these magnificent man-made creations. And who knows, maybe then this website will have developed into something else entirely. Into something where I will be able to express my newly gained insights.
But until that happens, I should book a ticket to Maranello, Italy with my beautiful woman.
And if you have not already read it, then you should get a copy of “Ferrari: The Man and The Machine” by Brock Yates. I think that this book will give you a different perspective about the brand and the man behind it. Will it make you appreciate the prancing horse even more? I don’t know. But it is worth to find out.
Kind regards,
Olaaf
Photo credit: Olaaf and Laurukaa
