Italian Stallion

Considered the ultimate boy’s toy, the Ferrari represents the pinnacle of success, for those willing to pay the price. It has been a collector’s item for wealthy Italians like Gianni Agnelli and Roberto Rossellini and European royalty such as Baron de Rothschild and the Aga Khan. After Hollywood gave it a starring role in The Thomas Crown Affair in 1968, a legion of iconic owners, including Dean Martin, Elvis Presley and Steve McQueen, followed.

The Ferrari began as a uniquely styled luxury race car designed by an Italian racing star. Born in 1898 in Modena, Enzo Ferrari was the son of a metalworker. When Ferrari was 10, his father took the family to the first of many auto races. He became hooked after seeing Felice Nazzaro, considered the greatest driver in the world, win. In 1916, with the death of his father and brother, the family’s business collapsed, and Ferrari had to find a new way to support his mother. So in late 1918 he took a job as a test driver with a small car company in Milan. By 1920, he was racing for Alfa Romeo, and he took first prize in the Savio Circuit in 1923. Impressed by the fearlessness of the young racer, the father of World War I flying ace Francesco Baracca presented Ferrari with his son’s squadron badge. It depicted a prancing horse on a yellow shield, which would become the Ferrari symbol.

Ferrari eventually became the head of Alfa Romeo’s racing department but left the company in 1940 to design his own luxury race car. Deterred by World War II, he waited until the 1947 Grand Prix to see the first victory with the Ferrari 125S. The car quickly earned its pedigree as the fastest there was, and it wasn’t long before it went from the racetrack to roadways. By the 1980s, Ferrari had become the ultimate status symbol, drawing collectors as diverse as Prince Bernhard of Holland (who owned 14), Eric Clapton (8) and Ralph Lauren (13). In the past 10 years, the Ferrari has won more Formula One races than any other car—which has created record prices in recent sales. McQueen’s 1963 Ferrari Berlinetta Lusso went for $2.31 million and James Coburn’s 1961 Ferrari California Spyder sold for a whopping $11.4 million. “It’s the price you pay,” says Ferrari historian Michael Sheehan, “for tradition and cutting-edge styling that is available to only a select few.”

1 A 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Testa Rossa with custom bodywork 2 Company founder Enzo Ferrari, in racing gear, center, at an Italian track in 1921 3 A Ferrari 250 GT with a short wheelbase 4 A 1967 Ferrari 312 Formula One race car 5 The new Ferrari California convertible, which will be officially unveiled at the Paris Auto Show in October 6 A 1961 Ferrari 250 TR 61 Spyder Fantuzzi, owned by Ralph Lauren 7 Actor James Coburn’s classic 1961 Ferrari California Spyder sold for $11.4 million in May