Know Your Legends: Ferrari
Apr 03, 2017
It was on March 12, 1947 that Enzo Ferrari fired up the 125 S, the first car to bear his name and sport the Cavallino Rampante, the prancing horse, and test-drove it in the streets of the town of Maranello.
This was the start of the great Ferrari adventure.
The S in the name referred to the bodywork, being much like that that of a sports car. Designers Gioacchino Colombo, Giuseppe Busso and Luigi Bazzi went one step further, installing a 12-cylinder engine that delivered sports-car power.
Two months after the test drive, Franco Cortese drove the 125 S to win the Rome Grand Prix, completing the 40 laps and 137km of the race at an average speed of 88.5kph. The car won another six races in 1947.
To mark the 70th anniversary of the 125 S roll-out, Ferrari has unveiled the LaFerrari Aperta, an open-top version of the acclaimed LaFerrari supercar. The new model will be made in limited numbers for the most loyal buyers of Ferraris.
The 70th birthday will be celebrated with special events in more than 60 countries this year, each event adding new meaning to Ferrari’s motto, driven by emotion. The events culminate in Maranello on September 9 and 10, and can be followed at ferrari70.com
