Enzo Ferrari founded the company back in 1939. A year later the car company built the very first model. Throughout the decades that followed, we have seen Ferrari transition into one of the greatest car companies in the world. However, like other prestigious car brands we tend to forget about, Ferrari had multiple duds along the way. We tend to celebrate some of the best models, such as the F40 or the LaFerrari, but what if we told that the inspiration for the LaFerrari came from one of the worst concept Ferrari models ever created? Yes, that is the reality. As you’ll see in this article the 60s, 70s and 80s created some wacky concepts. We’ll also include recent innovations that we hope Ferrari looks away from.
On the flip side we’ll explore the positives with some of the best concept models from both the past and present. Some of these former models are worthy of a re-launch while some of these new designs are models we hope Ferrari seriously considers for the future. Some might be the catalysts in terms of the future direction for the prestigious car company. From models like the Modulo in the past to concept designs like the F80, we feature both the good and bad Ferrari concept ideas. Enjoy the article and like always be sure to share it with a friend. Without further ado here are 11 Ferrari concept cars they need to bury in the past and 8 they should actually make. Let’s get started!
19 Stay In The Past: Ferrari Modulo
How can we not kick things off with the most popular Ferrari concept car of all-time the Modulo. No the goal of the car wasn’t with the intent to fly, instead it was released during the 70s. Ferrari had some wacky concepts back in that decade however this one if forever remembered among the elite of the all-time concept models. It took almost 50 years but according to Motor 1 this concept car finally hit the streets in early May if anyone can believe it.
James Glickenhaus purchased the one of a kind model. As you might expect he was overcome with emotions. He posted this message to Facebook; "She drove today for the first time ever. Video tomorrow. Sal drove her. He said she drove perfectly and sounded fantastic. He facetimed me. There were tears in his eyes..." It’s a remarkable story but one that sadly should not be duplicated...
18 Stay In The Past: Peter Simon’s Credo E-Bone Design
Peter Simon is known for having some wacky concept ideas. The designer is known for his futuristic shapes creating a distinct look called the credo e-bone for a variety of buses. Simon created the bizarre concept look along with a hydrogen powered model for the bus. He took a similar design and put it to use with a concept Ferrari design.
No disrespect to the concept builder but the car looks like a Ferrari that's been in an accident and one that should never be built. Again we applaud the ambition efforts, but this Ferrari needs to buried in the past no matter how futuristic it might look or feel.
17 Should Make: Ferrari 365P
A futuristic look this was a Ferrari concept created just before the wacky 70s in 1966. The car model had a futuristic design which was kind of Back to the Future-esque but with a sweet sports car twist. The real kicker of this vehicle is the fact that it was one of the few three-seated Ferraris ever made.
A historical concept to say the least. It turned out to be a one and done type of concept. However, according to Car and Driver the vehicle didn’t get the proper recognition due to the fact it wasn’t made by Ferrari. Had the company made the vehicle it could have turned out much differently. The one-off car maintains an insane value these days at over $20 million. Given the sleek look the “tre posti” is a car lots of Ferrari lovers wouldn’t mind seeing recreated.
16 Stay In The Past: Ferrari F12 Pick-Up
Hide your eyes classic Ferrari lovers. Yes, a Ferrari pickup concept was created and thankfully that’s as far is it went. The design wasn’t made by Ferrari. It featured a futuristic SUV look on the front followed by a pickup tail on the back. In truth the front really doesn’t look all that bad. However, the back just looks completely wrong for a Ferrari.
Just imagine trying to take such a vehicle to work with a ladder attached to the back... Do us a favor Ferrari and please don’t even consider this concept for the future even if you are entering the SUV market real soon.
15 Should Make: Ferrari F80
A hybrid supercar that promises speeds to 310 mph - this is a ground breaking concept idea released in early 2017. 29-year-old Adriano Raeli came up the futuristic model and idea for the sports car. From the hybrid engine to the look to the speed of the car, this is a Ferrari worthy of creation if done properly.
The designer opened up to the Robb Report discussing his motivations on creating this stunning concept model; “I wanted to create something striking before graduation, and what better way than to come up with a hypercar concept. Enzo Ferrari had always been a great inspiration for me, and I wanted to pay tribute to this great idol of the automotive world. My goal was to design a car that would be up to his standards as well as those of Pininfarina, which I have also always admired.”
