From the first bare chassis 125 to the latest F430, Ferrari has produced a dazzling and varied display of cars over the past 60 years. Ferraris have been V12s, V8s, V6s, V10s, straight fours, and sixes, and flat 12s, front engined and mid-engined.
The chassis have been clothed by at least eight major coachbuilders and scores of smaller ones. They have been one of a kind show and race cars to production units that number in the thousands. Despite the common emphasis on front engined V-12s, Ferrari has arguably produced a greater variety of race and road models than any other manufacturer in the world. The list seems endless, and bewildering, even to those who claim to know a great deal about Ferraris.
For years, various writers and historians have struggled to publish a comprehensive list of all the Ferrari models. One of the first to do so was the team of Richard Merritt and Warren Fitzgerald, who convinced Road & Track to publish the first seriously researched book on the marque in 1966.
Said Merritt "There was a Ferrari club at the time, but no one had a handle on the many faces of Ferrari, or even what the various models were. We realized that if the Ferrari was going to become a true collector's item, and properly restored, we needed a concise history of the car." Not in terms of racing victories, but identifying each model with a description and photos. The book "Ferrari, The Sports and Gran Turismo Cars" was probably the most influential book ever written about the car, and like the subject itself, became a classic.
A few years later in 1973, Gianni Rogliatti published a full color book with nice but somewhat clumsy drawings of each of the Ferrari models up to that time. It was hardly a handy guide, and too general to be a great reference work.
Antoine Prunet upped the ante in 1980 when he wrote "The Ferrari Legend; The Road Cars", but while a truly great work, it did not include any of the many race cars. By 1982, Motorbook International/Ospey had published Dean Batchelor's Illustrated Ferrari Buyer’s Guide, a good but rather marginal effort.
Another few years passed and along came another book about Ferrari models, this time with serial numbers and period photographs.
The author was Geoffrey Eaton, a Brit who had started to compile a Register of Ferrari Cars in Great Britain. By 1986 his research had evolved into a book entitled "The Complete Ferrari". And complete it was, with virtually every single model, race car and show car Ferrari had made to that point. It remains a prime reference to this day, despite more recent revelations concerning the numbers built and model serial numbers.
In 1990, Automobilia of Milan published Ferrari, 1946-1990, Opera Omnia, a complete opus but not by any means handy, portable or accidentally disposable. Nor was it cheap.
Another large and heavy volume was published in 1995, and consisted of beautiful color photographs by Rainer W. Schlegelmilch, with text by Hartmut Lehbrink. Of course, it too, was titled "Ferrari". Heavy on the artwork, light on contemporary photos and history.
In the meantime, Ferrari historians became more focused. Marcel Massini chronicled all the Ferraris
clothed by Vignale; Jesse Pourret did the same with the 250GT series; Michele Marchiano with the Zagato Ferraris, and so on. These ongoing efforts have produced a vast library of esoteric information, almost as confusing as the Ferrari model range itself.
Perhaps what is needed today would be an updated compilation of all those wonderful Ferraris, complete enough to be useful yet small enough to throw in a suitcase and take to Cavallino, John Barnes’s most excellent event at the Breakers in Palm Beach. There, each year, one can gaze at an extraordinary collection of virtually every year and model of Ferrari ever built.
Spotting cars at Cavallino is a challenge. Here are two Ghia Ferraris, but which one is a 212?
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Or are they both? (this one is a 166).
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To walk the green aisles on this very rich island is to walk through Ferrari history. But alas, can one always tell the difference between a 348 and 355? Do you really know if that early Vignale Barchetta is really a 166 or 212? Are you sure that 246SP was the first rear engined Ferrari? And over there, could that Testa Rossa Spyder could have been built by Pininfarina with the factory's blessing? Did they build the 208 Turbo in both GTB and GTS forms? You think you have spotted a 1990 641 F1 car---or was that an F92A of 1992? Damn if I could tell.
Another teaser from Cavallino--a barchetta by Vignale---
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--next to a Barchetta by Touring. Acerbi's helpful book is a good portable companion for those visiting events like Cavallino.
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All of these questions, and a lot more, could find an answer in a new book by Leonardi Acerbi who, with the help of Georgio Nada Editorial and an able artist by the name of Giorgio Alisi, put together a very handy guide to all Ferraris, road, race, GT, and Sports. First published in 2004 by Nada, an English version is now available from Motorbooks (MBI, those folks who were largely responsible for the creation of the car book market itself), and titled "Ferrari, A Complete Guide to All Models."
It certainly meets the required parameters as mentioned: it is a small book, 8 by 6 inches, softbound. This makes it an ideal traveling companion. It is about as current as a hard copy volume could be, the last entries being the F1 2005 and the F430 Spyder which was introduced at Geneva last year.
Such mobility has manifold advantages for both the would-be-expert and the real expert. The beginner can stuff it into the glove box and at an unnoticed time, quickly discern enough information to impress one's companion--"Yes, honey, that's a one-off body on a 166 chassis, built by an employee of Carlo Abarth in 1952." Ferrari historians, who probably invented the term "Senior Moment" are also well served by this little guide to supplant and aid aging memory synapses. "Well, sir, yes, er, I distinctly recall that the 275 GTB was built with both SOHC and DOHC V12s, both of course, with the same displacement." A reputation saver at the very least.
The 348 as illustrated by Giorgio Alisi.
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And the 355. The similarities are many--but Acerbi's book will set you straight.
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Acerbi documents 185 model types, all in chronological order (or at least as chronological as possible, given often simultaneous new introductions made famous by Ferrari in the 1960s). Each one is illustrated by Alisi, who has provided a very consistent, accurate and pleasing side view in what appears to be pen and ink. Most models are given two pages, the drawings accompanied and complimented by either color or black and white photography on the opposing page. One will not find new photography here, however, most are the traditional factory photos of the era. Don't expect this to be used as a guide to restoration, and that is not it's purpose.
Each model is described in the somewhat lyrical verse of translated Italian--yet pleasing to read. Specs are also provided on the opposing page, making a neat, concise and easy to read quick reference. We liked that, and there was a lot of thought and editing which went into the layout. Acerbi was granted the space for a decent index as well--an accessory, like auto air conditioning, which may be a luxury but one that is necessary. There is also a list of major Ferrari victories, admittedly borrowed (and credited) from the Ferrari 1947-1997 50 year anniversary book, and thus lacking scores of SCCA Ferrari victories in the US.
Downside? No serial numbers and no consistent production numbers--both of which could have been obtained from glancing at a copy of Cavallino magazine. A very tidy book somewhat spoiled by the lack of these bits of information.
But, in stark contrast to other Ferrari books, new or used, this one is inexpensive at only $19.95 plus shipping--or about 5 gallons of gas at this week's prices. It is definitely deserving of a place on your shelf, glove compartment or suitcase.
