The first ever Ferrari car ended up having a tragic fate that doesn't do justice to the iconic car brand
Published on Jun 10, 2026 at 3:16 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jun 10, 2026 at 3:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Ever wondered what happened to the first ever Ferrari car? Turns out it had a fate that the iconic car brand didn’t deserve.
When you think of the prestige that the Ferrari brand carries into the modern day, you envision beginnings that match this.
But this isn’t the case, as the first ever Ferrari car ended up meeting a tragic end.
What went wrong all the way back in the 1940s?
The sad story of the first ever Ferrari
The Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 was the first car to be fully designed and built by Enzo Ferrari.
Only two of these were even made – and only one remains around to this day.
The story begins in 1938 when Ferrari left Alfa Romeo and set up Auto Avio Construzioni to manufacture aircraft parts for the Italian government.
In December 1939, AAC was commissioned to build two racing cars for the 1940 Mille Miglia.
The cars produced were the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815.
One of them managed to secure a 10th place spot, leading the pack in the 1.5-litre engine category.
However, the rushed nature in which they were both built and a lack of testing caused problems further down the road.
“The experiment that started so brilliantly ended in failure, largely because the car had been built too hastily,” Ferrari himself said.
Any further development was halted during World War Two, leaving the cars go their separate ways.
The first of the two cars had been sent off to a scrapyard, where it ended up being crushed.
The second car fared a lot better – and is still around to this day.
The fate of the second Auto Avio Costruzioni 815
Enrico Beltracchini got ahold of the second car and raced it in 1947.
From there, it became something of a hot potato as he sold it to a museum and bought it back, only to sell it on to Mario Righini.
To this day, the car remains his collection, housed in the town of Castelfranco Emilia near Modena in Italy.
Ferrari has come a long way since its early days
It’s been around for 87 years and it’s still going strong.
The Italian luxury sports car maker is still an icon around the world, whether that’s through classics like the F40 or the 308.
Despite nearing 90, the company is constantly finding new ways to grab everyone’s attention, as the Luce EV demonstrated.
Timeline of Ferrari
1929: Scuderia Ferrari founded, acting as the official racing division for Alfa Romeo.
1938: The split from Alfa Romeo, to found Auto Avio Construzioni.
1947: The first vehicle bearing the official Ferrari logo – the 125 S – is unveiled.
1951: First Formula 1 victory.
1962: The 250 GTO is introduced, going on to become some of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction.
1969: Enzo sells 50 percent of the company to Fiat.
1988: Enzo passes away at age 90, shortly after overseeing the launch of the F40.
1999 – 2004: The era of F1 domination.
2015: Splits off from Fiat and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker RACE. This transformed Ferrari into an independent luxury powerhouse.
2019 – present: The company moves to embrace electrification, starting with the SF90 Stradale, a plug-in hybrid.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
