"The roads of this world are my museum," was a comment Commendatore Enzo Ferrari would repeat throughout his life. Nevertheless, the city of Maranello erected a museum, known as the Ferrari Gallery, in the 1980s. Today, more than 150,000 enthusiasts a year can't leave Maranello without visiting the fabulous Galleria Ferrari.

Click for larger image. The brochure for the current 250GT theme at the Galleria.

Enzo Ferrari always concentrated on current and future projects. He described his life as a breathless walk, always looking forward, never looking back. Ferrari considered the roads of this world as the appropriate living room for his cars. But millions of enthusiastic Ferraristi all over the world see the history of the prancing horse in a different light. Ferrari memorabilia are objects of cult, material expressions of a genius, symbols for freedom and aristocratic lifestyle and metaphors of sporting triumphs and human tragedies.

Since the mid-80s the community of Maranello has paid tribute to this devotion with an unusual museum, the "Galleria Ferrari". The community commissioned architect Tiziano Lugli for the construction of a cultural center, which also included the Galleria Ferrari. The modern complex with its large glass windows provides a friendly and light atmosphere for the carefully selected show pieces owned by the factory but also on loan from collectors. The most important moment experienced by the Galleria was on 21 July 1987, when the Commendatore uncovered the spectacular F40 to the world press. Ferrari died a year later on August 14, 1988.

Click for larger image.		Click for larger image.
Ferrari 166 F2, s/n 112, is at the entrance to the Galleria.		Another 166 variant, the Inter Berlinetta Touring, s/n 077S

In contrast to most museums and art galleries, the Galleria Ferrari does not choose to display the cars as patron saints of a long lost epoch, enclosed in tomb-like structures. Cars, engines, and most objects are open and accessible. Many visitors, especially their bambini and ragazzi, literally press their noses onto the windows in the same way in which they would do on a sports car parked in the street. Pictures, videos and models show Ferrari production activity. Part of the tour is devoted to Ferrari the man and the legend he created. Pictures and genuine collectibles allow one to review Enzo Ferrari's life, from Alfa Romeo sporting director to car constructor. Even Enzo Ferrari's old office with his wooden desk and furniture from the Viale Trento Trieste in downtown Modena has been transferred to the Galleria Ferrari.

Click for larger image.		Click for larger image.
The Ferrari pits features a complete high tech fuel equipment setup.		The 408 Prototype is displayed on the upper level.

The permanent exhibition is on two levels with additional special displays and shows in a separate area. The lower floor currently has a dark blue 166 Inter Berlinetta Touring (#077 S), the ex-Lorenzo Bandini 275 GTB/4 in yellow, and a 750 Monza Spider with Scaglietti body. There is a special Formula One display including an interesting replica racing pit with three new Formula One cars and the entire high-tech fuel equipment. Here sits the factory-built replica of the first Ferrari, the type 125 S of 1947. At the entrance is a 166 Formula 2 car of 1949, chassis #112, formerly owned by Luigi Chinetti Sr. Especially interesting is a huge glass case showing many trophies of the most important Ferrari victories of the past 55 years.

Click for larger image. A beautiful 250LM, s/n 5899, is part of the 250GT theme.

On the upper level can be seen the yellow 408 Prototype, an F50, a 360 Modena used for aerodynamic testing, several skeletons for competition Ferraris of the 1960s, and a great display of engines and those sensational exhaust pipes. There are also many large-scale plastic models fabricated for bodywork and aerodynamic wind tunnel tests.

A few years ago the "Meno di Dodici" exhibition was held, a special show presenting the sports and racing Ferraris equipped with engines of less than twelve cylinders. In February of this year a new special show, titled "Le 250 GT 1952 to 2002", began at the Galleria Ferrari. The author visited the museum on 16 February and observed a number of very scarce Ferraris on display. Italian collector Lorenzo Beltrami had his 250 GT LWB Tour de France Berlinetta on loan. Alongside was Pietro Brigato's 250 TR Spider with Scaglietti body, the last 1958 Testa Rossa built.

Click for larger image.		Click for larger image.
Also part of the 250 theme is s/n 0767, a TdF.		S/n 0758TR is the last of the Red Heads.

lso on display was a metallic grey 250 GT SWB California Spider and a red 250 GT SWB Sefac "Hot Rod" Berlinetta (formerly owned by Swiss Ferrari F1 driver Clay Regazzoni), both cars coming from Italian collections. Hong Kong businessman and longtime Ferrari enthusiast Brandon Wang proudly displays his deep blue 250 GTO Series I. A red 250 LM Berlinetta and a nice 250 GT Lusso are also on display. A bit surprising, however, is the display of a 500 Superfast "Mascherone" (the wooden skeleton for this Italian supercar of the mid-60s) amidst all the 250 GTs.

Click for larger image.		Click for larger image.
Out of place in the 250 exhibit is this body buck from a 500 Superfast.		The last is the first, a factory built replica of the 125.

The current special exhibit about the 250 GTs is scheduled to last the next four or five months and there will soon be a new factory publication covering this interesting 3-liter theme. Entrance cost is currently € 10 Euro per adult and visitors can buy all the Ferrari merchandise from models to posters and from bath towels to books at the museum entrance. The Galleria Ferrari is open six days per week from 09.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. in the morning and in the afternoon from 02.30 p.m. to 06.00 p.m.. It is closed on Mondays. Their email address is Galleria@ferrari.it. The Gallery is located at Via Dino Ferrari 43 in Maranello. It is owned by the community of Maranello but is strongly supported by the factory.

© Marcel Massini 21/03/02