Ferrari what's in a name (and a number)?

I've been thinking about Ferrari's various name and numbering systems over it's 61 year history.

Too recap, the original Ferrari numbering system was simple if slightly unusual. The three digit number represented the cubic capacity of one of the cylinders engine. Therefore the original 125 when multiplied by 12 (cylinders) = 1500cc yes a 1.5 liter V12. This system with a couple of exceptions was applied to every V12 (note V12) Ferrari through to the 456 (5.5 liter). It was also applied to the big banger 4 cylinder racers of the early 50's such as the 860 Monza (3.4 liter 4 cylinder anyone!).

The Dino series followed a different pattern. The first two digits represented the capacity and the last the number of cylinders. Therefore the 246 is a 2.4 liter 6 cylinder. This format was continued into the V8 Ferraris Up to the 348. The 355 which followed has a unique numbering system whereby the 5 at the end represents the number of valves per cylinder. After this both the V8's and the V12's follow a common numbering scheme of dividing the cubic capacity by 10, except for the 612 which seems to follow the old capacity and cylinder numbering except that Ferrari have rounded up the 5.75 litres to a round 6 (marketing slight of hand as how many people think the 612 is a 6 liter?). With the launch of the new (and rather lovely) 458 Italia, the V8's have reverted to the original Dino method as this indicates 4.5 litres and 8 cylinders.

So that's how the numbering system works (more or less). How about Ferrari names. Back to the 50's again, production road cars could be split by their engine capacity. Smaller engined cars where often identified as Europa's and the bigger engined cars America's. Often the bodies would be the same and the difference would be the engine size (the bigger engined cars being aimed at the America's. As the bigger series engines got bigger the car's became known as SuperAmerica's (Ferrari does like to revive their names).

Racing sports cars in the 50's had a variety of names Mille Miglia was a popular choice for open sports racers from the 166 through to the 375, while Monza and Mondial were used for the 4 cylinder cars. The most famous racing Ferrari name of the 50's is Testa rossa or red head for the 250 Testarossa series. The name came from the red cam covers on the engine.

Towards the end of 50's Ferrari started to do away with official names for their regular road cars, preferring number and lettering, such as 250GT. The limited series cars for the super wealthy retained names such the 500 Superfast, which with 400bhp and a claimed top speed of 180mph, in 1964 was very aptly named (the 500 incidentally was one of the exceptions to the numbering as the engine is a 5 liter not a 6 liter).

However despite Ferrari not giving the cars names themselves owners, and the trade often gave unofficial names to the cars, in part to differentiate otherwise similar named models. Early long wheelbase 250GT's are known as Tour De France's after the models victories in that event (the car version not the bike one). The 250 GTL is almost universally known as the Lusso (the L in GTL) despite steel bodied versions of the earlier 250 GT Passo Corto being designated Lusso spec as well. So how many readers are wondering what a Passo Corto is? In the English speaking world they are known as SWB's for Short WheelBase!

Later in the 60's the Ferrari 275GTB gained a 4 camshaft engine and became known as the 275GTB/4 not exactly a name that rolls off the tongue easily which is probably why they are usually know simply as 4 cams'

The 4 cam was replaced by another car with a mouthful of a name the 365GTB/4. The story goes that Ferrari were going to name this car Daytona after Ferrari's 1-2-3 finish in the 1967 Daytona 24 hours. The Daytona name was leaked to the press and Enzo so incensed dropped the name. Not sure if this is true although some of the many books on the Daytona do refer to design drawings having the name Daitona on them (there is no y in the Italian alphabet).

Of the same era as the Daytona is the Ferrari 365GT 2+2 , this wins the prize for the most bizarre unofficial name. Due to it's large size relative to the rest of the range they are often known as Queen Mary's.

Through the 70's the premier Berlinetta Ferrari was the 365GT4 BB (and later 512 BB) the BB stood for Berlinetta Boxer on account of the Flat 12 engine, although not actually a boxer engine. Not surprisingly these are simply known as Boxers.

In the 80's Ferrari went retro with its names and revived the Mondial and Testarossa names, not to mention the most three Ferrari letters of all were revived to create the 288GTO!. We also had the first of the anniversary series with the F40 (celebrating 40 years of Ferrari).

Now in the nineties and noughties there has been a bit of a role reversal. Ferrari's have names again but most seemed to be referred to by their 3 digit number only. How many people refer to the 360 as the Modena and the 550/575 as the Maranello? I bet most people have even forgotten that the 599 is actually officially known as the Fiorano.

Also Ferrari has again revived a name from the past in the California. This is the third time Ferrari have used this name firstly with the famous 250 California derivatives of the 250 GT's and later the very rare (14 made) 365 California, a luxurious 2+2 cabriolet for the super rich made in the mid sixties.

So which is the raciest Ferrari name? Daytona is up there but the 365GTB/4 is a mouthful. 250SWB is too geeky when you have to explain to a non car enthusiast. For me there is only one Ferrari name and number that can win this, 250GTO or Gran Turismo Omologato I wouldn't be surprised if a fair few people agree with me?