1898
Enzo Ferrari was born in Modena, Italy, in 1898.
“we start in 1898 in the medieval Italian town of Modena with the birth of our hero, Enzo Anselmo Giuseppe Maria Ferrari.”
Topic
Enzo Ferrari
21 facts from 2 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1916
Enzo Ferrari's father and older brother both died in 1916, when Enzo was eighteen.
“There was an older brother, but both he and Enzo's father died in 1916 when Enzo was only eighteen.”
World War I
Italian fighter pilot Francesco Baracca, whose parents encouraged Enzo to use the black prancing horse he painted on his plane, scored 34 aerial victories in World War I.
“Baracca had won 34 aerial victories before he was tragically killed in combat right before the end of the war.”
1917
Enzo Ferrari was drafted into the Italian army in 1917 and assigned to shoe mules for the mountain artillery.
“In 1917, shortly after the family tragedy, Ferrari was drafted by the Italian army, and because of his experience with ironwork, was given a job shoeing mules for the mountain artillery.”
1920
Enzo Ferrari raced for the small firm CMN and in 1920 became a racing driver for Alfa Romeo.
“For a time, he was a racing driver for CMN, and in 1920, he took on the same job for the more glamorous firm of Alfa Romeo.”
1937
The 1966 profile said a car Ferrari built in 1937 won thirty-one of thirty-five events.
“A car that he built in 1937 won thirty one out of thirty five events.”
1939
After Enzo Ferrari was fired from Alfa Romeo in 1939, his separation agreement barred him for four years from building race cars and from using the Ferrari name.
“Forbids him for four years from A, building cars to race them, and B, using the name Ferrari associated with a racing team or a car builder.”
1943
Enzo Ferrari moved his operations to Maranello in 1943 to avoid Allied bombing, which is why Ferrari is based there rather than in Modena.
“in 1943, he decides that he's going to move all of his operations out to a small little town in the countryside to avoid the bombing.”
1956
Enzo Ferrari's son Dino, whom he was grooming to inherit the company, died at age 24 of muscular dystrophy in 1956.
“His heir, his actual heir dies at age 24 of muscular dystrophy.”
1957
A Ferrari crashed into spectators at the 1957 Mille Miglia, killing the driver and nine spectators, including five children, and Enzo was later charged with manslaughter and acquitted.
“a Ferrari flies off the road and into the crowd, killing the driver and nine spectators, including five children.”
1963
In 1963 Ford negotiated the price to buy Ferrari from an original $18 million down to $10 million before Enzo Ferrari blew up the deal.
“The asking price was originally $18 million, but somehow Ford manages to easily negotiate it down to $10 million.”
1969
In 1969, when Enzo Ferrari was seventy-one, Fiat bought 50% of Ferrari.
“in 1969, when Enzo was seventy one, Fiat buys 50% of Ferrari.”
1969
In the Fiat deal, Enzo Ferrari kept control over all of Ferrari's racing activities.
“he's gonna sell 50% of the company, but he retains control over all racing activities.”
Undated
As a young man, Enzo Ferrari went to Turin to seek a job at Fiat and was turned down.
“So he goes to Turin where Fiat is. He tries to get a job there. They turn him down.”
Undated
While working as a driver for CMN, Enzo Ferrari reportedly shot at a pack of wolves from a broken-down car in a mountain blizzard.
“Ferrari carried a pistol everywhere he went, and so he winds up having to pull out the pistol and shoot at the wolves outside the window.”
Undated
While still racing for Alfa Romeo, Enzo Ferrari established an Alfa Romeo dealership in his hometown of Modena.
“So he actually establishes an Alfa Romeo dealership in his hometown while he's still racing for Alfa Romeo.”
Undated
Ferrari founded Scuderia Ferrari with seed capital from two wealthy customers and Alfa Romeo, taking on most of the financial risk himself.
“He gets the seed capital from two wealthy customers and from Alfa Romeo. He takes on most of the financial risk and runs the entire thing.”
Undated
After leaving Alfa Romeo, Enzo Ferrari was bound by a four-year non-compete agreement preventing him from racing against Alfa Romeo.
“he has a four year non compete agreement. So he cannot race against Alfa Romeo for four years.”
Undated
In one story the host tells, Ferrari told an American client to wait months for a car while unsold Ferraris sat hidden in the factory parking lot.
“the factory had a parking lot that was filled with unsold Ferraris that the client cannot see.”
Undated
Enzo Ferrari reportedly told Bernie Ecclestone that in racing the sport is on the table and the business is underneath it.
“Enzo told him one time that the sport is on the table and the business is underneath it.”
Undated
After talks to sell to Ford collapsed, Enzo Ferrari insulted Henry Ford II, saying he made ugly little cars in an ugly factory.
“So he has this war with Henry Ford the second. And during the war, Ferrari said that Henry Ford the second made ugly little cars in an ugly factory.”
Episodes