Ferrari 125 S: The First Sports Car That Started It All

Prancing Genesis - Speed has always fascinated people. Whether it’s athletes breaking records on the track or machines pushing boundaries on the road, there’s something magnetic about performance taken to the limit. For car enthusiasts, one name sits right at the heart of this pursuit: Ferrari. Today, Ferrari stands as a symbol of precision, power, and prestige, but its story began with a single groundbreaking creation that laid the foundation for everything that followed—the Ferrari 125 S, the very first car to carry the legendary name. 

The first Ferrari sportscar named Ferrari 125 built-in 1947. (Picture from: RadarSeluma)

The company itself was born from Enzo Ferrari’s relentless passion for racing. He started Scuderia Ferrari in 1929, originally supporting drivers and building competition cars. But it wasn’t until 1947 that the world was introduced to Ferrari S.p.A. as we know it—dedicated to crafting high-performance road cars while staying rooted in motorsport. That year, on March 12 in Maranello, the Ferrari 125 S made its first appearance, not yet dressed in sleek bodywork but alive with an engine and chassis that carried the promise of something extraordinary.

Enzo Ferrari with the 3 Ferrari's crews who designed the Ferrari 125 S. (Picture from: RadarSeluma)

The 125 S was the brainchild of a team led by Gioacchino Colombo, with engineering input from Giuseppe Busso and Luigi Bazzi. It was more than just a machine—it was the spark of an idea that Ferrari could not only compete but also define what a sports car should be. This debut wasn’t about luxury or comfort; it was about capturing the spirit of racing in a form that could inspire generations to come.

The Ferrari 125 S first debuted on March 12, 1947, in Maranello. (Picture from: RadarSeluma)

True to that spirit, Ferrari wasted no time putting the car to the test. Just two months after its first ignition, the 125 S was entered into competition at the Piacenza circuit. The day didn’t go as planned—the car was leading when a faulty fuel pump dashed its chances of victory. Yet the setback proved short-lived. A mere nine days later, at the Rome Grand Prix, the same car crossed the finish line first, claiming Ferrari’s maiden win and setting the stage for a dynasty of motorsport triumphs.

The Ferrari 125 S displayed alongside one of the most sophisticated prancing horse logoed cars, LaFerrari Aperta. (Picture from: RadarSeluma)

What makes the 125 S so important today isn’t just its engineering or its performance, but what it represents. It embodies Ferrari’s very beginning, the moment when Enzo’s vision shifted from being a sponsor and builder of race cars for others to creating a brand with its own identity. And while technology has leapt forward in unimaginable ways—culminating in hypercars like the LaFerrari Aperta showcased during Ferrari’s 70th anniversary in 2017—the DNA of that first car still runs through every prancing horse on the road or track. 

Now, over 75 years since the 125 S first roared to life on the streets of Maranello, Ferrari has become more than just a car manufacturer. It has become a cultural icon, a blend of artistry and engineering excellence recognized around the world. And yet, all of it traces back to that single, raw, imperfect but determined machine—the Ferrari 125 S—that proved speed, passion, and innovation could be forged into something timeless. Wanna see Boudier or ARC Vector? *** [EKA [16112019][12032022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FERRARI | BLACKXPERIENCE | RADARSELUMA ]

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