Ferarari’s story officially begins in the 1920’s when the first car built under the Ferrari

marque, the 125 S, drove through the historic factory gates on Via Abetone Inferiore in
Maranello. That said, Ferrari’s origins are inextricably linked to its founder’s entire life
story. Born in Modena, Italy in 1898, Enzo Ferrari started out as a race car driver. In the
1920s, he was made a driver with Alfa Romeo and won several racing awards including
the 2nd Circuito di Modena.

In 1929, Ferrari founded the Scuderia Ferrari, now the official race car division for
Ferrari. It began, however, as a division of Alfa that specialized in preparing race cars
to gentlemen drivers. This was at a time when sports car racing was really taking off as
an activity for the rich and famous, who were really the only ones who could afford it.

In 1931, Enzo finished in second place at the Circuito Tre Province, which would be his
last time competing as a driver. He wanted to focus on his family and the birth of his
first son Alfredo more commonly called Dino.

However, he still continued working with Scuderia and building cars for Alfa until
1939. In September of that year, he left his position as Head of Alfa Corse to form his
own car company Auto Avio Costruzioni in his hometown of Modena, Italy. As a
condition of his departure, he was required not to use the Ferrari name in association
with any of his cars or races for at least four years after. Honoring the agreement, the
company name wasn’t changed to Auto Costruzioni Ferrari until 1957, and first car to
bare the name Ferrari was released the Ferrari 125 S.

Early years

In 1945, Ferrari introduced a V12 engine which became one of its signatures. It wasn't
until 1947, nearly ten years after Enzo left Alfa that the first Ferrari model the 125 S or
125 Sport, rolled out of the factory entrance of the Via Abetone Inferiore in Maranello,
Italy. There were only two models originally produced. The car was entered into its first
competitive race in May of that year at the Piacenza Circuit, and on the 25th won the
Rome Grand Prix.  The car was set to be released earlier, however, the date was pushed
back due to the effects of World War II. After the Modena factory was hit by bombs,
the company moved to Maranello and built the legendary factory that it still uses today.

The next few decades, the Italian auto company prospered with its cars competing in
and winning major races including the: Mille Miglia (1948), Le Mans 24 Hour Race
(1949) and the Formula One World Championship Grand Prix (1951).

In the early 1950s, race car driver Luigi Chinetti opened the first Ferrari showroom and
dealership in United States. Until this point, Ferraris were really only available to
wealthy racing enthusiasts and for competing in races. The location later moved from
Manhattan to Connecticut, but the Ferrari market in the US became and still is one of
the most lucrative in the world.

In 1956, tragedy struck when Enzo’s eldest son Dino died of muscular dystrophy. The
1960s were a time of transition for the company. First, in 1961, members of the
company including chief engineers Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini left and went on to
form another auto company called ATS. They had intended for it to be a direct
competitor with Ferrari at the time. The departure was said to stem from disputes over
Enzo’s wife Laura and her heavy involvement in the running of the company.

In the late 1960s, Enzo realized that in order for the company to remain successful and
grow in face of competition and market challenges, it needed a partner. In 1969, it
found one in the Fiat Group, which bought a 50% stake in the business.

In 1987, the F40 was released. It would be the last model created under Enzo Ferrari.
The following year, he died at the age of 90, and the Fiat Group increased its stake in
the company to 90%.

After Enzo’s death, Luca di Montezemolo was appointed as the new chairman of Ferrari
from 1991 to October of 2014. He was replaced by the current CEO, Sergio Marchionne
and plans were announced to separate Ferrari from the Fiat Group. In 2015, the  Ferrari
N.V.  became an IPO and launched on the New York Stock Exchange at a value of
nearly $10 billion, and Milan Stock Exchange in 2016.