Enzo's last ferrari?

Before Enzo Ferrari died in 1988, he help design and supervise the release of the Ferrari 348. So its safe to say the Ferrari 348 is Enzo's last prancing horse.

 

Doesn't history suggest that the F-40 was presented as his final supreme act? Of course, you could also make the case that the Testarossa was his last 12 cylinder road car.

 

You are right. Had the Testa 88 as my pre death car ( end of July prod.)and had F-40 ordered at the time he died as his last 12. As for 348 don't think he had anything to do wuith it. His health had deteriated etc
Doc f

 

Yep, I thought the F40 also.

 

Probably this is one reason it holds such a special place, even with the Enzo, F50, FXX and whatever next. I think it was the best looking and most pure Ferrari of all those, too - of course.

To be honest, however - we just have to wonder how much Enzo really had to do with any of the road cars much past the Daytona.

 

He had quite abit to do with the Dino GT4, he was quite involved with the egronomics of the interior.

Cheers!

 

The F40 was supposedly his final car. It feels like an Enzo creation because it was an evolution of an existing concept/design, and was the flagship, 201 mph car. I don't see how he could have NOT been involved in something so high profile.

We know he was close to the Dino 206/246 project because of his ill son, and that mid-engined car (and design direction) spawned the Boxer and 308, so I would guess Enzo was involved in those.

But, I wasn't there, so that's speculation.

 

I've always wondered how (of even if) involved Enzo was with the 328....???

Jedi

 

The story I read supposed that he permitted the 206/246 to take place because it was "only" a six, and so would not be as dangerous as a mid engine 12. The boxer, according to this version of the legend, kind of had to be worked into production almost against his will - and only because the perception was that they were getting killed by the Miura.

 

My understanding of the organization (and I may well be wrong) was that he had very, very little to do with any road car development after the early 1970's. The stories I heard (again, caveat) were that he usually looked at PF's models and looked over final engine specs when they were ready, but little more.

Anyone have concrete knowledge of his involvement to share? Thx.

 

Yes, I agree both F40 and 348 would be his last prancing horse.

 

i have a print that shows the last know publicity photo of enzo taken just before he died. he is standing at the drivers door of the testatrossa with the f1 car behind him he was so weak at the time that they placed a chair behind him that he arose from to take the photo and then sat back down, or so the story goes.....

 

Yeah, I'm gonna go with +1 on this too.

 

the photo i was referencing (passenger side not drivers)
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I'm thinking 456 : his hands were all in that project....to the point of even starting the entire design over after much investment.

 

Rik, the earliest serial number that I can find for a 456 is 1991, even though the car didn't come out until 1993. I know that Ferrari develops and tests and refines before they announce and release, but I highly doubt that the 456 was more than a twinkle in someone's mind's eye around the time of Enzo's death (14 August 1988).

 

I'm with Carbon on this one. Now if we were talking GM lead times.......

 

The F40 was the last car to be released, but he was most certainly involved in the 456 car's design before his death. GM aside, it was a long developement.

Unless someone can prove me wrong on this, I was quite certain he told PF to scrap the designs started in the 80's and that is why it took so long: Believe I read this from the Buyer's Guide

As much material as I have acquired regarding the 456 and read, the Mr. Taylor's quote remains constant. Very costly, took way too long, and Enzo was very heavily involved in that car. He even took time to make sure many interior items were to his personal likings/specifications as he was looking foreward to enjoying the car.

It is a big tribute to him, and as many are slowly getting out of their two-seaters into our baby boomer geritric cycled cars, this is a car that should not be over looked: It is a tribute to the Daytona in every aspect. The rear facing scoops are a throw back to the 60's the side is just simply stunning.

It is his handy work ..

rik

 

That's very interesting!

I have to agree, the 456 is a work of art.

 

I think we are all being too kind and wishfull. Enzo once he sold half of the company to Fiat, He had very little if anything do do with concept and development of the road cars. I think after 1969, he turned over the road car production to Fiat. I'm sure that up untill the early 70's he had some influence since he was the guy running things, but he was really focused on F-1 at the time and building the Reparto Corse... racing team. I would be super suprised if he had anything to do with the F40 other than introducing it to the press... I think they ran stuff past the "Old Man, but really dont think he was involved much day to day.

All that being said, to me a real Ferrari is one made during his lifetime... and some day I'll have one from the time he ran the whole thing!

 

+1, I agree his last supercar.

 

With LOTS of due respect, I just can't imagine Enzo had much of a hand in the road cars those last couple decades, much less the 456 that was primarily designed and mostly engineered after he died. He never was an engineer so much as a brilliant manager, and most of his input was in the realm of approvals and staffing (including the contemporary leader, LdM).

Again, I may well be wrong, but there's just a ton of stories out there indicating that he gladly stepped away from the road car division when he sold to Fiat. Does anyone have or know of texts or documents of any sort that can shed light on his involvement?

 

If this is true, and I am not sure if it is, then I am honoured to have chosen a 348 as my first (and current) Ferrari.

 

It sounds like that's exactly what he did-- he looked at the original design for the 456 and not only didn't approve it, he told them to start over.

 

No doubt the Old Man still exercised the final say. If a design didn't move him, he would have told the engineers and stylists to go back to the drawing board. I'm sure he smiled when he saw the final F40. I know I did!