Enzo Ferrari

NAME Enzo Anselmo Giuseppe Maria Ferrari was his full name, though he was widely known simply as Enzo Ferrari throughout his life and career. He gained several nicknames throughout his life, including "il Commendatore," "il Drake," "l'Ingegnere" (the Engineer), "il Grande Vecchio" (the Grand Old Man), "il Cavaliere" (the Knight), "il Mago" (the Wizard), and "il Patriarca" (the Patriarch).

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Enzo Ferrari was famous for being an Italian racing driver and entrepreneur. He was the founder of Scuderia Ferrari, a Grand Prix motor racing team, and later the Ferrari automobile marque. He is known for his significant contributions to the world of sports cars and racing.

BIRTH Enzo Ferrari was born on February 18, 1898, in Modena, Italy, although his birth certificate officially states February 20. This discrepancy was due to heavy snowfall in Modena, which delayed his father's registration of the birth by two days.

FAMILY BACKGROUND He was born to Alfredo Ferrari, who owned a small metal workshop that fabricated parts at the family home, and Adalgisa Bisbini, a noble landowner from Forlì. Enzo had an older brother named Alfredo Junior, who was nicknamed "Dino." The Ferrari family lived next to the mechanical workshop founded by his father, and this site is now the Enzo Ferrari Museum.

CHILDHOOD Ferrari spent his childhood in Modena and Maranello, living in the house that would later become the Casa Enzo Ferrari Museum. His passion for automobiles ignited at the age of 10 when his father took him to watch a car race in Bologna, an experience that left a deep impression on young Enzo. Tragedy struck in 1916 when both his father and brother died during a flu pandemic, leaving him as the head of the family at just 18 years old.

EDUCATION Enzo grew up with little formal education compared to his brother. After the deaths of his father and brother, he was forced to interrupt his studies to support himself, finding employment as an instructor in the Modena firefighters' workshop before being drafted into military service. (1)

CAREER RECORD 1919 Began his career as a test driver for CMN (Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali).

1920 Joined Alfa Romeo, working as a driver.

1929 Founded Scuderia Ferrari, initially managing racing activities for Alfa Romeo.

1932 Retired from racing

1939 After a 20-year association with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari left the company to establish Auto Avio Costruzioni.

1947 Founded Ferrari S.p.A. after the war, focusing on producing both racing and road cars that would soon dominate motorsport and become symbols of automotive excellence.

1977 Ferrari resigned as president of Ferrari S.p.A. but continued to oversee the Formula 1 team until his death.

APPEARANCE Enzo Ferrari's appearance became as iconic as his cars, particularly in his later years. He was instantly recognizable by his silver-white hair, which was typically swept back, and his signature black Persol #2762 sunglasses, which became an inseparable part of his image. The sunglasses added to his enigmatic aura and, according to the official story, he began wearing them constantly after the death of his son Dino in 1956 and was never seen without them again.

Ferrari in 1967

FASHION Ferrari's fashion sense was understated yet distinguished. In addition to his trademark dark sunglasses, he was known for wearing an immaculate trenchcoat, which became part of his distinctive style.

In his earlier years, as a member of the National Fascist Party, he occasionally wore a full Fascist uniform for certain ceremonies and parades, though this was reportedly done to maintain good relations with those in power rather than out of ideological conviction.

CHARACTER Enzo Ferrari possessed a complex, multifaceted character that combined vision, determination, and ruthlessness. He was widely known for his stubborn nature and overwhelming passion for automobiles, once stating, "I have yet to meet anyone quite so stubborn as myself and animated by this overpowering passion that leaves me no time for thought or anything else."

Ferrari was often described as cold, calculating, and enigmatic, cultivating a Sphinx-like air while shunning the spotlight. His business approach was famously uncompromising, demonstrated by his response to customer complaints-when Ferruccio Lamborghini pointed out perceived mechanical faults with his personal Ferrari, Enzo reportedly told him "to go soak his head, and never spoke to him again."

Despite his sometimes difficult temperament, Ferrari was a visionary with an unwavering commitment to excellence in engineering and design. He was known for his ability to inspire and manage talented individuals, once describing himself as "an agitator of men." (2)

SPEAKING VOICE Enzo Ferrari had a "light voice" according to firsthand accounts from those who met him. His manner of speaking was often direct and sometimes cryptic, delivering memorable quotes and aphorisms that reflected his philosophy on racing, business, and life. (3)

SENSE OF HUMOUR His wit was evident in some of his famous quotes, such as "aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines" and "the client is not always right." 

