Ferrari's Naming Systems
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"Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines." -- Enzo Ferrari - 1967, Camar
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There are several naming systems Ferrari chose
to give name to the birth of a new model Ferrari.
Until the mid-1990s, Ferrari followed a three-number naming scheme based on engine displacement:
V6 and V8 models used the total displacement (in deciliters) for the first two digits and the number of cylinders as the third. Thus, the 206 was a 2.0 L V6-powered vehicle, while the 348 used a 3.4 L V8.
V12 models used the displacement per cylinder (in cubic centimeters) for all three digits. Therefore, the famed 365 Daytona had a 4380 cc engine (365 times 12).
Most Ferraris were also given designations referring to their body style. In general, the following conventions were used:
M standing for "Modificata," this suffix is placed to the end of a model's number designation to denote that it is a modified version of its predecessor and not a complete evolution (see F512M and 575M Maranello).
GTB models are closed Berlinettas, or coupes; GTS models, in older models, are convertibles (365 GTS4); however, in late models, this suffix is used for targa top models (348 GTS, and F355 GTS; exception being the 348 TS, which is the only targa named differently). The convertible models now use the suffix "Spider" or "Spyder"(F355 Spider, and Ferrari 360 Spider).
FerrariThis naming system can be confusing, as some entirely different vehicles used the same engine type and body style. Many Ferraris also had other names affixed (like Daytona) to identify them further. Many such names are actually not the car's official name given by the factory. The 365 GTB4 model only became known as a Daytona after racing variants run by N.A.R.T. (North American Racing Team, who raced Ferrari's in America) won the famous 24 hour race of the same name.
The 250 GTO's famous acronym, which means Gran Turismo Omologato, was simply a name the Italian press gave the car which referred to the way Ferrari had, in a sense, avoided the rules and successfully homologated the car for racing purposes (Ferrari had convinced the FIA, somehow, someway, that the 250 GTO was the same car as previous 250's). This was done probably to avoid confusion with the multiple 250 models which were produced before the GTO.
In the mid 1990s, Ferrari added the letter 'F' to the beginning of all models (a practice quickly abandoned after the F512M and F355, but recently picked up again with the F430).
More recently, the engine capacity plus a geographic name became popular with the 550 Maranello, the 360 and now 375 Modena's. While most people know Maranello, few know that Modena is the place where Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini located thus lending the reputation as the capital of sports cars.
And now the 599 GTB Fiorano, naming Fiorano after the circuit Ferrari uses to hone the performance of its track and road cars.
Naming Systems
The engine capacity divided by 10 (e.g. 559GTB with 5999 cm3 displacement)
The engine capacity per cylinder (e.g. 250GT)
The engine capacity plus number of cylinders (246GT, 308GTB, and 512TR)
The engine capacity plus number of valves per cylinder (F355)
The Ferrari Anniversary year number (e.g. F40 and F50)
Initials or Letters
ABS: Short for "Anti-lock Braking System," a computer system which aids the driver by pumping the brakes much more quickly than a human can to prevent a car from locking its wheels and skidding. ABS became standard on Ferraris in 1989.
BB: Short for "Berlinetta Boxer." Usually refers to the Ferrari 512BB. "Berlinetta" meaning a fully enclosed cockpit (hardtop) with two seats, and "Boxer" refers to the layout of the engine.
BBi: Refers to the Ferrari 512BBi. The 'i' stands for fuel "injected."
Cabriolet: the French word for "Convertible."
CH: Short for "Challenge." Challenge cars are Ferraris that have been modified to race in the Ferrari Challenge amateur racing series.
Euro: Refers to a European version Ferrari, as opposed to a US version. Most European versions of the cars are lighter than the US versions due to the lack of US emissions equipment. External differences are apparent on some Euro Ferraris including different bumpers and spoilers systems.
GT: Short for "Gran Turismo," literal Italian for "Grand Touring". It refers to a class of cars originally built for racing and sporty touring. The grand touring classification originally meant that a car was an enclosed coupe.
GTA: See "GT," above. The 'A' stands for "Automatic," most recently used in reference to the Ferrari 456 GTA, which has an automatic transmission.
GTB: Gran Turismo Berlinetta (Sports Coupe) The 'B' stands for "Berlinetta," which means a hardtop.
GTC: See "GT," above. The 'C' stands for "Coupe" or "Coupé," the french word for "cut." A coupe is a two-door car, usually with four seats inside.
GTO: See "GT," above. The 'O' stands for "Omologato," which is Italian for "homologated." This means that the model is a regular production model, not just a limited-production option designed only for racing or rallys.
GTS: GTS: for Gran Turismo Spyder. The 'S' stands for "Spider" or "Spyder". GTS Ferraris are usually not true "Spiders" in the sense that they weren't fully convertible (or Cabriolet) but rather "Targa Top," meaning that the roof panel is removable.
GTSi: See "GTS," above. The 'i' stands for "injected." Usually refers to the Ferrari 308 GTSi, which was the fuel injected decendant of the carburated 308.
LM: Short for "LeMans." LeMans is a city in France which is famous for its annual 24-hour endurance race. Ferraris with "LM" at the end of their name were usually designed to run in this race.
LMP: Short for "LeMans Prototype." See "LeMans" above. LMP is a class of prototype cars that compete in endurance races.
M: Short for "modified," and denotes modified or fully evolved versions of Ferraris, such as the 456 M GT, 512M, etc.
MM: Short for "Mille Miglia," which is Italian for "thousand mile." The Mille Miglia was a 1,000 mile race, in which Ferraris competed throughout history with much success. Cars with "MM" included in the name were most often designed to run in this race.
PF: Short for "Pininfarina," the award-winning design house responsible for the stunning looks of most Ferraris.
QV: Short for "Quattrovalvole," which is Italian for "four valves." Usually used in connection with the Ferrari 308QV, Mondial QV, and other Ferraris which which have four valves per cylinder.
SF: Short for "Scuderia Ferrari," which is literal Italian for "Ferrari Stables," or more loosely, "Team Ferrari." The yellow Scuderia Ferrari shields first adorned the Alfa Romeos of Enzo Ferrari's racing team, and later appeared on his own brand of car. Some street Ferraris throughout the marque's history also bear the SF shields.
SS: Short for "Serie Speciale," which is literal Italian for "Special Edition." The term is usually associated with the Ferrari 348SS, which was a 348 with racing-inspired (but street legal) modifications such as suspension, seats and etc.
T: Short for "Transversale" and primarily associated with the Ferrari Mondial T, which featured a transverse-mounted gearbox inspired by the 312 T Formula 1 car.
TB: Short for "Transversale Berlinetta" and primarily associated with the Ferrari 348TB, which featured a transverse-mounted gearbox inspired by the 312 T Formula 1 car.
TR: Short for "Testa Rossa." Literally, Italian for "Red Head," which referred to the red cam covers in the original 1950's Ferrari Testa Rossa race car. More recently, it refers to the later model Ferrari Testarossa, or the even later model 512TR.
TS: Short for "Transversale Spider" and primarily associated with the Ferrari 348TS, which a featured a transverse-mounted gearbox inspired by the 312 T Formula 1 car.
VIN: Short for "Vehicle Identification Number," a unique, alphanumeric identifier placed on most cars in the world since 1980.
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