Republica San Marino, April 20, 2010
In December 2009 the Collezione Maranello Rosso celebrated the
20th anniversary of its foundation, but sadly, the following month
witnessed the passing of its founder, Fabrizio Violati, who
departed this mortal coil on 21 January 2010, at the age of 74. I
had the good fortune to meet him on a number of occasions, and
he was great company at dinner, always charming and with a
great sense of fun and humour. He was also an accomplished
driver, not only in historic racing where he won the European
Championship with his 250 GTO, but also in modern racing in
period, both as a driver and as an entrant of Ferrari 512 BB/LMs,
notably at Le Mans in the early eighties. I vividly recall a race for
250 GTOs held at the Mas du Clos circuit in France, on the
occasion of the model’s 25th anniversary in 1987, where he and
an American GTO owner, Bob Bodin, had a spectacular dice for
the lead in horrible wet conditions, leaving the rest of the field,
quite literally, in their wake. Fabrizio took the chequered flag first
by half a car’s length, and they both had wide grins on their faces
when they stepped out of their cars, so they had enjoyed the
battle as much, or maybe more, than us watching it.
Over the years he built up an impressive collection of Ferrari and
Abarth cars, his great passion being for his native Italian
machinery, together with numerous spares and automobile
artefacts, plus works of art and antiques. During the eighties he
decided that he wanted to preserve the Ferrari legend, and was
deeply involved in discussions with Enzo Ferrari about his idea to
create a monument to the company. However, Enzo Ferrari didn’t
live long enough, passing away in August 1988, to see Fabrizio’s
vision come to fruition, which it did in 1989. The original location
of the museum was “up the hill” in the historic centre of San
Marino, but moved “down the road” to its present location some
years ago, as they had the idea to incorporate a museum
featuring the cars of Carlo Abarth, plus the new facility provided
more and better lit display space, with good on site parking
facilities for visitors. Fortunately, for lovers of the Ferrari and
Abarth marques, the legacy that Fabrizio left lives on through
Sandra Lodi Vetrano, who has been deeply involved with the
organisation of and responsible for, the running of the Collezione
Maranello Rosso since its inception. Thus she continues with the
responsibility of cherishing and safeguarding this important
assembly of Italy’s cultural heritage, with Fabrizio guiding from
above, both Fabrizio and Sandra being honoured with a merit
award by Italian President Sen. Giorgio Napolitano in 2010, for the
“significant contribution to the image of the excellence of <<Made
in Italy>> in the world”.
The museum halls, refurbished in 2009, are on a number of levels,
with the main Ferrari display halls, dedicated to the life and
products of Enzo Ferrari and his company, providing an almost
ethereal atmosphere, with their lofty ceilings, together with the
décor and artefacts on display around the cars and on the walls.
They also feature mid-level galleries overlooking the displays,
housing the library, including a complete collection of Ferrari
Yearbooks up to 1970, plus a wide selection of memorabilia,
including steering wheels, artwork, engines, mechanical
components and models. The Abarth halls are at a lower level in
the building, surrounding the Scrigno Conference Centre, where
around forty examples of the cars produced by Carlo Abarth, with
their famous “Scorpione” logo, are on display. These are mainly
Fiat derived models, although there are also examples of the
beautifully sculpted Simca Abarths, and range from modified Fiat
saloons like the diminutive 595 SS, through the 124 Abarth and
131 Abarth models, to a wide range of GT models like the
Bialbero, to sports prototypes and monopostos. The Scrigno
Conference Centre can host gatherings from 25 – 550 people, for
functions ranging from cocktail receptions to gala dinners,
surrounded by the cars, art and memorabilia of the collection,
providing a very special atmosphere for the party.
The core of the Ferrari collection is the range of 250 series cars
that dominated GT racing in the fifties and sixties, ranging from a
stunning white with a blue stripe 250 MM PF berlinetta, through
the 250 GT series, including examples of the 250 GT “Tour de
France” berlinetta, the 250 GT “Interim” version of the same
model, the 250 GT “passo corto” berlinetta, and the triple World
Championship winning 250 GTO model. Amongst the other
models on display, which range from a 1950 195 S Coupé Vignale
to a F40, there are also a pair of rare road going examples of the
250 GT series. The first is a beautiful white ex-Marilyn Monroe
250 GT S1 PF Cabriolet, complete with the rare optional hardtop,
and a sleek dark blue 250 GT “passo corto” Coupé
Aerodynamico.
