Five legendary Ferraris – Our Favorite Stallions from Italy

KUALA LUMPUR: What does it take to be considered the absolute best and greatest in the automobile world? Whatever it may be, but many petrolhead's will argue till their last breath, that Ferrari has it all. Their is no such brand, that can match the glorious prominence of this Italian automaker. From its humble beginnings in 1929 to becoming a $9.8 billion valuation, Ferrari has always crafted world's beguiling cars that are great to drive and to ogle. To sight one of this Italian masterpieces in flesh, is similar to capture a glimpse of auto heaven. Ferrari isn't just an automaker who crafts cars, but an artist who paints a gorgeous and mesmerising picture on road. It's artistic abilities have passed from car to car, becoming more refined and head-turning. There is virtually no car in the history of Ferrari's existence, that does not adorn a scintillating design. Ferraris are not only head turning, ravishing beauties, but they are also high on performance, being the only automaker with most number of wins on the Formula One racetrack.

In honor of this great marque, we decided to collect 5 of our favorite Prancing Horses from the history of the Ferrari Stables, and show them off here. These five pageant winners out of Maranello, stir the soul and make true auto aficionados out of hotwheels-vrooming youths.

250 GTO:

Their is no other car that echoes the illustrious brand of Ferrari, than this iconic car – 250 GTO. The 250 GTO is the apothesis of Ferrari's obsession. Considered the most valuable and coveted car on earth, the GTO was primarily built to rule the track and gave birth to the legendary generation of Ferrari's race cars. Ferrari's engineer - Giotto Bizzarrini, brought back the fierce 3.0-liter 12-cylinder engine which peaked at 300 horsepower, integrated a five-speed transmission in place of the four, and lightened and strengthened the chassis. The result? One of the great racers of its era, winning three consecutive FIA world championships in its class from 1962-64. Not only was the 250 GTO an ultimate winner on track, it was a stunning looker too. With its striking elliptical grille, topped by unmistakable triple vents and a hulk like rear fenders, made this car an epic beauty. The 250 GTO also holds the tag of the most valuable car on the Earth, cashing in for a record breaking $52 million at the Bonhams’ Quail Lodge auction.

F 40:

Enzo Ferrari was an artist in his own league, and the Ferraris crafted by him were the most legendary prancing horse from this Italian stable. F 40 was one such iconic Ferrari and the last vehicle to be built entirely under the guidance of Enzo. As per the request of Enzo, Ferrari's design engineers did deliver the “best car on the face of Earth”. Under the hood, the F 40 sported a twin-turbo 2.9-liter 8-cylinder engine produced a screaming 478-horsepower, that pushed the car to sprint at a speed of 200mph, making it the fastest, most powerful and also the most expensive Ferrari of its era. Apart from its fierce engine, another component that attributed to its top notch performance, was the use of expensive lightweight composites lifted from Ferrari’s F1 experience, allowing the supercar to weigh in at only 2,700 lbs. To save weight, there was no radio, no carpets, the windows were hand-crank units, and the door handles were nothing more than flimsy rubber-coated cords. The F40 was only about one thing: performance! Built to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ferrari, the F 40 was truly legendary.

365 GTB/4 or Daytona:

Ferrari and Lamborghini have always been arched enemies, both competing to craft the best supercars, this world has ever seen. The 365 GTB/4 aka Daytona, was Ferrari’s answer against Lamborghini's Miura. While, everyone expected Ferrari to challenge Miura with a similar mid-engined style supercar, instead Maranello sticked with what they do best – crafting front-engined, V12 Grand Tourers, and the result wowed all in the form of this magnificent car – Daytona. Officially known as the 365 GTB/4, the Daytona was so named due to Ferrari’s lock on the podium at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race. The 4.4-liter 12-cylinder engine under the sweeping hood of the Daytona was capable of an impressive 352 horsepower and became a much sought-after sports car for Europeans and Americans alike. It also gained mainstream shine when Sonny Crockett selected it as his vehicle-of-choice in the first two seasons of Miami Vice.

Dino:

Some may say, Dino did not deserved to be on this list as it never hold the badge of Ferrari, but this masterpiece was iconic then and is iconic now. Named after Enzo's late son Alfredo, the Dino was one of its kind small Ferrari car that was created after the Formula Two's rule changed, demanding all track vehicles be based on road-going production cars. Hence, giving birth to this little wonder with a first in its class – mid-engine setup, a powertrain layout that would grow to become a cornerstone of the House of Maranello. It's low-slung sort of look, with its flat duckbill front end and a sloping tail, along with curved front fenders and thin side vents, exudes the same elegance that befits more expensive stallion of Ferrari.

La Ferrari:

This Italian automaker is no stranger to pushing the envelope in terms of car design and engineering. Their cars have always been able to top the charts when it comes to speed, design and novelty. La Ferrari is one such example from the house of Maranello, that ticks in all departments, performance, design, rarity and racing pedigree. To rule the hybrid segment, Ferrari crafted the magnificent La Ferrari with the sole purpose of speed and supersonic speed. The 6.3 liter normally aspirated V12 engine puts out 789 HP, while the electric motor puts out 161 HP, for a combined output of 949 horsepower. La Ferrari runs at a hypersonic speed of 217mph sprinting from 0 to 60mph in less than three seconds. It just also happened to be marvellous to look at; witnessing one in the flesh is a sight you’ll never forget.

These are our all time favorite rides from the house of Ferrari. If we have missed yours, do let us know in the comment section below.