This is a terrific book, published in 1990, filled with the kinds of information I enjoy, particularly the early days. This is a warm account of the history of Ferrari told from a more fundamental side than other accounts. Dregni tells of the development of the factory; its tools and methods of construction, how the company grew over time, not only as it expanded model lines and diversified types of racing entries, but the growth of the factory itself. This tale isn't limited to a short span of time, but covers decades, and reveals how much had changed and thankfully, how much has stayed the same. He really tells the story well, with interesting sidebars on vendors and individuals who have an often hidden role in Ferrari history.
Stan Nowak lamented that Dregni didn't have access to his pictures, and Bob Gurr has some killer period pictures that would be welcome in this format too. As it is, it's a well organized and well researched document of the growth and technical development at Ferrari. The informative text is well researched, it must've been a huge undertaking, and the photo reproduction is very good. Here are the few notes made on the photo captions.
p. 24 Ferrari Factory 1959. One of the Ferrari myths is that complete bodies are made independently and lowered onto completed chassis. In this great shot of a later assembly line we see several PF coupes (as stated) and and late (not an early) single louver TdF 250GT Scaglietti Berlinetta. The chassis are assembled as the caption describes, and then sent to Pininfarina or other carrozeria and returned with the completed body an integral part of the chassis. This is better illustrated in Karl's book. Note the SuperAmerica at the top left.
p. 28 Carrozeria Pinin Farina 1960. This may well be a 250GT at Pininfarina but it is not a Pininfarina Coupe, note the lack of a fresh air vent on the cowl, which was proudly featured on the PF Coupe.
p. 29 Ferrari Factory 1958. This might be a LWB California but most of the 250GTs from this period have a built up box section where this one has a tubular front crosspiece suspension carrier. I'm gonna have to look at a few more cars before I make the call, but it looks more comp than GT.
p. 36 Carrozeria Pinin Farina 1960. Note that we're at Pininfarina, the footwells and firewall being part of the chassis, the bumpers are mounted to the chassis (not the body) and the steering column is in place, indicating the chassis is there. In the white car behind you even see the chassis cross bar through the radiator opening.
p. 56 Ferrari Factory 1989. I don't think this building is in the courtyard, but behind it.
p. 62 Carrozeria Scaglietti 1955. The guy in the sweater looks a lot more like Sergio than either guy with a tie.
p. 65 Carrozeria Scaglietti 1958. These are great shots. I think the lower right photo shows electrical wiring and a positive battery cable, not a brake cable.
p. 73 Carrozeria Pinin Farina 1959. Here you can clearly see the footwells are in place and see the chassis through the rear wheel well and the bumper attaching tubes that are welded to the chassis.
p. 74 Carrozeria Fantuzzi 1978.They go to the trouble to give the chassis number, but as far as I know 2030/62E is jibberish.
p. 106 Ferrari Factory 1960. Okay the engine in the lower left is likely F1 and so is the one next to it. The third one looks like a TdF engine with three carbs and velocity stacks, not six like a TR. The last one looks like a SuperAmerica engine with the low air cleaner, whereas most GTs have a tall air cleaner.
p. 131 Ferrari Factory 1989. These are 348 engines, not F40.
p. 156 Ferrari Race Shop 1956. Judging by the clear plexi hood scoops and RHD sports prototypes and the three carb Dino F1 cars look a lot more like 1959 than 1956.
p. 161 Ferrari Race Shop 1956. It looks like the front box section is unusually crowned to the front.
I've always enjoyed this book and wanted more. More came in 2002 by way of Karl Ludvigsens book Ferrari, The Factory, Maranello's Secrets 1950-1975 that I'll cover in another post.
Stan Nowak lamented that Dregni didn't have access to his pictures, and Bob Gurr has some killer period pictures that would be welcome in this format too. As it is, it's a well organized and well researched document of the growth and technical development at Ferrari. The informative text is well researched, it must've been a huge undertaking, and the photo reproduction is very good. Here are the few notes made on the photo captions.
p. 24 Ferrari Factory 1959. One of the Ferrari myths is that complete bodies are made independently and lowered onto completed chassis. In this great shot of a later assembly line we see several PF coupes (as stated) and and late (not an early) single louver TdF 250GT Scaglietti Berlinetta. The chassis are assembled as the caption describes, and then sent to Pininfarina or other carrozeria and returned with the completed body an integral part of the chassis. This is better illustrated in Karl's book. Note the SuperAmerica at the top left.
p. 28 Carrozeria Pinin Farina 1960. This may well be a 250GT at Pininfarina but it is not a Pininfarina Coupe, note the lack of a fresh air vent on the cowl, which was proudly featured on the PF Coupe.
p. 29 Ferrari Factory 1958. This might be a LWB California but most of the 250GTs from this period have a built up box section where this one has a tubular front crosspiece suspension carrier. I'm gonna have to look at a few more cars before I make the call, but it looks more comp than GT.
p. 36 Carrozeria Pinin Farina 1960. Note that we're at Pininfarina, the footwells and firewall being part of the chassis, the bumpers are mounted to the chassis (not the body) and the steering column is in place, indicating the chassis is there. In the white car behind you even see the chassis cross bar through the radiator opening.
p. 56 Ferrari Factory 1989. I don't think this building is in the courtyard, but behind it.
p. 62 Carrozeria Scaglietti 1955. The guy in the sweater looks a lot more like Sergio than either guy with a tie.
p. 65 Carrozeria Scaglietti 1958. These are great shots. I think the lower right photo shows electrical wiring and a positive battery cable, not a brake cable.
p. 73 Carrozeria Pinin Farina 1959. Here you can clearly see the footwells are in place and see the chassis through the rear wheel well and the bumper attaching tubes that are welded to the chassis.
p. 74 Carrozeria Fantuzzi 1978.They go to the trouble to give the chassis number, but as far as I know 2030/62E is jibberish.
p. 106 Ferrari Factory 1960. Okay the engine in the lower left is likely F1 and so is the one next to it. The third one looks like a TdF engine with three carbs and velocity stacks, not six like a TR. The last one looks like a SuperAmerica engine with the low air cleaner, whereas most GTs have a tall air cleaner.
p. 131 Ferrari Factory 1989. These are 348 engines, not F40.
p. 156 Ferrari Race Shop 1956. Judging by the clear plexi hood scoops and RHD sports prototypes and the three carb Dino F1 cars look a lot more like 1959 than 1956.
p. 161 Ferrari Race Shop 1956. It looks like the front box section is unusually crowned to the front.
I've always enjoyed this book and wanted more. More came in 2002 by way of Karl Ludvigsens book Ferrari, The Factory, Maranello's Secrets 1950-1975 that I'll cover in another post.
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