Most Iconic Road-going Ferraris Of All Time

The prancing horse has a place all of its own in the automotive industry's hall of fame. This year marks the 121st birth anniversary of its legendary founder Enzo Ferrari. So here’s a visual tour of some of the most significant models in Ferrari’s history

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 22 February 2019 3:53 pm

Most Iconic Road-going Ferraris Of All Time

Just say the name “Ferrari” in front of any group of people, and you will see their faces light up. Their eyes will sparkle and twinkle. Such is the power of the prancing horse! It is the most recognisable, idolised and symbolised car brand of all times. A symbol of wealth, power and status. If you have a Ferrari, it generally means that you’ve made it in life.

Founded by the legendary Enzo Ferrari, who was a successful racing driver himself, in the tiny Italian town of Maranello in Italy, Ferraris have since been the epitome of performance and high class engineering. Ruling the race tracks was what Ferraris did best. But they ruled hearts even better. The favourite poster car of our childhoods, Ferrari has made the most iconic road cars of all time. And here are just a few humble examples of the finest ever to leave the gates of Maranello.

Ferrari 166

This is the car that started it all. The 166 was the first Ferrari to exist in a non-racing form. Powered by a 2.0-litre V12 engine, the 166 got its name as it displaced precisely 166cc per cylinder and churned a total output of 110PS. What? Just 110PS from a V12? While the figure might seem puny in modern times, it was perfectly respectable for a 2.0-liter engine in 1948.

Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder

The 250 GT California Spyder was the ultimate dual purpose car, which was equally at home on track and road. The gorgeous open top sports car was first launched in 1958 and came with a lightweight aluminum body. Powered by the Colombo V12 engine which made up to 240PS, the California Spyder was available with both short and long wheelbases.

Dino 246 GT

Offered with a 6-cylinder engine instead of one of Ferrari’s more-powerful V12s, the Dino 246 GT was the first-ever mid-engined Ferrari without the famous prancing horse and was introduced in 1968. It was badged as the Dino in memory of Enzo’s son Alfredo who died in 1958. Despite having a 2.0-litre V6 under the hood, the Dino made 195PS and 225Nm of torque and was oodles of fun to drive.

Ferrari 250 GTO

Probably the most revered and the most exclusive Ferraris of all time, the 250 GTO represented what Enzo Ferrari stood for: victory, beauty and stubbornness. Starting out as a response to Jaguar’s E-type, the 250 GTO was one of the last front-engined sports car from Ferrari before the prancing horse familiarised itself with the mid-engined layout. It was powered by a 3.0-litre V12 which made 300PS and 294Nm of torque. Being among the most exclusive Ferraris, only 39 were ever built and in June 2018, one was sold for an all-time record selling price of $70 million.

Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer

Realising how much fun a mid-engined sports car could be, Ferrari put its V12 engine behind the driver and came up with the first mid-engined road car to bear the Ferrari name in the form of the Berlinetta Boxer. Powered by a flat-12 gasoline engine which made up to 344PS, the Berlinetta Boxer laid the foundations for the modern day Ferraris as we know them.

Ferrari Testarossa

Dubbed as the real successor to the Berlinetta Boxer, the Testarossa took the market by storm in 1984. One of the sexiest looking Ferraris of all time, the Testarossa was the true icon of the 80s. Flashy and flamboyant, Testarossa literally means "red head" in Italian. And with those pop-up headlamps, the Testarossa was a headturner like no other. Equipped with a 4.9-litre V12 engine which made 390PS, the Testarossa wasn’t the fastest Ferrari out there, but it surely was among the best looking.

Ferrari F40

Enzo’s last project before his death, and probably the most legendary Ferrari of all time, the F40 was launched in 1988. The F40 was an engineering marvel at its time. Powered by a turbocharged V8 with a near-8000rpm redline, the F40 was blisteringly quick, and was the first Ferrari to breach the 200mph (321.8kmph) mark. With its pop-up headlamps and iconic speedlines, the F40 is what shaped the modern day Ferraris as we know them. Fast and furious! ?

Ferrari Enzo

Built as the ultimate tribute to its founder, the Enzo was showcased to the world in 2002. Using a Formula 1 design with tons of carbon fibre and a naturally aspirated V12 engine, the Enzo is a special machine. With an output of over 660PS it was able to accelerate from 0-100kmph in 3.14 seconds and go on to hit a top speed of 355kmph. Only 399 Enzos were ever made and you won’t find even one up for grabs, even if you tried.

Ferrari 458 Italia Speciale

The perfect blend of modern day practicality and supercar genes, that’s what the Ferrari 458 Speciale is all about. It was the first Ferrari that didn’t have a manual transmission option and succeeded the iconic F430. With a naturally-aspirated 4.3-litre V8 under the bonnet, it was no slouch as well, and easily did 0-100kmph in 3.6 seconds. One of the best looking Ferraris in our opinion, the 458 was indeed special.

Ferrari LaFerrari

Built to rival the McLaren P1 and the Porsche 918, the LaFerrari is a modern day masterpiece like no other. Blending futuristic design with classic Ferrari aesthetics, this piece of art is the first hybrid sports car from Ferrari’s stables. Combining a 6.3-litre V12 with an electric motor, the LaFerrari makes a staggering 950PS of power. All this wizardry under the bonnet translates into a 0-100kmph run in just 2.6 seconds and a top whack of 350kmph! The LaFerrari is a true hypercar in every sense of the word and has a price tag of nearly 1 million pounds!