The collection doesn’t only encompass GT street and racing cars,
but also includes a pair of rare sports racing cars, a 1963 330 P
and a 1965 330 P2/3, together with a pair of monopostos, a Dino
246 Tasman and an ex-Gilles Villeneuve 312 T3 from 1978. There
is also the last 512 BB/LM to race at Le Mans in 1984, entered
by Fabrizio Violati’s Scuderia Bellancauto, finished in the
attractive red with “blue bubbles” livery representing the
sponsorship of his Ferrarelle mineral water company. If there is
one criticism that could be made of the displays, it is the
proximity of the low tubular protective barriers around the cars,
which make it difficult for the average visitor to get unobstructed
photographs of the cars. However, these were removed for us
during our visit, and they are less obtrusive than the ropes
dangling from stanchions that one finds in some museums
displays.
Apart from the main display areas there is also the private
Galleria d’Arte with the subtitle “Ferrari Incontri d’Arte” (Ferrari
Meets Art), where antique furniture, porcelain, musical
instruments, sculptures and artwork rub shoulders with Ferrari
images, a chassis, an engine and the Vespa motor scooter that
Fabrizio Violati used for stunt riding in his youth. All the private
areas are available for special gatherings, like a special dinner in
the museum or a cocktail reception in the art gallery, or for
guests during private or public motor sports events. Press
conferences for private companies, or company incentive
gatherings can also be accommodated, and all are organised
directly by the Maranello Rosso staff. Upcoming in 2010 will be a
new Maranello Rosso website, which will be a real “Made in Italy”
portal to the museum, dedicated to history, design, art and
culture of the last century. The entrance foyer features a well
stocked boutique, offering a wide range of models, plus
accessories unique to the museum, together with their own range
of “Made in Italy” clothing with the collection logo, all at
reasonable prices.
The museum is easy to find at Strada dei Censiti 21, 47891
Falciano, Republicca San Marino. One leaves the A14 Autostrada
at the Rimini Sud exit, then follow the signs to Republica San
Marino, after about 8kms you will see the exit sign for Falciano,
and the imposing museum building can be seen to the left of the
road. The exit slip road loops under the main road, and literally
brings you to the front door of the museum on your right. Further
information about opening hours, entry fees, group visits,
conference facilities etc, can be found at
www.maranellorosso.com
With grateful thanks to Alessio Vetrano and the staff of Maranello
Rosso for facilitating the visit, and being charming hosts as well
as informative and very helpful guides during the tour of the
museum’s halls.
The Ferraris on Display in the Collezione Maranello Rosso
Gran Turismo
Year Model Colour Chassis #
1951 195 S Coupé Vignale Red/Tan 0151S
1953 250 MM PF Berlinetta White-Blue Stripe/Blue 0312MM
1955 250 GT Berlinetta Comp’ Red/Black 0539GT
1957 250 GT PF S1 Cabriolet with hardtop White/Beige 0759GT
1956 250 GT Berlinetta Comp’ “Tour de France” Red/Black 0619/
0805GT
1959 250 GT Berlinetta Comp’ “Interim” Red/Black 1461GT
1959 250 GT PF Coupé Red/Black 1255GT
1960 250 GT Berlinetta Comp’ “Passo Corto” Red/Black 2025GT
1962 250 GTE 2+2 Coupé Blue Met’/Black 3429GT
1962 250 GT Coupé Aerodynamico “Passo Corto” Dark
Blue/Cream 3615GT
1962 250 GTO Red/Black 3851GT
1963 250 GT Lusso Green Met’/Beige 5177GT
1965 275 GTB Dark Green/Black 08035
1964 330 GT 2+2 White/Black 5797
1966 330 GT 2+2 Silver/Black 8409
1968 330 GTC Silver/Black 11265
1969 365 GT 2+2 Grey Met’/Cream 11873
1968 365 GTC Bronze Met’/Cream 12655
1970 365 GTB/4 Dark Blue/Black-Red 13537
1971 365 GTC/4 Pale Blue Met’/Black 15985
1973 365 GT4 2+2 Pale Blue Met’/Black 17261
1987 F40 Red/Red 89460
1967 Dino 206 GT Dark Red Met’/Black 00338
1970 Dino 246 GT Red/Black-Blue 00696
1976 Dino 208 GT4 Red/Black-Red 11468
Monoposto, Sport e Prototipo
1968 Dino 246 Tasman Red/Black 0008
1978 312 T3 Red-White/Black 033
1963 330 P Red/Blue 0818
1965 330 P2/3 Red/Black-Red 0828
1969 365 GTB/4 Comp’ Conv’* Red/Black
12719 1970 365 GTB/4 Comp’ Conv’* Red/Black
12765 1982 512 BB/LM Red-“Blue Bubbles” 35529
1959 ASA (Ferrarina) Red/Black 01018
* Converted to competition specification in 1973/74 by Giocchino
Vari, Assistenza Ferrari, Roma.
Keith Bluemel
04/2010
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