Founded by Enzo Ferrari who, from an early age, became entranced with the idea of car racing. After World War 1 he managed to get a job with a small car maker converting war surplus, enough to fund his first foray onto the racetrack at the 1919 Targa Florio. Ferrari would land a job with Alfa Romeo the following year, once again competing in the Targa Florio driving a modified production car, and finishing a very creditable second. Severing all ties with Alfa in 1940, Ferrari established his new company Auto-Avio Costruzioni Ferrari. During World War II the Ferrari workshop moved from Modena to Maranello, but this did little to protect if from allied bombing and the new factory was almost entirely leveled in 1944.

The factory would not be re-built until 1946, and upon its completion work would begin on the construction of the first ever Ferrari sports-car. In 1948 a Ferrari would take out the 1948 Mille Miglia, but the best would come in 1951 with the release of the really big-engined Ferraris, the 4101cc Type 340 America. Fitted with a completely new V12 engine, the car had an awesome top speed of 137mph, which naturally enough soon saw them racing with great success. In 1969 Enzo would sell a 50% stake to Fiat to obtain some much needed funds, that figure eventually growing to 90% in 1988. Fortunately the buy-out did not hinder the manufacturers production, and they remain arguably the ultimate in desirable automotive sheet metal.

Also see: Ferrari History