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Ferrari Red - a color from Ferrari history
The Ferrari colors, especially the color red, have always been a byword for Italian Ferrari sports cars and their motorsport activities. Ferrari has been painting its Formula 1960 cars in the traditional red color since 1. Even today, the color red dominates the Ferrari racing team. The historic red has also continued in the production of sports cars from Maranello.
For a long time, red was the obligatory paint finish when a Ferraristi ordered his new dream car. In the 90s, 85 percent of all Ferraris built were painted red. Nowadays, the color selection at Ferrari has changed fundamentally. Customers can choose their personal favorite color from a wide range of colors. Individuality and personalization is the key. Buying a Ferrari is an exclusive experience and the first step is choosing its livery.
Ferrari's historic red color is called "Rosso Corsa" or "Racing Red". Their color code is C4151C.
The popularity of two-tone paintwork has increased significantly in recent times. Typically, two contrasting colors are used, one for the roof and the other for the body. Many GTs, most notably the 250 GT from 1957, pioneered two-tone paintwork.
Ferrari colors - spoiled for choice
The paint underlines the elegance but also the power that is in a Ferrari. In the so-called "three-layer painting" the paint is applied in three separate layers. This gives the paintwork a shimmering surface and when the sun hits it, the light is caught at different angles.
But this is where the options for choosing a paint only begin. Through the Ferrari personalization program, the customer can choose from a variety of colors Select. There is a wide range of Ferrari colors available and the prospective owner is often spoiled for choice.
Since 2004, the colors at the Ferrari factory in Maranello have been made from a special water base. One wants to take the increased environmental considerations into account. Ferrari launched a dedicated research project to expand its range of colors to meet the diverse and increasingly demanding needs of its customers.
In its color catalogue, Ferrari offers a selection of 10 exclusive, historical colors which were inspired by the classic sports cars of the 50s and 60s. This list includes illustrious names such as Blu Scozia, a chic dark pastel blue, Avio Met, a light, ultra-sporty blue and Vinaccia, a color with a lot of character.
But sporty paint finishes in the Challenge style are also on the Ferrari programme. Inspired by race car liveries and first used on the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, this livery form was an instant hit with the Italian Prancing Horse athletes. The Italian tricolor style livery is now being used more and more frequently. It underlines the Italian character of Ferrari sports cars.
With Ferrari's personalization program, every customer can be sure that no other Ferrari will look like their own. Many thousands of color variations are painted in the Work by Maranello painted. They make a Ferrari so distinctive and unique.
Red Ferraris are becoming increasingly rare
In the 90s, around 85 percent of all Ferraris were still red. In recent years, only 45 percent of all painted vehicles wore the traditional color red as a unique selling point. But that also means that the rest have opted for a different color. While in the 90s up to the turn of the millennium there were just under 1 percent special color orders, in 2010 alone it was over 10 percent. And the trend will continue.
So nowadays no Ferrari has to be red to be allowed to wear a Cavallino Rampante in its coat of arms.