RELATIONSHIPS Enzo Ferrari and Laura Dominica Garello were married on April 28, 1923, in Turin (Torino), Italy. Their marriage followed two years of living together after meeting in Turin in 1921. The ceremony included both a civil and a religious service, attended primarily by Laura's family and friends, as Enzo's mother did not attend either event.

They remained married until her death in 1978. The couple had one son, Alfredo (known as Dino), born in 1932, who would later die tragically at the age of 24 from muscular dystrophy.

While married, Ferrari maintained a long-term relationship with his mistress, Lina Lardi, with whom he had a second son, Piero, born in 1945. Piero Ferrari would inherit his father's 10% share of the company after his death and would go on to become a billionaire as Ferrari's value increased over the decades.

Ferrari's personal life was complicated further by other reported affairs. Following the death of his driver Luigi Musso, he apparently became involved with Musso's mistress, Fiamma Breschi, setting her up in residences in Bologna and Florence and visiting her weekly for years.

In his professional relationships, Ferrari was known to be demanding and sometimes ruthless with his drivers and employees, yet he inspired deep loyalty among many who worked with him.

MONEY AND FAME  Despite founding one of the world's most prestigious luxury car brands, Enzo Ferrari was never extraordinarily wealthy during his lifetime. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his fortune was around $50 million at the time of his death, but notes that Ferrari was never "rich" during his lifetime, as the business often operated at a loss to fund his beloved racing team.

Financial struggles were a consistent part of Ferrari's business history. In 1969, facing significant financial pressure, he sold 50% of the company to Fiat, which was controlled by the Agnelli family, for $11 million, while retaining complete control over the racing division.

While he cultivated fame for his cars and racing team, Ferrari himself often shunned personal publicity, preferring to maintain an enigmatic presence and letting his accomplishments speak for themselves. His mystique was further enhanced by his rarity of appearance at races, as he often preferred to pull strings from his fortress in Maranello. (4)

Ferrari at Monza in 1966

BUSINESS CAREER If you were looking for a man who could turn grease, noise, and fire into something approaching poetry, you could do a lot worse than Enzo Ferrari. In 1929, he formed Scuderia Ferrari—not a car company, mind you, but a racing team that ran Alfa Romeo’s machines while somehow making them faster, shinier, and more frightening to the competition. Based in Modena, the team quickly became the official go-fast squad of Alfa Romeo. This worked swimmingly until 1937, when Alfa suddenly decided it rather liked winning on its own terms, took its toys back, and forced Ferrari to disband his team. Adding insult to injury, they made him promise not to use his own name in racing for four years. One imagines he signed the agreement with a pen that squeaked in protest.

So, Ferrari went into exile—well, into machine tools and aircraft parts, which was pretty much the same thing during wartime Italy. He founded Auto-Avio Costruzioni in 1939 and waited for the world to stop blowing itself up. When it did, he rather miraculously rebuilt his bombed-out factory in Maranello and rolled out his first self-branded car, the Ferrari 125 S, in 1947. It came with a V12 engine, because of course it did.

Ferrari’s creations wasted no time winning things. By 1949, one of his cars had conquered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is roughly the automotive equivalent of sprinting a marathon while juggling chainsaws. In 1950, Ferrari joined the newly created Formula One circus and nabbed a Grand Prix win by 1951. By 1952 and 1953, his driver Alberto Ascari was world champion, and the name Ferrari was becoming synonymous with absurd speed, mechanical genius, and the kind of operatic Italian drama that seemed to leave competitors wondering if their cars had been built by monks in a monastery.

The 1950s and ’60s were a time of relentless tinkering and glittering success. Ferrari hired engineering luminaries and collaborated with the design house Pinin Farina, whose work suggested what might happen if a Ferrari mated with a sculpture of a god. He sold exquisite road cars to fund his racing habit, a financial balancing act akin to funding a space program by selling biscotti.

In 1972, he built his own private racetrack, Fiorano, because why test your cars on someone else’s circuit when you can just build one in your backyard?

Still, the 1960s brought money troubles, and in 1969, Ferrari sold half his company to Fiat. In a typically shrewd move, he kept control over the racing division, which is like selling your house but retaining exclusive rights to the kitchen.

Ferrari remained at the helm until his death in 1988, having personally overseen over 5,000 race wins and 25 world championships. The last car he approved was the F40, which looked—and sounded—like something Batman might drive to a funeral.

His legacy is vast: a brand that evokes speed, passion, elegance, and just a touch of menace. The prancing horse logo, famously borrowed from WWI ace Francesco Baracca, now adorns machines that roar like thunder and accelerate like panic attacks.

Enzo Ferrari didn’t just build cars. He built myths—and then made them win.

