On high of its everlasting reveals, the Nationales Automuseum in Dietzhölztal, Germany, presently affords guests an unforgettable journey into the historical past of one of many world’s most iconic automotive manufacturers – Ferrari.
After ascending to the second flooring of the museum, you’re immediately immersed in Ferrari’s storied legacy, with a outstanding show of its most celebrated highway and race vehicles. From hypercars to championship-winning System 1 machines, uncommon customized builds, and historic endurance racers, the exhibit captures the essence of Ferrari’s evolution. It’s a sensory feast, mixing high-performance engineering, beautiful design, and Maranello’s wealthy motorsport heritage.
The primary show that greets you is a tribute to Ferrari’s unique supercar lineage – the 288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari. It’s generally known as the ‘Massive 5,’ however with the latest unveiling of the F80, I’m guessing it’s going to quickly turn out to be the ‘Massive Six.’
Every of those vehicles represents the top of design and efficiency in its period. The 288 GTO on show has a particular historical past, having been owned by Albert Uderzo, the French comedian e-book artist and co-creator of Asterix.
Subsequent to it sits the F40, the least uncommon within the sequence, with 1,311 models produced. However for a lot of lovers, together with myself, it’s essentially the most fascinating. The F50, with solely 349 examples, is a real rarity, and the present exhibit contains one in every of simply two factory-issued fashions that includes gold-colored wheels, a nod to Ferrari’s classic System 1 vehicles.
The Enzo marked the debut of the F140 engine – a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 that drew closely from System 1 expertise and have become the guts of Ferrari’s hypercar lineage. Not solely did the F140 engine propel the Enzo to a blistering 3.3-second 0-60mph time, however it additionally laid the foundations for the hybrid-assisted F140 V12 within the LaFerrari, which sits subsequent to it within the show.
Two standout fashions from the Nineteen Seventies loom behind – the 1972 312B and the 1973 312 BB-74. The latter is particularly important because it was the primary Ferrari pushed by the legendary Niki Lauda, who shared the automobile with drivers like Jacky Ickx, Clay Regazzoni, and Arturo Merzario.
Wandering deeper into the exhibit, I encountered one other two uncommon Ferrari race vehicles: the 1952 Mille Miglia-winning 250 S – the one one in every of its sort – and the 275 S Spyder Vignale, which additionally competed in the identical prestigious race.
The exhibit then transitions to Ferrari’s endurance racing legacy, the place probably the most stunning race vehicles ever made – the 330 P3 – takes middle stage. This automobile competed in opposition to the Ford GT40s within the 1966 Le Mans, pushed by Lorenzo Bandini and Jean Guichet. By 1967, it had been modified with Drogo bodywork and was renamed the 412P, racing below the North American Racing Group banner with Pedro Rodríguez and Giancarlo Baghetti on the wheel. It secured third place on the ’67 24 Hours of Daytona, contributing to Ferrari’s triple victory.
Close by, a uncommon and extremely collectible 1966 Dino 206 S Spyder, one in every of simply 18 ever constructed, and powered by a 2.0L V6 engine producing 220hp.
Additionally on show is the F2004, the automobile that helped Michael Schumacher declare his fifth F1 World Championship with Ferrari. This machine earned eight victories from 11 races. The F2004 is Ferrari’s most profitable System 1 automobile, securing 18 podium finishes from 18 races. For followers of each Ferrari and Schumacher, this automobile embodies the peak of the Scuderia’s dominance in F1.
The F2007, seen from outdoors the museum, remembers one other legendary second in Ferrari’s historical past. This automobile commemorates Kimi Räikkönen’s thrilling 2007 driver’s title, Ferrari’s most up-to-date driver’s championship.
The Ferrari Exhibition additionally boasts three bespoke Pininfarina masterpieces, together with a 1957 250 GT Speciale, crafted for Princess Réthy, the spouse of Belgian King Leopold III, and a 1954 250 MM, initially commissioned for the spouse of Baron Thyssen and later owned by Aga Khan. Finishing this uncommon assortment is the 1961 250 GT Speciale, which debuted on the London Motor Present the identical 12 months.
In one other nook, a novel reproduction pit field showcases a 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter – the primary Ferrari race automobile to reach in America. This specific 212 completed second within the Carrera Panamericana, pushed by Ascari and Villoresi, simply behind an an identical Ferrari pushed by Taruffi and Chinetti, which now not exists.
Two legendary Barchettas spherical off the gathering – the 1964 Nürburgring-winning 275/330P and the Dino 196/246 SP, Ferrari’s first mid-engine automobile that triumphed within the Targa Florio twice and received the 1962 European Hill Climb Championship.
The Ferrari exhibit on the Nationales Automuseum affords an immersive journey via Ferrari’s heritage. It’s a celebration not simply of Ferrari’s technological feats however of the artistry and keenness which have outlined the model for over 80 years. Do test it out in individual when you’ve got the chance.
Vladimir Ljadov
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