Maranello, Italy

Since we were already in Florence, a drive north across the Appennine Mountains to Maranello, Italy to visit the Ferrari Factory seemed like a fantastic idea. We decided to drive the A1/E45 route which resulted in a 140 kilometer trek (one way, 173.984 miles round trip).

The drive through the mountains was spectacular, but then the navigation to get from the Autostrada to Maranello was a challenge (think country roads & no signs), but well worth it.

We exited the Italian E45 at the SP623 south exit, and then exited the SP623 onto the SP16/SP467 - which takes several left & right jogs on its way to Maranello. In the time frame that we were there (2007) the road signs were infrequent, so we navigated by paper map and our Tom-Tom device and eventually got to the village of Maranello.

Maranello, a small town in northern Italy, is internationally famous for its deep ties to luxury sports cars, particularly Ferrari. Here are a few interesting facts about Maranello, Italy:

• Home of Ferrari: Maranello is the global headquarters of Ferrari, one of the world’s most iconic luxury car brands. The town has been synonymous with Ferrari since 1943, when Enzo Ferrari moved his factory there from Modena.
• Ferrari Museum: The Museo Ferrari in Maranello is one of the town’s biggest attractions. It showcases the history of Ferrari, featuring classic cars, Formula 1 cars, engines, and memorabilia, making it a must-visit for car enthusiasts.
• Formula 1 Connection: Ferrari’s Formula 1 team, Scuderia Ferrari, is headquartered in Maranello. The team is the most successful in the history of Formula 1, and fans flock to the town to learn more about its legendary racing history.
• The Fiorano Circuit: Maranello is home to the Fiorano Circuit, Ferrari’s private testing track. Built in 1972, this circuit allows Ferrari to test and develop their racing and road cars, and it’s a key part of the brand's innovation process.
• Enzo Ferrari’s Legacy: The town’s connection to Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the Ferrari brand, is everywhere. Maranello honors him with monuments, and his personal influence is still felt in the town’s car culture. He is buried in the San Cataldo Cemetery in nearby Modena.
• Ferrari-Themed Hotels and Restaurants: Many hotels and restaurants in Maranello are Ferrari-themed, reflecting the town’s deep connection to the car brand. Restaurants often serve Ferrari-inspired menus, and hotels cater to the countless Ferrari fans who visit.
• Culinary Excellence: While Maranello is famous for Ferrari, it’s also located in the Emilia-Romagna region, known for its incredible food. Visitors to Maranello can enjoy traditional Italian cuisine like Parmesan cheese, prosciutto, and balsamic vinegar, all produced in nearby towns.

Ferrari Factory tours are typically reserved for Ferrari owners or those invited through special programs. Ferrari’s policy is quite strict about who gets to visit the production areas, which includes the assembly lines, design studios, and other restricted sections of the factory.

The Ferrari Museum was located only a block away, and it is populated with almost every race car Ferrari ever raced, as well as just about every street car that Ferrari ever produced.

As the museum was also on the way to the Ferrari Test Track, and since it also had a deli, we decided to head over there and make the best of being in Maranello.

Everybody got a chance to sit in any of the Ferrari race cars in the exhibit. They did not allow people to climb into any of the "street cars". These are all legendary race cars and are famous for various reasons, including winning Formula One Championship the year they were active.

Each of the modern era race cars Ferrari had constructed was present in the Museum. They vary what is exhibited from time to time, adding cars as they develop new models, etc.

Image # 1 (left) is the legendary #27 Formula 1 race car driven by Gilles Villeneuve. Image # 2 (right) is the Ferrari 155 a rare 1950's era car.

Perhaps one of the most famous street cars Ferrari ever produced! This Ferrari F40 (Type F120) is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car built from 1987 to 1992, with the LM and GTE race car versions continuing production until 1994 and 1996 respectively. As the successor to the 288 GTO, it was designed to celebrate Ferrari's 40th anniversary and was the last Ferrari automobile personally approved by Enzo Ferrari. At the time it was Ferrari's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car for sale.

Born from a desire for pure, unadulterated driving pleasure, the F40 stripped away comfort for pure performance. Its lightweight composite bodywork housed a monstrous 2.9L twin-turbocharged V8, churning out 478 horsepower and propelling it to a blistering 201 mph top speed.

The F-40 is beautiful from any angle! The F-40 debuted with a planned production total of 400 units and a factory suggested retail price of approximately US $400,000 (5-fold the price of its predecessor, the 288 GTO) in 1987 ($900,000 today). One of those that belonged to the Formula One driver Nigel Mansell was sold for the then record of £1 million in 1990, a record that stood into the 2010s. A total of 1,311 cars were manufactured with 213 units destined for the United States.

The Lancia D50 was a Formula One racing car designed by Vittorio Jano for Lancia in 1954. The car's design made use of many innovative features, such as the use of the engine as a stressed chassis member, the off-centre positioning of the engine to allow a lower overall height, and pannier fuel cells for better weight distribution and aerodynamics. Six of the cars were built, and two of them are displayed in Italian museums.

The D50 made its race debut toward the end of the 1954 Formula One season in the hands of two-time World Champion, Italian driver Alberto Ascari. In his very first event Ascari took both pole position in qualifying and fastest race lap, although his car's clutch failed after only ten laps.

In the hands of legendary drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio and Luigi Musso, the D50 secured five Grand Prix victories in 1956, even claiming the Constructors' Championship. Fangio, behind the wheel of the D50, conquered his second consecutive World Championship title, solidifying his status as a racing legend.

Click here to go to the Ferrari Museum (Maranello) Website. The Museum has gone through several upgrades since we were there, and there are even more cars to be seen now.

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