 Ferrari models
Until the mid-1990s, Ferrari followed a three-number naming scheme based
on engine displacement:
• V6 and V8 models used the total displacement
(in deciliters) for the first two digits and the number of cylinders
as the third. Thus, the 206 was a 2.0 L
V6-powered vehicle, while the 348 used a 3.4 L V8.
• V12 models used the displacement (in cubic centimeters) for all three
digits. Therefore, the famed 365 Daytona had a 4380 cc engine (365 times
12).
Most Ferraris were also given designations referring to their body style.
In general, the following conventions were used:
• M standing for "Modificata," this suffix is placed to the end
of a model's number designation to denote that it is a modified version of its
predecessor and not a complete evolution (see F512M and 575M Maranello).
• GTB
models are closed Berlinettas, or coupes
• GTS models, in older models, are convertibles (see 365 GTB4);
however,
in late models, this suffix is used for targa top models (see 348 GTS, and
F355 GTS; exception being the 348 TS, which is the only targa named differently).
The convertible models now use the suffix "Spider" (see F355 Spider,
and Ferrari 360 Spider).
 This naming system can be confusing, as some entirely different vehicles
used the same engine type and body style. Many Ferraris also had other
names affixed (like Daytona) to identify them further. Many such names
are actually not the car's official name given by the factory. The 365
GTB4 model only became known as a Daytona after racing variants run by
N.A.R.T. (North American Racing Team, who raced Ferrari's in America)
won the famous 24 hour race of the same name.
As well, the 250 GTO's
famous acronym, which means Gran Turismo Omologato, was simply a name
the Italian press gave the car which referred to the way Ferrari had,
in a sense, avoided the rules and successfully homologated the car
for racing purposes (Ferrari had convinced the FIA, somehow, someway,
that the 250 GTO was the same car as previous 250's). This was done probably
to avoid confusion with the multiple 250 models which were produced
before the GTO.
In the mid 1990s, Ferrari added the letter "F" to the beginning
of all models (a practice quickly abandoned after the F512M and F355,
but recently picked up again with the F430) and used the total engine
displacement for all three digits for most cars. So the 360 used a 3.6 L
engine. The exception is the V12 cars, most of which have used the number
12 as the last two digits with the displacement represented by the first.
For example, 512TR had a 5.0 L V12 engine.
Further informations at Wikipedia
|
