Ferrari: inside the history of the Prancing Horse
Published on Apr 09, 2026 at 10:36 AM | By Alessandro Renesis
At this point, everybody knows that Enzo Ferrari just wanted to race cars and win races, and he didn’t care about road cars.
But around 80 years later (Ferrari was founded in 1947), Ferrari is probably the most sought-after brand in the auction world.
From limited-editions modern cars under no-resale clauses to the yellow Ferrari Enzo that recently sold for over $17 million, it’s record after record after record.
Let’s take a moment to analyze why that’s the case.
The man and the mission – Enzo’s V12 obsession
Enzo Ferrari once famously declared he was ‘building engines’ more than cars, starting with the iconic V12.
To Enzo, the engine was the soul of the machine.
Everything else was of secondary importance.
From the humble 125 S of 1947 – Ferrari’s first road-going creation – the lineage exploded into front-engined masterpieces like the 250 GT series and the legendary 250 GTO.
These early icons were not designed in boardrooms but for the racetrack.
And, in a way, that still hasn’t changed
The ‘big five’ – defining the modern halo
As Ferrari evolved, it perfected the art of the flagship hypercar and supercar.
We can identify at least five (to begin with.)
The 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO, the 1987 Ferrari F40, the 1995 Ferrari F50, the 2002 Ferrari Enzo, and the 2013 Ferrari LaFerrari.
In 2026, these cars have undergone a dramatic market shift.
Low-mileage, rare-color, or specially specified examples are now among the most sought-after assets on the planet.
The F80 and the hybrid future
Today, Ferrari is opening up to new technologies, including full electric hypercars with the upcoming Luce.
But we also have to talk about the F80.
This hypercar draws direct inspiration from the Le Mans-winning 499P prototype.
Powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (derived from the 499P’s winning architecture) it produces 900 horsepower on its own, but it goes up to 1,184 horsepower with the three electric motors that complement the internal combustion engine.
The result is a 0-62mph sprint in approximately 2.15 seconds.
Purists may debate the shift away from the traditional V12, but the F80’s scarcity model ensures its place in history: only 799 units will be built.
Despite the hybrid powertrain, demand has been insatiable.
Why Ferrari Dominates the Auction Block
Few automotive brands command the auction arena like Ferrari.
All the aforementioned icons (288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, LaFerrari) cost seven figures.
In some cases, depending on a few different factors, even eight figures.
There’s also the ‘classiche’ factor.
Ferrari actually started the Ferrari Classiche certification – the official factory verification of authenticity and restoration standards.
A car with impeccable documented history or famous previous ownership can easily command a 30 percent premium at auction.
It sounds like a cliche but owning a Ferrari is never just a purchase.
It’s also like ‘buying into’ a dynasty.
Head to SBX Cars to find out more about current and upcoming Ferrari auctions