14 Stay In The Past: Ferrari 308 GT Rainbow
Another wacky concept type released in the 70s! The design of the vehicle looks quite different from a classic Ferrari. You can make the argument that it resembles a DeLorean more than the iconic Italian car-making company. The car made the headlines a couple of years back. Classic Driver spotted a flaw in Ferrari’s 458 Spider.
According to the company it was the first mid-engined sports car with a retractable roof. They need to look back at the archives as that honor goes to this concept car instead. Only six were created, and they’re all stored away at museums or by private collectors. It’s an advanced car for its time but one that doesn’t need to be remade.
13 Should Make: Ferrari 612 GTO
Ferrari lovers can thank German Sasha Selipanov for the creation of this brilliant concept design. Ferrari enthusiasts raved when images of the car were made public. It features a fantastic blend of promoting the future while keeping the signature Ferrari look intact. Sadly Top Gear shattered the dreams of admirers of the car as they deemed the concept design just a concept and not a real car.
Nonetheless, one would hope such a design gets the proper recognition it deserves. It is everything Ferrari needs to be these days promoting a futuristic look while maintaining the integrity of the classic Ferrari look. Here’s to hoping this stunning GTO gets made one day.
12 Stay In The Past: Ferrari F150 Tensostruttura
It has a futuristic look that’s for sure. However, the top of the car might have been too much for lots car lovers. It looked to be a little too funny and instead worthy for space travel. However not all was lost with the concept car. According to Motor 1 Ferrari used lots of the parts and motivation from the concept car putting it to use with the new LaFerrari.
The car has become a big success unlike this concept car. Ultimately Motor 1 claims only 9 models were made while only two models made it to the full size versions. Leave the memories alone Ferrari and let’s move on from this failed concept idea.
11 Should Make: Ferrari F60 America
Oh, she’s a beauty! You can argue the Ferrari F60 America to be one of the sleekest and most stunning designs ever made. This V-12 beast is a special edition that made it passed the concept stage however only a limited amount were created. According to Top Speed only 10 models sold. And oh that price tag wasn’t cheap either with a worth of $2.5 million.
The F60 is a tribute to the F12 Berlinetta with a roofless twist to the top. The inside is just as impressive, according to Jalopnik that car features a roaring 730 horsepower along with a 0 to 60 mph speed in just three seconds! Anyone else think Ferrari should have made a few more?
10 Stay In The Past: Ferrari 512 Michetta Minivan
Deep breaths everyone. Yes the term Ferrari and Minivan together just doesn’t sound right. Back in 2016 this concept design made the rounds and the response was quite mixed. Some enjoyed the idea along with photos of the stunning interior. However, lots of Ferrari lovers once again disagree that a minivan should have anything to do with the luxury sports car company. On the bright side, Web2Carz revealed some telling information about the minivan.
On a positive note the concept car won’t be slow. Here’s what is hiding under the minivan concept's hood; “Under the hood is the raucous, naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter V12 from the F12berlinetta GT car, good for 731 horsepower that will launch the 4,355 pound minivan to 60 mph in a super-quick 3.8 seconds, using a new all-wheel drive setup to accommodate for the front-engine layout.”
9 Should Make: Ferrari FF Cross Edition
Not a fan of the minivan concept design? Well then perhaps a Cross Edition might be your thing. Concept photos released show the modern design and one that seems to fit the Ferrari bill a lot more than a minivan or SUV type. It is a modern twist on what a luxury sports SUV style should look like.
It appeared as though it was to hit the market in 2011, but the concept idea never got the push it deserved. For now the idea remains nothing but a fantasy. However, with Ferrari looking to expand into SUV types many are hoping this model gets a second chance.
8 Should Make: Ferrari Zobin
At first glance there is no denying this concept ride looks insanely awesome. It screams out future while giving an old school F1 feel. That was the goal for the designer from Iran of this futuristic Ferrari Zobin.
Motor 1 talked to the designer, Siamak Ruhi Dehkordi, about his ideas for the car; “The single seater model is clearly inspired by Ferrari's Formula 1 car. Its dimensions suggest it is quite a compact model with a length that measures 4.114 meters and a width of 1.855 meters – rougly the size of the Caparo T1. Exterior design focuses on giving the front end an F1 type ”open wheels” look. It features a quite unique structure with a metal band that wraps around the wheels, holding the headlights and also integrating the front spolier. The engine is placed in the mid-rear position for weight distribution efficiency.” You’re lying to yourself if you wouldn’t want to see Ferrari give this concept idea a try based off that description alone.
