ferrari london exhibition
The 125S in its only existing replica. Source: London Design Museum
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70 Years Of Industrial Design: Ferrari Retrospective In London

The juicer designed by Phillipe Stark. The typewriter Olivetti Valentine. The first Vespa in 1946 ... Industrial design floods our lives. And although this must always adapt to the function of the object, it does not stop giving us constant works of art. And yes, we say works of art because, although they are objects of practical use, their lines do not renounce, as far as possible, beauty and emotions.

In the world of cars that is clear. Because although they end up conquering us due to their power, weight distribution or traction, the truth is that they enter our eyes first. And well, if there is a brand that has known how to do that ... that has been Ferrari. For this reason - and coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the Maranello house - the London Design Museum dedicates a retrospective to the brand who has known how to make art with mechanics.

ferrari expo london
The construction of a Ferrari bodywork step by step… Source: London Design Museum.

6 BLOCKS TO UNDERSTANDING A MYTH

With the British industrial tradition, London could not miss a spectacular museum dedicated to design. A building that, thanks to its 10.000 meters of surface topped with an impressive parabolic roof, is already an icon of industrial design in itself. The perfect setting for this exhibition in which Ferrari is explained through six blocks: Enzo Ferrari, Cars, Customers, Competition, Design and Engineering and Future.

But cars are the common thread of this story, a story that begins at the beginning. So the first thing we see is the 125S. The first Ferrari. Although this is not the original from 1947: that one is kept like a treasure in the Maranello museum. Anyway, what has been brought to London is not just anything: it is the only existing replica, built in 1987 following the original plans. The racing spirit of the time is also represented by a 166MM Barchetta -mythical winner in 24 Hours of Le Mans and Mille Miglia- and a 500F2 driven by Ascari in the early years of Formula 1.

ferrari expo london
The spectacular F40, Enzo Ferrari's last living horse. Source: London Design Museum.

14 FERRARIS FOR 70 YEARS OF HISTORY

No less important than the bodywork, it is what it sits on. Therefore we can see something very interesting: the chassis of a 250 GT. By understanding its structure, we can better appreciate the beauty of its lines. Lines designed by Pininfarina and displayed on a 1957 cabriolet unit. One of the first Ferrari to mount brake discs, after the English driver Peter Collins - former owner of this specimen - persuaded Enzo Ferrari of it.

ferrari expo london
The beautiful 275GTB with the Testarossa Spider - unique piece - made for Gianni Agnelli. Source: London Design Museum.

The golden age of GTs is unmatched in representation thanks to three of the most exciting models in Ferrari's history: a 250 GT Berlinetta Passo Corto, the mythical 250 GTO and a 275 GTB4. Three V12s from the 60s that will surely register the classic canon of the Italian brand. A true marvel that is complemented by a 365 GTB4 "Daytona”, A spectacular F40, F1-2000 with which Schumacher won the drivers' championship or the elegant -and unique- Testarossa Spider out of the Ferrari factory.

To end this story, the exhibition opens to what the Ferrari La Ferrari Aperta has in store for us in the future. And to finish off a visit that will take your breath away ... who knows, the same thing you come across at the door with Eric Clapton and his Ferrari SP12 EC. They say that it is usually seen on the streets of London ...

What do you think?

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Written by Miguel Sánchez

Through the news from La Escudería, we will travel the winding roads of Maranello listening to the roar of the Italian V12; We will travel Route66 in search of the power of the great American engines; we will get lost in the narrow English lanes tracking the elegance of their sports cars; We will speed up the braking in the curves of the Monte Carlo Rally and we will even get dusty in a garage while rescuing lost jewels.

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