Speed, power, and exclusivity epitomise the iconic Ferrari. Symbolised by a prancing horse, this marque is certainly a force of nature in the wild west of Formula One, unapologetic in its prowess and deeply proud of its sanguine splendour.
The Ferrari was born of a passion for racing, a sentiment that pulses through the brand’s veins to this day. The first official racing car created by Ferrari was the homebuilt 125 F1, which took part in the 1948 Italian Grand Prix. Its exemplary performance inspired the founder, Enzo Ferrari, to take a chance on this nascent brand.
Few years later, Ferrari bagged a momentous victory at the 1951 British Grand Prix – this triumphant moment unleashed a series of championship victories over the next two decades, solidifying Ferrari’s status as the undefeatable Grand Prix make.
Ferrari’s repute has been emboldened over the decades, with countless landmark wins on its crown. So exclusive is the brand’s irreplicable speed and effortless panache that only 7000 models are produced annually. It is no wonder that a Ferrari is an untouchable status symbol.
Read on to discover the best luxury Ferraris of all time.
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO
The Ferrari 250 GTO is the unattainable prodigy of the Ferrari clan, known for its illustrious legacy and advanced automotive engineering. It has always been near impossible to come by, and thus has bewitched all Ferrari collectors around the world.
Only 36 units of the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO were ever made between 1962 and 1964. This grand tourer won the 1963 and 1964 Tour de France Automobile, establishing Ferrari’s uninterrupted nine-year victory streak in the race.
As such, there was much hubbub around this car, which boasted cutting-edge aerodynamic technology for the time, comparable to many performance cars of the present day. During the 1960s, when the brand’s newfound prestige was at its height, anyone interested in buying this model had to get personal approval from founder Enzo Ferrari himself. At that time, it was worth $18,000 in the United States.
The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO recently broke all Ferrari auction records by going for a whopping $70 million to WeatherTech founder David McNeil in 2018.
2023 Ferrari Purosangue
The 2023 Ferrari Purosangue is a landmark car in its own right, as it’s the first ever four-door, four-seater car in Ferrari’s history.
With the newly introduced rear seats, the Purosangue has harmonised adaptability and comfort with its racing DNA. Beautifully emulating its name (Purosangue means thoroughbred), this model is as sleek as a racing marque can be. There’s no front grille, and the sensors and cameras are seamlessly integrated into the design. With mighty impressive intelligent design, the Purosangue is compact yet extremely spacious. The underbody, bodywork, and rear diffuser are super efficient, rendering it an incredibly aerodynamic model.
The Purosangue is equipped with a V12 engine that propels it from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in three seconds. Christiano Ronaldo, a self-proclaimed Ferrari enthusiast, recently added this family Ferrari to his luxury car collection.
2017 LaFerrari Aperta
The LaFerrari Aperta was a limited edition series that launched in 2017 to mark the brand’s 70th anniversary. The Aperta lived up to the brand’s sheer exclusivity, as only 210 units were made.
The Aperta has all the characteristics of the LaFerrari coupe, with a ritzy open-topped build. Devoid of a roof, high-tech design conceptualisation was employed to incorporate LaFerrari’s features into this model.
Like the original LaFerrari, the Aperta is outfitted with a 6.3L V12 engine and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 3 seconds. Backed by a dual electric motor, it can achieve a staggering top speed of 350 kilometres per hour.
2017 Ferrari FXX-K
Like the aforementioned Aperta, the FXX-K is inspired by the LaFerrari – indeed, it has been described as “the most extreme expression of the LaFerrari.”
The Ferrari FXX-K was designed to run like the wind, completely unbridled on the track. In a quest for creating a superfast Ferrari, several revolutionary automotive innovations were incorporated into this model – a dual pair of lateral turning vanes and vertical fins; a raised tail at the rear end in addition to the mobile rear spoiler; and an extremely wide rear diffuser are some of the features that set the Ferrari FXX-K apart. Additionally, it features the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) to spark unmatched performance.
This model’s innovative engineering earned it the “Red Dot Best of the Best” prize, a highly coveted award for automobile design.
1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti
The 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti is one of the rarest Ferrari series, as only four models were produced.
The Sport Scaglietti, with its slick red facade, was leaps ahead of its time. The handsome open-topped car was fitted with a 4.1-litre V12 engine, empowering it with 400 HP of horsepower. Its top speed was an awe-inspiring 305 kilometres per hour, which was certainly unheard of in the mid-20th century.
The Scaglietti has an impressive track record – it won the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix and finished second in the 1957 Mille Miglia. It has been driven by British Formula One champions such as Mike Hawthorne and Stirling Moss, lending it even more prestige. It also holds the record of being one of the most expensive Ferraris ever sold – the 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti went for $36 million at an Artcurial Motorcars auction.
1954 Ferrari 375-Plus
The 1954 Ferrari 375-Plus is a magnificent marque with countless accolades under its belt.
Notwithstanding its slow start, the 375 Plus went on to compete in countless international races and won many of them, such as 24 Hours of Le Mans, Carrera Panamericana, and 1000 km of Buenos Aires. With Dan Gurney, the marque secured second place in Grand Prix Riverside.
The 1954 Ferrari 375-Plus was equipped with a revolutionary 5L Lampredi V12 engine, producing a power of 300 HP and a top speed of 280 kilometres per hour. Only eight units were made, rendering it quite a sought-after collectible. One of the most famous 375-Plus units today is the one gracing Ralph Lauren’s Ferrari collection.
Ferrari California T
Embodying the effortlessness of California’s blasé air, the Ferrari California T seamlessly melds speed, comfort, and elegance.
With its archetypal Ferrari build, the California T is a compact car with aerodynamic symmetry and a muscular rear end. Notwithstanding its tight structure, it boasts a roomy cabin. With a sleek bonnet, large shimmering grille, and sumptuous leather seats, the California T is one of Ferrari’s most stunning cars.
Its Turbo Performance Engineer (TPE), which is a digital display instrument, epitomises Ferrari’s technological prowess – it assists the driver in making best use of the Ferrari’s engine, besides being fitted with a highly intuitive infotainment system.
Ferrari is not just another sports car big name. It’s also much more than its enviable pedigree.
Ferrari unapologetically represents the values of the creme-de-la-creme – peerless in its craft, mercilessly exclusive, and startlingly beautiful, all while steeped in the trappings of immense wealth.
Bearing a status symbol that can inspire awe in the richest of the rich, Ferrari remains the stamp of luxury, quality, and speed.
