What is the most historically significant Ferrari?

Has to be the first. Had to have a start somewhere.

 

The 1954-63 250 series.

 

The Sharknose.
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There's too many ways to answer this. You could say the car that got Ferrari it's reputation in the market, it's racing pedigree, it's most known, one single VIN number that is historically significant, the most appreciated, the car that set the statement for what Ferrari means, etc.

You could argue the 308 GTS is because, thanks to Magnum, Ferrari became a household word and more people than ever could get one or afford one.

So, is the 308 GTS the most historically significant Ferrari? I think a good argument can be made if you look at it that way.

I personally think the most significantly historical model isn't a Ferrari at all. It's the 246 Dino Gt.

Why? Because it's the first time Fiat became involved with mass production methods with this tiny little car maker. It was the swing from making a few hundred cars a year to a few thousand, along with shared engines being in relatively inexpensive non-Ferrari branded cars like the Fiat Dino. Today, Maserati engines -- designed by Ferrari using blocks and other shared components and built on the Ferrari assembly line -- go into Maserati cars. It's not the first time. It happened with Lancia also.

 

308.

The 308 changed the form of the company in a way that it was positioned to thrive in the modern era.

 

If you're talking about which cars made Ferrari into what it is today, those cars that if they had not happened, the company would not have happened, you're talking about the race cars, particularly the F1 cars. Ferrari would have never gotten the brand recognition that it has without them.

Now, if you want to figure out what separated Enzo from Chapman when it came to "selling on monday," that's a different story.

Dale

 

The very first so badged car?

 

I agree on the race cars, but inside race cars I'm not sure I would agree on F1. Being european and born in 1960, I would rather say the endurance cars; when I was a teenager, Ferrari was already an established name here, but this was mainly due to their Le Mans presence. We were still talking about the P4 ten years after it was retired...

If we discuss production sports car, it is indeed the 308, no question about it. It saved a periodically ailing company and gave them at last a firm, solid, foundation. Without that car, Ferrari would not be there today.
Then, and this partly due to a certain TV serie that we all know well here, the 308 gave them universal recognition on the planet earth.

To me, it is the most important Ferrari indeed. And this is the most Ferrari of all Ferrari shapes: everyone, everywhere, knows what car this is.

Rgds

 

Nuvolari's Alfa? It has shields (and a c/f turtle-to-sample from atelier).

 

I think "The Mayor's" comments are excellent. The Dino - introducing Fiat into the equation - and the 308 - which brought Ferrari into the general consciousness - are certainly of great importance.

Consider also the Testarossa (the ones of the mid to late 80s). This car indicated that Ferrari had finally come to grips with US smog and safety requirements - requirements that would soon become the norm for thee advanced countries of the world. The TRs showed that Ferrari could make a car with fabulous performance and that would be socially responsible. The TR showed that supercars had a place in the modern world. The TR was the step from the old world craftsmanship, low-tech, one-off build, lack of reliability, fuel consumption and pollution is not important mentality to what we have today - the modern Ferrari supercar that is pretty reliable, can be built - and sold - in sufficient numbers to be profitable, and can simply run away and hide from the supercars of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

 

Yes, a great Dino, he asked about Ferraris.

 

You guys are all wrong...really really wrong.

The most historically significant Ferrari ever is the one parked in my garage every night !

The others are nice and some are important and almost all are worth more than mine but my 360 Modena is the most significant Ferrari ever because its MINE

 

I was waiting for someone to push back on the F1 v the sports cars. But, while the early '60s were exciting times, I suspect most baby boomers around the world first became aware of Ferrari due to F1 racing. TV changed everything including F1.

But I actually picked the Sharknose because I think it is the coolest F1 car. Those guys were beyond nuts. But there might be another F1 car that was more important.

Is too!

Dale

 

Ferrari/Dino 308 Gt4. First time Pinninfarina wasn't involved in the design a consumer car Ferrari. The company then learned its lesson for 30 years. This set the stage for the FF, which interestingly enough was a bit of a "departure in the design language" for ferrari... both being cars not know for their "beauty" It set the tone for a Pinninfarina-free Ferrari. *jk*

Actually I'll go with the 330 America. It was the first car that someone was so impressive and endearing, someone would willingly want to be buried in it. Nobody does that with a Chevy or Porsche...

 

F40 is the most significant car for Ferrari. It was the pinnacle of the road cars and to me embodies what Ferrari is or should be about. No other Ferrari will have the same impact for the company as far as it's spirit is concered, race cars aside. In the Ferrari timeline it will always stand out as the most significant benchmark of all.

 

Completely agree. Very well put. And I might add that the Dino was the first mid-engined car, too. Look at everything that followed. The big numbers and big impact are in the mid-engined cars, whether V8s or 12s. The 246 GT started all of that, although the 308 drove that point home in unbelievable numbers for Ferrari - they made like a billion of those, didn't they?

The design is also perfect and *timeless* in a way that no other Ferrari has been. Absolutely gorgeous. Everything that preceded was beautiful but looks the period. Everything that followed essentially screwed up those perfect lines more and more with each iteration. There's a reason it's on Mr. Sheehan's home page.

LOL, hard to argue with that!

 

308.

Saved the company, put Ferrari on the map, paved the way for the modern bread-and-butter 458 and specials like the V8-powered 288 GTO and F40.

 

agreed, and for those reasons.

without the 308, everything after it wouldn't be here.

you could make a similar argument for the Testarossa...first "usable" Ferrari, Miami Vice connections, etc.

 

Like this perspective as part of Ferrari's production and commercial success.

For racing success, there are several candidates for discussion. I would think the early models that built the Ferrari racing brand are up there in historical significance, though such cars may not necessarily be significant to most.

 

that is a thoughtful and interesting post. I may be convinced.

best,

pcb

 

I knew I could smoke you Telaio Blackhawk types out.

Dale