7 Keep Buried: Ferrari Mythos
No, that isn’t the race car bed you dreamed of having as a child. Instead, this is a prior Ferrari concept design from the 1980s. Reviews were mixed however the car design is mostly remembered as a dud and a little too over the top. Only three units were made along with the prototype.
It might have been best that this car did not pass the prototype stages. The car looks to be a mix of the Mondial and Testarossa, two prior Ferraris with a polarizing legacy to say the least. Maybe they can recreate it and turn into a car bed after all?
6 Stay In The Past: Ferrari Testa D’Oro Colani
Oh, goodness, speaking of car beds..... Ferrari lovers shouldn’t be shocked to realize that this is model one of one. Given the unique and rare factor the car has a value of $1.7 million according to Car and Driver. That’s cool and all but there truly is no need to ever revive such a model – even if we transfer our lives to space one day the car still wouldn’t make it.
All jokes aside the car actually has some serious speed with a 750 horsepower and 218 mph top speed. The goal wasn’t to create a stylish look but to make it one of the fastest production Ferrari types at the time. It’s an iconic car on the inside but based on the outside let’s leave it in the past as a historical concept idea and nothing else.
5 Should Make: Ferrari Pininfarina
Feast your eyes on this stunning concept car design inspired by the great Sergio Pininfarina. This stunning electric Hypercar got the green light to start building. If done correctly this stunning ride has the capability of hitting 250 mph. The car is going to come with a massive price tag of over $2 million.
The goal seems to be to create an upscale Tesla model with some disturbing speed. The designer of the car is nothing but excited about the idea coming to life, he told The Verge; “As a super sports car brand, no one has embarked fully on an EV strategy.” The estimated time for battery recovery ranges from 10 to 15 minutes for an 80 percent charge. The real kicker is the 0 to 60 per hour in under two seconds!
4 Keep Buried: Ferrari Motorcycle
Ferrari never got into the motorcycle world. If you saw a Ferrari motorcycle at some point chances are it wasn’t made by Ferrari or someone simply slapped a Ferrari sticker on it. For those of you that have been to Italy it isn’t uncommon to see a local riding a Vespa with the Ferrari sticker on the back. Although it is widely debated, it is believed that Ferrari only made one motorbike and it sold a couple of years back for a little over $100,000 at an auction.
Futuristic models have been created, such as the Ferrari V4. The concept is a slim and futuristic design with the intent of once again creating a speedy beast. However, most would agree that bikes should be left untouched by the company. The motorcycle above was created by a fan, but there is no doubt a Ferrari bike would be just as beautiful.
3 Stay In The Past: Ferrari Pinin
Oh the 80s. The decade was filled with hits and misses in the world of automobiles – let’s credit Ferrari for taking lots of risks during the decade. The company created some terrific models however sadly we can’t say the same for the Pinin, one of the worst concept cars ever created by the company. It resembles a Jaguar mixed with a low-rider mixed with a DeLorean...
The four seater is a joy on the inside however it did not drive particularly well. Ultimately the four door was to be scrapped due to the fact that it didn’t adhere with the original Ferrari philosophies. The only version is available at the Ferrari Museum – let’s keep it that way.
2 Should Make: Ferrari 2018 Dino
You might be rolling your eyes hearing the words Ferrari and Dino together. The car is considered among the worst Ferrari types ever. Now the idea behind the car was a good one and meant to have an affordable price point. However, the car is remembered as a dud and one of the cheaper Ferrari's ever made.
This might be one of the greatest redemptions story in Ferrari’s storied history. Concept designs unveiled a new and modern look for the 2018 Dino. The design looks absolutely stunning and a concept idea most Ferrari lovers hope makes a return to the market sometime soon.
1 Stay In The Past: Ferrari 512 S Berlinetta Speciale
Known as the Ferrari on steroids this is a model type you just won’t see at any point. The car definitely gets anyone talking due to its outrageous look. For that we applaud Ferrari and their old school concept idea. This one was to be unveiled just before the 70s in 1969. Ultimately the car was nothing but a show car and one that could have barely moved. In fact the car needed to be escorted by several hands during the unveiling. It is said that the engine featured a 6.0-liter V12 from a Can-Am race car according to Classic Driver. A historical car yes but not one worthy of a recreation.
Sources: AutoCar.co.uk, ClassicDriver.com, MotorAuthority.com