Looking back at Ferrari’s past models is like walking through the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 15 production vehicles and 5 concept Ferraris that stand out in design, performance, technology or all three.
Top 20 Greatest Ferrari of All Time
Production Model
1. Ferrari 125 S
Built in 1947, the 125 S was the first car to bear the Ferrari name. The 1.5-liter V12 engine that sent 118 horsepower to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission under its long hood was jaw dropping stats at the time. Ferrari was eliminated in his first race, but Ferrari took his first win at the Rome Grand Prix in 1947.
Ferrari made two examples of the 125 S and turned it into a 159 S. It used a 1.9-liter engine that produced 125 horsepower. The visual difference between the two models was small, and we appreciate that.
2. Ferrari 250 GTO
The 250 GTO is a classic Ferrari quintessentially the Mona Lisa in the automotive industry. A total of 39 cases were made between 1962 and 1964, of which they jointly own one of the most impressive racecar pedigrees. Bouncy lines and timeless proportions contribute to the car’s appeal.
The 250 GTO sells very little and there are a handful of people who trade between $400 and $600,000. One means that you are part of a very exclusive club. The list of past and present owners includes Sir Stirling Moss, Pink Floyd drummers Nick Mason, and Ralph Lauren.
3. Ferrari 500 Superfast
Launched in 1964, the 500 Superfast showed Ferrari a world of sportiness and luxury. The Superfast name alludes to a front-mounted 5.0-liter V12 engine rated at 400 horsepower. Inside, the four passengers enjoyed the phenomenal soundtrack of the 12-cylinder surrounded by soft leather upholstery and real wood trim.
Production of the original 500 Superfast totaled 25 units. Early cars were equipped with a four-speed manual transmission. In 1966, Ferrari made a dozen additional examples with a five-speed manual transmission backing the V12.
Ferrari’s register explains that the 500 Superfast was the company’s very last low-capacity coupe. In the late 1960s, it became increasingly difficult for officials to justify making huge investments to build small-volume cars like the Superfast. Ferrari instead focused on series production.
4. Ferrari Dino 206 GT
The Dino 206 GT was Ferrari’s first attempt at creating a compact, entry-level car. The model was aimed directly at the Porsche 911, but the company’s founder, Enzo Ferrari, didn’t like the idea of putting his name on a car that didn’t have a V12. The name Dino was chosen in honor of his son Alfredo, who died in 1956.
The 206’s nickname has it all – power was provided by a 2.0-liter V6 engine. Much lighter than the 12, the 6-cylinder was mounted right behind the seat, and the 206 GT is far more agile than other Ferraris of its era. Released two years later, the 246 GT excelled as it received a more powerful variant of the V6.
For a long time, the 206 GT was not considered a “real” Ferrari because of its inferior number of cylinders, and its value was the lowest for a Ferrari. The 206GT is very popular today.
5. Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona”
The late 1960s were tough times for Ferrari. The brand’s racing team embarrassingly missed the 24 Hours of Le Mans several times in a row for Ford, and the diverting competitor Ferruccio Lamborghini was making waves in Italy and abroad with the sexy mid-engined first car dubbed the Miura.
Ferrari counterattacked with the Pininfarina-designed 365GTB4, which was later nicknamed the Daytona, winning the 24-hour Daytona 1-2-3. It broke its ties with other members of the Ferrari lineup by adopting a more angled design that pinpointed 1970s style trends. Although somewhat controversial at first, it eventually became fashionable and over 1,400 cases were created between 1968 and 1973.
6. Ferrari 308
Ferrari selected Pininfarina as the successor to its entry-level model, the 246GT. Dino’s colorful lines have been perfectly transformed into a sexy design in line with the trend of the 1970s. Vents extending into the bodywork indicated that there was a powerful V8 engine right behind the passenger compartment. The 308GTB was introduced in 1975 with a fiberglass body.
During the 1980s, Ferrari expanded its 308 model line into several types of coupe and convertible models. Fuel injection reached 1980, the V8 with four valves per cylinder was released in 1982 and Ferrari introduced a new 3.2 liter engine in 1985.
7. Ferrari Testarossa
The Testarossa made their official debut at the 1984 Paris Motor Show. Its name literally means “redhead” in Italian, but it wasn’t developed as a sign of respect for the Irish people. Instead, the nameplate referred to the engine’s red cylinder head and was a reference to the original TestaRossa race car introduced in 1957.
A 5 liter engine sitting 5 liters from the passenger compartment made 399 ponies, but unlike its predecessors, the Testarossa was not developed for passing through the arena. It was first and foremost a tourist car, so its cabin emphasized sport and luxury alike. Thanks to the leather upholstery and air conditioning, it was considered the ideal companion for highway driving, provided that the occupants should be able to ride lightly.