FOOD AND DRINK Enzo Ferrari was known as "una buona forchetta" (literally "a good fork"), a colloquial Italian expression meaning he enjoyed eating well. He was a creature of habit who dined regularly at the Ristorante Cavallino, located directly across from the Ferrari factory, arriving punctually at 12:30 each day.

As a native of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region-one of Italy's gastronomic centers-Ferrari favored local specialties. His preferred dishes included tortelli in burro e salvia (tortelli in butter and sage), followed by risotto with parmesan cheese from nearby Parma. During winter months, he would enjoy bollito misto, a traditional mixed broth of boiled meats typical of the region.

The Cavallino restaurant became so intertwined with Ferrari culture that when the founder celebrated his ninetieth birthday with a massive factory lunch, the restaurant catered for more than fifteen hundred past and present employees. (5)

MUSIC AND ARTS Ferrari loved music and, as a young man from Modena, dreamed of a career as an an operetta tenor. He was reportedly gifted with a strong voice, but lacked musical hearing, which ultimately ended his aspirations for a professional singing career.

LITERATURE  Enzo Ferrari authored Le mie gioie terribili ("My Terrible Joys"), first published in 1962, which provides his personal perspective on the dangerous and exhilarating world of motorsport. This book was later published in English as The Enzo Ferrari Story. It remains a rare and sought-after piece for collectors.

RACING CAREER Enzo Ferrari began his automotive career in 1919 after the collapse of his family's business. He first worked as a test driver for CMN (Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali) in Milan, a company that rebuilt truck bodies into small passenger cars. Ferrari was soon promoted to race car driver and made his competitive debut in the 1919 Parma-Poggio di Berceto hillclimb, finishing fourth in his category. Later that year, he entered the Targa Florio, finishing ninth after mechanical issues but still completing the race due to a high number of retirements.

In 1920, Ferrari joined Alfa Romeo's racing department as a driver. He quickly showed his talent, winning his first Grand Prix in 1923 at the Circuito del Savio in Ravenna. This victory was significant not only for the win but because Countess Paolina Baracca gifted him the Prancing Horse emblem, which would become Ferrari’s iconic logo.

Ferrari’s best season as a driver was in 1924, with three major wins: the Savio Circuit, Polesine Circuit, and Coppa Acerbo in Pescara. He was known for his speed, mechanical sympathy, and ability to avoid unnecessary risks-valuable traits in an era when racing was extremely dangerous.

The deaths of fellow drivers Ugo Sivocci (1923) and Antonio Ascari (1925) deeply affected Ferrari, and he began to lose his passion for driving. After the birth of his son Dino in 1932, Ferrari retired from competitive racing, having participated in 41 Grands Prix with 11 wins.

Ferrari in 1920

HOBBIES AND SPORTS For Enzo Ferrari, work and hobby were indistinguishable-his passion for racing and automobile engineering consumed nearly all his time and energy. He famously stated: I have, in fact, no interest in life outside racing cars." This dedication bordered on obsession but drove the success of his racing team and automobile company. 

While he began his career as a race car driver, after 1931, his involvement in the sport shifted entirely to management and engineering. Racing, to him, was not just a sport but "a great mania to which one must sacrifice everything, without reticence, without hesitation." (6)

SCIENCE AND MATHS Ferrari's career as an automotive engineer and innovator demonstrated considerable technical knowledge. His approach to engineering was often intuitive and experience-based rather than purely theoretical, exemplified by his famous quote: "Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines." (6)

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Ferrari's philosophy was deeply pragmatic and focused on achievement through determination. His worldview is captured in several of his famous quotes: "If you can dream it, you can do it," and "One must keep working continuously; otherwise, one thinks of death."

His approach to life centered on passion, perseverance, and perfectionism. He once said, "Racing is a great mania to which one must sacrifice everything, without reticence, without hesitation," revealing his belief in total dedication to one's calling. (6)

The Vatican newspaper once criticized him following the deaths of several of his drivers, writing that Ferrari was an "industrial Saturn…who continues to devour his own sons."

POLITICS Enzo Ferrari was a member of the National Fascist Party during Mussolini's regime in Italy, often appearing in a full Fascist uniform for ceremonies and parades. However, according to historical accounts, his political affiliations appeared to be more pragmatic than ideological-a means of protecting his business interests rather than reflecting deep political convictions.

Demonstrating his political adaptability, Ferrari also maintained connections with the Socialists in northern Italy, reportedly allowing the Socialist Federation's head office to be housed in a building he owned. During World War II, his factory manufactured devices for both the Nazis and Mussolini's fascist government, further showing his strategy of working with whoever was in power.

