10 best Ferraris

JACK GUEZ/AFP/GETTY IMAGESThe 250 GTO might just be the finest Ferrari ever built.

It's hard to say exactly what it takes to be considered the absolute best in the automobile world. Whatever it is, many car fans would argue until they’re red in the face that Ferrari has had a lock on this title for decades.

Price, performance, rarity and racing pedigree are all key factors to the Italian automaker’s storied history. It doesn’t hurt matters that Ferrari has also created some of the most stunning automotive shapes of all time – sometimes with a little help from outside designers.

While many challengers have come and gone, Ferrari has maintained a legacy that is unsurpassed. We’ve picked ten of our favorites, the finest examples from the Scuderia that Enzo Ferrari began so many years ago.

250 GTO

It is quite possibly the finest example of a Ferrari that has ever existed. Built for racing, the Gran Turismo Omologato (GTO) competition cars became legends thanks to drivers such as Phil Hill and Stirling Moss. The 12-cylinder 3.0-liter engine saw a power output around 290 to 300-horsepower (each car was slightly different) and could reach a breathtaking speed of 170mph. Only 39 were ever built and potential owners had to be approved by Enzo himself. The racing pedigree, its rarity, and deep roots in the heart of Ferrari lore make this one of the most valuable collectible cars to date. If Enzo approved, a new one could be yours for around $19,000. Today? You’d need more than $50 million!

F40

FERRARI

The F40’s combination of speed, power and design is what all subsequent supercars hope to match. Built in celebration of the company’s 40th anniversary, this was the last car Enzo Ferrari would personally oversee before passing away in 1988. Much like the F60 Enzo that would follow, the F40 represented the pinnacle of Ferrari design and engineering at the time. The twin-turbo 2.9-liter 8-cylinder engine produced a screaming 478-horsepower, and the F40’s bare-bones, driver-assist-free design meant this was a car for the brave. To save weight, there was no radio, no carpets, the windows were hand-crank units, and the door handles were nothing more than flimsy rubber-coated cords. The F40 was about one thing: performance!

308 GTS

FERRARI

Like it or not, the lithe and lovely Ferrari 308 will forever be associated with Tom Selleck, unbuttoned Hawaiian print shirts, and the 1980’s hit show "Magnum, P.I." This mid-engine, V-8-powered Ferrari emblazoned itself in the hearts of car fans across the U.S. by stealing the spotlight from the show’s mustached hero. The 2.9-liter 8-cylinder engine was capable of around 255-horsepower (240-hp in U.S.-spec). The 308’s ultimate performance may not be anything to brag about by today's standards but, at the time, this Pininfarina-styled 2-seater was a supercar superstar.

Testarossa

FERRARI

The 80’s was an era of excess, so a 12-cylinder Ferrari that was wider, longer, and a whole lot brasher was perfect for the era’s Wall Street go-getters who wanted something stunning. The twin side-mounted radiators for this mid-engine behemoth allowed for the aerodynamic design to be extremely efficient in diffusing air around the back wheels. The 4.9-liter 12-cylinder engine in the 512TR refresh in the early 90’s produced 428-horsepower, and a claimed sub-5.0 second zero to 60 mph time. The 512TR saw other improvements in the steering and handling, which helped give the driver better control over the car than they probably had over their hedge funds.

F430 Scuderia

FERRARI

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