Ferrari’s Hidden Gem: The Sports Car Transporter

How good is your imagination? Imagine a car carrier with a prancing Horse logo. It demands a vivid imagination, especially when it took the Italian supercar manufacturer so many years to produce a four-door car for its fans. Nevertheless, as incredible as it may sound, in the 1960s, a few car carriers with the Ferrari logo roamed the roads of Europe.

To tell the truth, it was not a thoroughbred Ferrari horse. In 1959, the car transporter “682/RN-2” was made by Fiat, and the Ferrari factory adapted it to its needs. The car transporter was equipped with small workshops, sleeping places, and the legendary Ferrari 256 F1 and 256 P1. The car carrier was powered by a 10.7-litre diesel engine that produced 175 horsepower. Inside, a four-speed gearbox and drum brakes were installed. Unlike today’s luxury car carriers, the sports cars were transported in an open cab.

Although the Ferrari car carriers rarely enjoyed the same attention from spectators as its cargo – most visitors were drawn to the racetracks to watch the formula cars and their crazy drivers – they had to participate in many logistics races. Both car carriers had to ensure the Ferrari formulas reached the tracks on time. Formula 1 cars’ participation in the world championship depended on car carriers. Unfortunately, the Ferrari team hadn’t celebrated many victories in Formula 1 then. Thanks to the car carrier, Ferrari sports cars made it to Le Mans 24 hour race and won it.

Despite the ambitious logo on the front grill, this has not been the fastest car carrier of its time. Two Ferrari car carriers have relentlessly transported sports cars for two years, and they were later sold to a Venetian merchant. After changing hands several times, one was recently sold for $998,000.