The lines of the pininfarina design gave it a sleek, modern look. The Testarossa was on every kid’s bedroom wall in the late 1980s, right next to a Lamborghini Diablo with a rough scissor door facing the sky.
8. Ferrari 288 GTO
The 288 was the first Ferrari to wear a GTO nameplate since the iconic 250 GTO. At first glance, it looked like a 308 with a more muscular body kit. However, this book should not be judged as a book by its cover.
The 288 GTO was developed for participation in the B group rally event. It is built around a tubular chassis, and the body is made of composite materials such as body armor and fiberglass. Power came from a 2.8-liter V8 engine that used a pair of large turbochargers to make 400 hp, which was enough to send the GTO at a top speed of 200 liters.
Ferrari initially announced at a Group B event that it would only build 200 GTO instances, the minimum required to get into a car. However, the first batch sold out so quickly that another 72 cases were assembled.
9. Ferrari F40
Porsche captured the attention of the automotive industry in 1986 when it announced the 959. Not behind its German rivals, Ferrari waited until the following year to unveil the F40. The F40 was billed as a road racing vehicle.
The F40 was developed to celebrate the brand’s 40th anniversary. It was very impressive with its composite materials at the time, and it gave the interior space to feel like you were traveling in a Le Mans prototype. The sharp, low-throwing look earned the F40 the distinction of being one of Ferrari’s most distinct designs.
Engineers created a 3.0-liter evolution of the 288 GTO’s V8. The result was 478 horsepower instead of 390. At just 2425 pounds, this car was good enough for that floor-pushing car. Enzo Ferrari has a famous saying that the F40 is “too fast and will wash your pants”.
10. Ferrari F50
Mercedes-AMG is bragging about bringing Formula One technology to the streets with the upcoming Project 1. But I am not a pioneer in this field. Ferrari did that almost 25 years ago. The 4.7-liter V12 is an evolution of the 3.5-liter V12 that powered PrancingHorse’s 1990 Formula 1 vehicle.
As the name suggests, the Q50 was the successor to the Q50. There were some visual similarities between the two models, especially from the side, where the Y50 looked significantly more modern than its predecessor. It perfectly showcased Ferrari’s current design language. The company produced 349 V50 models, mainly by hand, at its plant in Maranello, Italy.
11. Ferrari Challenge Stradale
The Challenge Stradale gave fans true racing-car performance and features in an accessible, street-legal package. Starting with the 360 Modena model, Ferrari engineers removed any equipment deemed unnecessary to reduce weight, lower the suspension and make it more robust, and fitted large alloy wheels. Inside, both passengers were treated as racing harnesses and bucket seats fitted with plexiglass windows.
Many automakers boasted that they put racing technology into their production cars, and Ferrari did, too. The 360Challenge Straydale used a 3.6-liter, 425V8V8 that was bolted to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Visually, this was immediately recognizable thanks to the green, white and red bands in the center of the white stripe running down the center of the car.
12. Ferrari Enzo
A car named after the founder of the company is of great significance. It’s the kind of homage that a brand can take off once and for all if it wants to maintain trust. Fortunately, the limited edition Ferrari Enzo lived up to the hype.
At a time when Ferrari dominated the supercar market in the early 2000s, it was attacked by Porsche, Lamborghini and Mercedes-Benz. Enzo had to win this match and had more success than the E50. The first of 399 examples was exposed at the 2002 Paris Motor Show.
The aerodynamically outstanding Enzo was characterized by a more angular shape compared to other models in Ferrari’s lineup. In hindsight, it was a brief description of the company’s next design language. It was powered by an ultra-fast 660V12 engine linked to a six-speed gearbox, and huge shift paddles behind the steering wheel made it feel like a normal racer that made it feel like it was circling the Monaco Grand Prix circuit.
13. Ferrari LaFerrari
LaFerrari is the latest in a line of high-tech, fast-paced supercars that Ferrari has made. The company’s name, meaning “Ferrari” in Italian, has evolved the company by introducing new technologies previously only seen in prototypes, concepts or race cars.
In particular, it was the first street-regal hybrid Ferrari produced. The petrol engine’s drivetrain was a 789 L, 6.3 L1 V12 engine, capable of increasing speeds to 9,350 rpm. It worked in tandem with a 120 kilowatt electric motor that put the system’s total output of 949 horsepower.
Despite the extremely demanding purchasing process favored by loyal customers of Ferrari, only 499 LaFerrari products were made. Buyers who didn’t buy a coupe last year were given the opportunity to buy a Vanla model named Aperta. The Jain stood out with a long hood that ran down the low front end with thin LED headlights. Ferrari made six Sergios, priced at around $3 million each. The production vehicle received design modifications, windshields and a removable hardtop.
