Ferrari Owners' Site

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horner
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Ferrari Owners' Site

Post by horner »

For those of you w/ a bit of the history buff in you, or just a good sense of irony, check the Ferrari Owners' site. Then go to either the current hyperlink for the Factory History, or go to Inside Ferrari - The Factory - History - second photo = 125 S launch at Factory Gate on Mar 12, 1947, and look at the paintwork on the wall. How many members of the Workers' Party have owned Ferrari's?!? For those who are History majors, loosely translate the words on top into German and think of the scary connotation, or are they just intimating that Enzo ran the factory like a concentration camp. If you need help w/ the translation or history send me a private email. I must have too much time on my hands today, and it's too cold in the garage to work on 8325. Jack Horner
mikemeade
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Post by mikemeade »

I'm quite intrigued by your post. Unfortunatly, not being a ferrari owner, I can't see the image. I found the owner's website, but I am unable to enter with registration which requires a serial number for a car. Would you be able to e-mail me a copy?

I am interested in automotive histoty and german history, so drawing obscure connections is always cool.

Thanks,

Mike Meade
mike@pkaarchitects.com
horner
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Post by horner »

Mike & others, Yes, it is an obscure correlation, and I take full responsibility. The words over the gate are, LA LIBERTA - IL LAVORO, roughly translated if not literally then figuratively, Liberty - Work, or in my understanding, Freedom = Work. Now, all you History Channel watchers who can correct my English, German, and Italian spelling/translation, remember the words over the entrance gate to Auschwitz, "Arbeit Mach(t) Frei, Work makes you Free. Scary. National Socialism, Fascism, Communism, etc espoused freedom for the working class, especially from oppressive oligarchic type rule. What the bloody daylights does this have to do w/ Ferrari? Zip. It was just an observation of the photo, and now you all can see how randomly my mind works. It's still too cold to work on the car in the garage. Thank heavens for all of you I'm back in the office tomorrow with no time for this stuff. Just enjoy the cars, although our's are snowed in by the same precipitation that has Tom off the roads. Jack Horner
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tyang
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Post by tyang »

Hi Jack,

No need for an apology. I love looking at old pictures, and the history behind them!

The workers are always the pawns in these political movements, so the interpretation can vary. Not to parallel Hitler with Ferrari, but each of them needed the workers' support to acheive their goals. Ferraris were just to win at racing.

<img SRC="http://www.tomyang.net/cars/storia02_entrata125s.jpg" BORDER=0 height=277 width=400>

Tom
Last edited by tyang on Sun Jan 26, 2003 6:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Bryan P
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Post by Bryan P »

forgive my ignorance, but wasn't Ferrari a fascist (maybe not idealogically, but at least for business purposes aligned w/ the fascist party)? Then what are the hammer-and-sickle motifs doing on either side of the doorway just under the writing? anti-fascist graffiti? am I seeing that correctly?
kare
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Partial explanation (+lot of rambling...)

Post by kare »

In my understanding Enzo was neither involved in, nor much cared for politics, which may be one of the reasons why he was able to successfully run a business after the war. Having a "clean" background may also be the reason which enabled him to use of honory title "Il Commendatore", which according my limited knowledge s a "colored" expression granted by fascists during the 30's for achievement in industry/motor sport.

I don't know the meaning of a circle with dark (red?) center. As the other symbols (hammer/sickle & five pointed star) are well known communist symbols, I suspect this is just another symbol with the same message; maybe that a true communist is red at heart!???

In Italy "W" mean "viva" - so the message itself is "viva la liberta - viva il lavoro" (long live freedom, long live work). I hope this adjustment makes it all sound less fascist in your ears. Work and freedom are both essential subjects in political systems in general, so it isn't very surprising that one system easily brings another into mind. I think this is the only connection involved.

The most interesting question in my opinion is, however, why was this message deliberately included in the picture! Was this done for artistic reason or did the photographer want to "spread the word"; maybe by showing something concrete working class people living in freedom had put together. Maybe using such a photograph was wise in the atmosphere, with the traumatic times barely put behind and communists having more power than ever.

It is a nice photo anyway!

Best wishes, Kare
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