Ferrari and Maserati in Italy. Italian Property and houses for Sale in north Italy

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Ferrari
The world’s most famous and favourite red of Ferrari hails from Emilia Romagna. The racing cars which carry the logo of the prancing horse are not only beautiful sports cars but also a legend. A legend which finds its roots in Maranello, the birthplace of Ferrari in the province of Modena: a legend which has taken on and conquered the entire world.

Enzo Ferrari founded Ferrari in 1929. Ferrari was a racing driver himself, driving for Alfa Romeo and later becoming the director of the Alfa Racing Division. He originally set up the Ferrari ‘stable’ to organise racing for members but at this point he did not envisage starting his own company. However in 1940 Ferrari abandoned Alfa Romeo to set up Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari. During the Second World War the company moved from Modena to Maranello but the factory was destroyed by bombing in 1944. By 1946 the factory had been rebuilt and production of the first ever Ferrari was in full swing, a 12 cylinder, 1500cc piece of engineering brilliance. Today the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello is visited by pilgrims from around the world, annually welcoming around 130,000 through its museum and factory doors. The list of achievements for Ferrari is long and prestigious, including nine Formula 1 Drivers' World titles, 14 Manufacturers' World titles, eight Formula 1 Constructors' World Championships, nine wins at the Le Mans 24 Hours race, eight at the Mille Miglia, seven at the Targa Florio and 113 wins in Formula 1 Grand Prix. In 1969, Enzo Ferrari sold 50% of Ferrari's share capital to the Fiat group. By 1988 that had risen to 90% but the Ferrari reputation for excellence has not been affected.

A Ferrari is more than just a car to get you from A to B, a Ferrari is an experience, an attitude, a lifestyle. The car can be seen as a reflection of who you are - stylish, fast-edged, and all class. Thousands, if not millions, of people around the world are fans of this stylish racing machine. With its glamorous design and roaring engine, the Ferrari can't help but turn heads wherever it goes. It's a car that gets noticed, a car that people dream about.

However, Ferrari is not the only automotive giant in Emilia Romagna, for Maserati and Lamborghini and their respective museums and factories also call this region home.

www.ferrari.it
www.ferrari.co.uk

Maserati

On December 14, 1914 a new company was born in Bologna, Società Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati. The Maserati brothers: Carlo (1881), Bindo (1883), Alfieri (1887), Mario (1890), Ettore (1894) and Ernesto (1898), with exception of Mario, who turned his creativity towards painting, they all became involved in engineering. Alfieri decided to start a company and rented a garage on the Via de Pepoli in Bologna. In 1926 the brothers developed and built their first two-seater racecar with an eight-cylinder engine which generated 120 bhp at 5300 rpm. Above the radiator the company logo was placed, a trident that evoked Bologna's famous statue of Neptune.

The symbol of Maserati was designed by Mario. In 1933 Maserati was the first European manufacturer to introduce hydraulic brakes on its racecars. That year Maserati achieved three grand prix victories, in France, Belgium and Nice. Maserati was taken over by the Orsi family in 1937. Wilbur Shaw won the Indianapolis 500 with a Maserati 8CTF in 1939 and Maserati is the only Italian

constructor to have won this legendary race. By the end of the year Maserati moved to its present home on Viale Ciro Menotti in Modena. The first sports car was launched during the Geneva motor show in March 194, the A6 which was designed by Pininfarina. In 1957 Maserati won the world title with the 250F and Juan Manual Fangio behind the steering wheel. At the end of the race season Maserati retired from racing and from that moment on they concentrated on road cars. The 3500 GT was the first mass-produced touring car; the company Carrozzeria Touring from Milan was responsible for the bodywork. In 1959 they built a car for the Shah of Persia, the 5000 GT Touring. This car was followed by several other models, the Sebring ( 63-72 ), Quatroporte and Mistral ( 63-70 ), the Mexico ( 66-72 ), Ghibli ( 66-70 ) and the Indy ( 69-76 ). The Orsi family sold Maserati to Citroën in 1968. From 1981 until 1993 they produced several Bi-turbo models, 6 and 8 cylinder, coupes, spyders and saloons. In July 1998 Ferrari acquired the control of Maserati. The very successful 3200 GT, the first car produced under the Ferrari management was presented to the Paris motor show of the following year.
www.maserati.com The official world wide site
www.maserati.co.uk The official UK site
www.maserati-rc.org Info for lovers of Maserati

Lamborghini

Ferruccio Lamborghini was born in Renazzo, a little village near Bologna, on 28th April 1916. His parents were farmers but Ferruccio did not inherit from them the love of the land and, from very early he showed an interest in technology and mechanics. The whole mystique of Automobili Lamborghini is related to the man who had the inspiration, the skill and the determination to turn a dream into a reality.

The experience he gained during the Second World War determined his direction once he returned home; he started buying old military vehicles, converting them into tractors, something that Italy desperately needed after the War. The success of this enterprise prompted him to buy a workshop in Cento where,

from 1948 onward, Lamborghini tractors were produced. He opened a car factory in Sant'Agata in 1963, which started delivering cars in 1964: in doing so, the legend was started.

Year after year this factory has produced cars that have been the ideal of beauty and perfection expressing better then anything else Ferruccio Lamborghini`s desire for nothing but the very best. However the seventies proved difficult years for the company and it wasn't till 1986 that the company’s logo of a charging bull once again stamped its mark on the world stage with models such as the Countach and Diablo. The Lamborghini factory and museum can be found in Dosso, near Ferrara.
www.lamborghini.com
www.lamborghini.co.uk

A short stay on the Adriatic Riviera provides visitors with the opportunity to also experience one of the many safety and racing courses which are held throughout the year at the Santa monica raceway, in Misano Adriatico. Also for car and motor racing lovers everywhere, a visit to the Imola circuit, a Mecca for formula 1 fans the world over, is a must!
www.misanocircuit.com
www.etracksonline.co.uk
www.autodromoimola.com