This political flexibility helped Ferrari navigate the fractured, tumultuous landscape of mid-20th century Italy, preserving his business through regime changes and war. (7)

SCANDAL Ferrari's life was not without controversy and scandal. His personal life included maintaining a long-term mistress, Lina Lardi, with whom he had a son, Piero, while still married to his wife Laura. After the death of his driver Luigi Musso, Ferrari reportedly became involved with Musso's mistress, Fiamma Breschi, setting her up in residences and visiting her regularly.

His business practices could be equally controversial. In one infamous incident, he pre-sold a custom, all-blue coupe to a wealthy Frenchman, but when he received a better offer from an even wealthier American, Ferrari sold it to the American instead and forced the Frenchman to accept a standard red car.

Ferrari was also once charged with manslaughter following a tragic accident at the 1957 Mille Miglia race, where Alfonso de Portago's Ferrari crashed into spectators, killing the driver, his navigator, and 10 onlookers, including five children. Though Ferrari was eventually cleared of charges, the incident left a black mark on his reputation, with one driver's wife referring to him thereafter as "The Assassin." (8) 

MILITARY RECORD During World War I, Enzo Ferrari was drafted into the Royal Army and assigned to the III Alpine Artillery Regiment. However, his military service was cut short when he suffered a serious illness that required two operations, after which he was discharged. 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS When his son Dino was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Ferrari reportedly became obsessed with health metrics, creating caloric tables and keeping immaculate records of his son's vitals. 

HOMES Ferrari lived predominantly in the Modena and Maranello area throughout his life. His family's original home was in via Paolo Ferrari n°85 in Modena, adjacent to his father's mechanical workshop, which is now the Enzo Ferrari Museum. As his business grew, he established himself in Maranello, where the Ferrari factory and headquarters were located.

TRAVEL Despite creating vehicles that enabled global travel, Ferrari himself claimed, "I have never gone on a real trip, never taken a holiday. The best holiday for me is spent in my workshops when nearly everybody else is on vacation." (6)

His life was primarily concentrated in the Modena and Maranello area, with occasional business travel to Milan, Turin, and other Italian cities. His reluctance to travel extended even to races; he was known for rarely attending Formula 1 events, preferring to direct operations from his headquarters in Maranello.

In 1972, Ferrari built his own private racetrack, Fiorano, because why test your cars on someone else’s circuit when you can just build one in your backyard?

DEATH Enzo Ferrari died at the age of 90 on August 14, 1988, at his home in Modena, Italy. He had been suffering from kidney failure and spent his final days on dialysis. At the time of his passing, his son Piero, Piero’s mother Lina Lardi, and Piero’s wife Floriana were at his bedside.

In keeping with his lifelong preference for privacy, Enzo Ferrari left explicit instructions for a discreet funeral. The news of his death was withheld until after the ceremony had taken place, ensuring that the event remained private and shielded from public attention. Only a small number of people, personally selected by Ferrari, attended the funeral. The service took place the morning after his death, before the news was released to the public.

Enzo Ferrari was buried in his family tomb at the San Cataldo Municipal Cemetery in Modena, Italy. The burial was attended only by close family members. The San Cataldo Cemetery is also the resting place of his son, Dino Ferrari, and is considered a site of pilgrimage for Ferrari fans and automotive enthusiasts. Enzo’s grave is marked by an above-ground tomb, a common practice in Italy, and the cemetery itself is noted for its architectural significance, including the ossuary cube designed by Aldo Rossi. (9)

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Enzo Ferrari's legendary status has made him the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and films. 

His life was dramatized in the 2023 biopic Ferrari, directed by Michael Mann and starring Adam Driver as the iconic founder. The film focuses on a tumultuous period in 1957, shortly after the death of his son Dino and during the treacherous Mille Miglia road race.

The movie highlights Ferrari's complex personal and business relationships, with Adam Driver noting that the character is "not likable, necessarily" but "filled with unresolved contradictions." To transform Driver into the aging Ferrari, elaborate wigs were custom-created by hairstylist Alexis Continente, with each wig costing between 6,000 and 9,000 euros. (10)

ACHIEVEMENTS Founded Scuderia Ferrari and Ferrari S.p.A.

Led Ferrari to numerous victories in Formula One and sports car racing.

Built Ferrari into a globally recognized symbol of luxury and high-performance automobiles.

Received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to the automotive industry.

Sources (1) Motor Valley (2) The Rake (3) Autosport (4) Yahoo (5) Sfcriga.com (6) IMDB (7) Motorious (8) Factinate (9) UPI (10) Estetica magazine