14. Ferrari FXX
At the time of launch, the FXX was the most technologically advanced Ferrari ever. It was an extreme evolution of Enzo, developed with input from star Formula 1 pilots such as Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.
It was equipped with a 6.3-liter V12 engine that sent a whopping 800 hp to the rear wheels through an F1-derived automatic transmission. Model-specific tires developed with Bridgestone and Brembo brakes maintain an incredible amount of power, while the on-board telemetry system recorded up to 39 parameters in real time. The information was sent to Ferrari headquarters and used to develop future models like the LaFerrari. FFX customers have been beta testers for all intents and purposes.
The downside of FXX was that it wasn’t a distance method. In fact, Ferrari continues to refer to it as a prototype. Only 38 cases were made, making it one of the most popular cars of its time.
15. Ferrari 488 GTB
Bradley Eger / Digital Trends
The 488 GTB marks a new chapter in the history of Ferrari’s V8-equipped, mid-engine machinery. 458 Italia-born, the 488 was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 engine capable of producing 8,000 rpm at 3,000 rpm and 661 hp of torque. It boasts 169.4 horsepower per liter, a Ferrari road record. It and you are at 60 mph in about 3 seconds.
Now, looking at the specs, you’re probably wondering, “Why a 488?” The displacement of the engine is exactly 3,902 cubic centimeters. Divide by 8 to get 487.75, which gives Ferrari 488. Now you know.
Concept Car
16. Colani Ferrari Testa d’Oro
You’re probably thinking, “Why do you have such a gloomy face?” First, because the Colani Ferrari Testa Road was designed in 1989. And this is the car of the future. Second, it wasn’t just an ordinary supercar. It was envisioned as a Ferrari capable of setting a speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.
This car wasn’t really designed by Ferrari, but the brand was instrumental in making it a reality. This child was the work of industrial designer Luigi Colanyi. He started with the Testarossa platform, joined a company called Lotec, and worked hand in hand with Ferrari to design a more powerful evolution of the Flat-12 engine. With 750 horsepower on its wind-generating body, the Testa Doro hit 218 mph at Salt Flats in 1991. There’s no evidence of a run again, and he probably spent the 1990s and ‘200s in a Tuscan warehouse, but recently went on sale in his hometown of Ferrari at a price tag of $1.7 million.
17. Ferrari Mythos
Ferrari displayed the Mythos concept in the 1989 edition of the Tokyo Auto Show. Choosing a venue meant a lot. At that time, the brand’s popularity expanded at an unprecedented rate in Japan. Italian design house Pininfarina started with the Testarossa and presented an enterprising design borrowing a few styling cues from the F40. The car only had one run left, but the design was loosely inspired by the F50.
The Testarossa shared a spooky 4.9-liter V12 engine with the Mythos. Mounted behind the passenger compartment, it sent 390 horsepower and 261 pound-feet. of torque to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. Ferrari and Pininfarina estimated that the Xinhua hit 180 mph. And the car was completely functional. However, Ferrari never announced a full performance look.
18. Ferrari Rossa
Like Mythos, Rossa played from the Pininfarina headquarters in northern Italy. The model lavishly celebrated the design house’s 70th anniversary and was introduced at the 2000 Turin Auto Show. How time has changed! The Turin Auto Show today is a little more than a local event. And Pininfarina recently joined the Mahindra group after teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
back on the road. The Rossa (meaning “red” in Italian) had a boned 550 Maranello and had a 5.4-liter V12 engine that produced 485 horsepower in this configuration. Inside, Pininfarina chose to ignore Ferrari’s reputation for building luxury cars. Instead, it installed bucket seats, a simple instrument cluster and a three-spoke steering wheel to emphasize the brand’s racing heritage.
19. Ferrari GG50 Ferrari GG50
Ferrari created the GG50 to celebrate 50 years since Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro started drawing cars. The four-seater was first shown in the 2005 edition of the Tokyo Auto Show. Engineers started with the 612 Scaglietti and added technology gathered from the world of Formula One, such as a multi-function steering wheel, to increase the figure of merit. Rumor has it that Giugiaro painted the coupe in just 15 minutes.
The GG50’s long hood concealed a 5.7-liter V12 engine tuned to produce 540 horsepower. It was bolted to a six-speed serial transmission, a real novelty at times. Insider news was a satellite navigation system provided by pioneers. The only GG50 in existence sits securely in Giugiaro’s collection of personal vehicles.
20. Pininfarina Sergio
Unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the Pininfarina Sergio concept paid tribute to the son of a company founder named Sergio. He took over Pininfarina after his father, Battista, died in 1966. He is responsible for numerous designs including the Ferrari F40, Fiat Dino and Peugeot 504 Coupe/Convertible. He also painted a Ferrari 360.
Pininfarina built Sergio on an existing platform. This time the 458 Spider became the donor.