Enzo's last car

[manchild]

Remember my rants about how displeased I am with the way Enzo's heritage and Ferrari reputation is being abused by new Ferrari management? Listen how Enzo's last car ended up out of Ferrari museum and on the market (2:30)

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=q_6bPI0dTyk[/youtube]

It's been not said in the video, but after initial shameful theft from Ferrari museum it also changed several owners.

[allan]

that is a shame really...
this car was never meant to be sold or traded with. That is a true piece of art!
thanks for the video manchild

[Giblet]

He calls Luca di Montezemolo Ferarri's former head of it's F1 racing team.

Isn't he still the man?

[manchild]

He became head of Ferrari F1 team in 1974. In 1977 he advanced in FIAT group and moved out from position of head of F1 team.

[mx_tifoso]

Remember my rants about how displeased I am with the way Enzo's heritage and Ferrari reputation is being abused by new Ferrari management?

I'm glad we agree on at least one thing regarding Ferrari Manchild. What the current management is doing, and have done as of late, is trully unbearable to witness. The entire "global brand awareness" approach is diluting the once pure entity Ferrari SpA once had. I'm definately not one to judge, but that's how I see this.

While there's still something special about Ferrari, its not as it once was. If I didn't have the knowledge of Ferrari's noble and humble beginnings, I can assure you that I wouldn't have the avatar, nick, or appreciation for this company as I do knowing so. And it's exactly that, knowing how Ferrari SpA came to be that keeps me a so called "fan", because thats all I am, since I don't own any of their Disneyland-like merchandise or much less own one of their sports cars.

BTW, here is link to a Supercars.net thread discussing a Ferrari F40 Prototipo. It may or may not be exactly the one you have taken into account for the creation of this thread, but the first post includes pretty much all of the information about this car, and what makes it distinct from the rest of the F40's produced.

Supercars.net- 1987 Ferrari F40 Prototipo

[zac510]

Everybody knows that if those changes hadn't occured neither ferrari F1 or ferrari road cars would be able to exist in the current economic climate. So wipe those petty tears off your face, build a bridge and stop whinging.

[manchild]

Everybody knows that if those changes hadn't occured neither ferrari F1 or ferrari road cars would be able to exist in the current economic climate. So wipe those petty tears off your face, build a bridge and stop whinging.

Enzo's last personal Ferrari had to be taken from museum in order to save the company?

[zac510]

My post was in response to your and mx_tifosi's criticism of the management.

[mx_tifoso]

In comparison, Lamborghini is not planning on making an amusement park in the Middle East in order to increase its "global brand awareness". In my personal opinion, this is not necessary in order to survive in the current economic state, its Ferrari, that says it all. They shouldn't need to sell so many Ferrari teddy bears and coffee mugs to survive, it just shouldn't be that way.

They should base their survival on selling a limited amount of road cars and possibly some limited merchandise, but not taking it to the extreme of having a Ferrari amusement park in Abu Dhabi.

This all comes down to how the current management is handling this company. Even though they have helped with the recent success in the road car and F1 departments, what they are doing in the marketing department is not necessary, its just being greedy. And to be honest, it may not be the managements fault altogether, since three years ago the Mubadala Development Company acquired a 5% stake in Ferrari. So the amusement park in Abu Dhabi was quite an obvious choice, since it would please the investors in Abu Dhabi (whose government owns the Mubadala Development Co.) and would help increase brand awareness in the Middle East and nearby Asian region.

Regarding the F40 Prototipo, if di Montezemolo happened to transfer this car as a gift to a member of the Italian Royal Family, the royal family should have been more respectful towards Ferrari and not sold it for their own benefit. As this car has been through the hands of quite a few owners since it left the Ferrari museum. What more can be said about this car? It is extremely special, and it was Enzo's last car, that should've been enough for Ferrari to have kept it to themselves.

Theres no need to get offensive or start arguing, this is a simple conversation about an F40, which just happens to be extremely special.

[manchild]

Agreed, I really don't get the idea behind giving an ultimate museum work of art to someone after 10 years since it has been in museum. Italian royal family? How are they important to country? Italy is a republic for god's sake.

[donskar]

I agree that Ferrari marketing goes to extremes in the quest for "brand" (and I am a Tifosi who was once brand manager for a Fotune 25 US computer company).

HOWEVER, the price of F1 is very high; the price of winning is even higher. And in Ferrari's case, the price of losing might have very serious and far-reaching implications - I think Ferrari management believes that auto racing is part of their corporate DNA (for which they deserve applause) and that business will suffer if they are not successful in F1.

Having said all that, it all comes down to money and what it can buy. Remember, McLaren can count on Mercedes. Ferrari has Fiat(?) And I think we'll all agree that in the final analysis, Honda, Toyota, Renault, and BMW have a lot more resources (directly and indirectly) than Ferrari (or Ferrari and Fiat). Ferrari goes to extremes, but they might have to do so to meet their goals.

[zac510]

Agreed, I really don't get the idea behind giving an ultimate museum work of art to someone after 10 years since it has been in museum. Italian royal family? How are they important to country? Italy is a republic for god's sake.

You're only talking up the history and significance of this car in order to support your various eccentric conspiracy theories against Montezemolo and the current Ferrari management.

Regardless of its owner, this car still carries that history.

[dumrick]

Regarding the F40 Prototipo, if di Montezemolo happened to transfer this car as a gift to a member of the Italian Royal Family, the royal family should have been more respectful towards Ferrari and not sold it for their own benefit.

According to the video, the only "king" involved might have been the king of Buttoni pasta, to which brother this car may have been gifted.

And what's more important to a company than caring about their DNA, keeping and conserving some significant pieces of their history?

[Minicucci]

You know, I had this exact conversation with my dad a few days ago. I read that Ferrari posted record profits for 2007, $2.7 billion I believe.
Ferrari used to be a racing company that built road cars to pay for the race division. Now they are an automotive MANUFACTURER that has a racing team, among other things. Now the talks of making a 'green' Ferrari ? I blame it on Max Moseley.
Manchild, for once, I say I'm with you one this one.

[manchild]

Some things simply belong to certain time frame. Attempts to extend their life beyond that time frame considers essential changes and when you change something essentially than it becomes a completely different thing.

Bio fueled or hydrogen powered Ferrari simply won't be a Ferrari anymore just as F1 with unified design, ban of technology, grooved tyres, engine freeze and single tyre manufacturer has nothing to do with F1 when it was a wonderland for creative engineers and designers.

If someone would make me an offer, to pick a Ferrari or two which I can own but never sell than I'd without thinking take one of those from Enzo's era. I'd rather take one of mine favorite 288 than any "super" F50, "Enzo" or cheaper models since they are nothing more but branded confection just as any modern soulless car.