Major exhibition announced by the Design Museum to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Ferrari

An exhibition at the Design Museum in London will provide unique insights into the world of Ferrari, drawing on rarely seen material such as early design models, drawings, letters and memorabilia, as well as some of the most famous Ferraris ever to appear on roads and race tracks. Key exhibits include rare personal memorabilia and archival material relating to Enzo Ferrari’s life, early cars, wind tunnel models and hand-sculpted models in both clay and wood.

Displays at the exhibition will explore the design development, engineering and manufacturing of Ferrari together with the company’s attention to detail in every element of the cars’ design. The exhibition will also present Ferrari’s racing heritage; the ongoing quest for innovation as well as the glamour of their well-known clientele.

The exhibition pays tribute to Enzo Ferrari and his passion for racing which ultimately gave rise to the brand. The son of a manufacturer in Modena, he became a racing driver in 1919 and competed for Alfa Romeo. In 1947, Enzo Ferrari launched his own car – a new, complex 12-cylinder engine designed entirely with performance in mind. His cars soon started to win races and attract a clientele of wealthy and famous patrons, which in turn built the reputation for the brand.

‘Ferrari’s story has been one of the great adventures of the industrial age,’ said Andrew Nahum, curator of Ferrari: Under the Skin. ‘It also represents an absorbing case study in design and development. Ferrari uses the subtle and often unseen techniques of automobile design but with the utmost care and precision and the exhibition provides an insight into the history and practice of the whole private world of automotive design.’

The exhibition will open on 15 November 2017 and run to 15 April 2018.