you may assume that Ferrari has been a car manufacturer forever, but it really wasn't. Initially, the founder, Enzo Ferrari, intended to be a racer or team boss. First for Alfa Romeo; and frankly, he was very good.

Here is how things progressed. In 1939, Enzo had a major disagreement with Alfa Romeo. His exit was strictly regulated. He signed a contract limiting him from using the Ferrari name on any race cars for four years. What did he do instead? He founded a new corporation called Auto Avio Costruzioni (which built machine tooling and airplane components). This was certainly less exciting than building a racing machine.

When World War II arrived, the Modena plant was damaged twice. Enzo had to begin again. However, the dream of producing his own racing vehicle never left his mind. Once the war ended, he began working. When he changed the name of his corporation to Ferrari, even though there was no longer any restriction regarding the name due to expiration of the original contract with Alfa Romeo, he also engaged a highly skilled engineer named Gioacchino Colombo to develop an engine.

This engine would ultimately become the engine for the first "real" Ferrari. The 125 S. Although this engine displaced only 1.5 liters and featured a V12 configuration, it revved rapidly and produced a noise that is still talked about today. On March 12, 1947, Enzo initially fired-up the engine. You have likely imagined the atmosphere. A modest shop in Maranello. Engine oil covered the floor. That deafeningly loud, screeching engine reverberated against the walls.

Although the 125 S made its initial debut at the Piacenza racing circuit on May 11, 1947, and although it did not immediately take home the trophy at that event, in only a couple of weeks after its debut, the 125 S won its first trophy at the Rome Grand Prix. At this point, Ferrari was clearly making its presence known.

You most likely know the image of the prancing horse logo. Enzo borrowed it from World War I fighter pilot Francesco Baracca, who had originally painted it onto his airplane. Baracca's mother reportedly advised Enzo to utilize it for good luck. After adding a yellow background -- which was the color of his birthplace Modena -- the rest is now history.

Enzo Ferrari was extremely determined, quite demanding, and obsessively devoted to achieving victories. He once stated, "Aerodynamics are for those who cannot build engines." This philosophy characterized the company since inception. Their focus was speed, passion, and a touch of Italian magic; not comfort.

Therefore, when you observe a red Ferrari pass by with speed, recall that all began with a contract that was broken, an industrial facility that was bombed, and one man who refused to give up. Not bad for a side job.