(first posted 3/26/2013) Dawid Botha forwarded me this article from the Spring 2013 edition of the Italian Peugeot Club. It includes a short interview with Ferrari’s personal driver/rider (even when Ferrari drove, he always was accompanied by someone). I’ve seen pictures of Ferrari with a custom Mini, but didn’t know that he preferred Peugeots for his daily driver, including a 404 sedan, 504 sedan, and 504 coupe. And the racing team used Peugeot wagons for support vehicles. The interview has been translated below.
When did you start with Ferrari ?
In 1966, at that time I saw Enzo Ferrari using a 404 saloon for his daily transportation.
Driven by a driver ?
He always drove with a person who, from February 1969 until August 1988 when he died, was me. Up to 1972 he drove, and I was next to him; then because of a knee problem, he decided that I would always drive.
Did you go far with the car ?
It was used for local trips up to 200-300 kilometres, like for instance going to the Monza racetrack.
How was the 404 saloon ?
It was metallic grey with beige leather upholstery and radio. The steering wheel had been changed for a Nardi special, and fog lights from a Lancia Flaminia were installed in front.
Ferrari with F1 driver John Surtees
What other car was Enzo Ferrari using daily ?
In winter, mostly with snow, he preferred a front-wheel drive, a Mini Cooper given to him by Alec Issigonis, father of the Mini. He also had a Ferrari 365GT, which used mostly as a demonstrator.
How did Enzo Ferrari first begin to appreciate Peugeot cars ?
He had a very close relationship with Pininfarina, who designed the Peugeot; and Martino Severi the Interauto Peugeot dealer, delivered them to him.
I had heard that there were relatives who first made him appreciate the Peugeot ?
A sister of his wife was living in Marseille or Nice, and it is possible that she went to Modena with a Peugeot.
For how long was the Peugeot 404 Enzo Ferrari’s daily car ?
Shortly after I arrived in 1969 it was replaced by a 504 saloon, in dark blue metallic with beige interior without sunroof and without modifications. He often drove it with me next to him and sometimes a bodyguard on the back seat.
Was it followed by other Peugeot ?
Yes, in 1970 or 1971 arrived a 504 coupé first model blue with a blue velvet interior, a very comfortable and reliable car. The car was changed around 1973 and then we used cars from the Fiat group.
Apparently Ferrari’s love for Peugeots caused at least on or more 404 wagon to be used as a service vehicle with the racing team.
Here’s another shot of Surtees taking a break at the track. Times have changed…now its giant motorhomes.
There’s even an Eligor model of the Ferrari 404 wagon. I need to find me one of those.
Peugeot Station wagon history here
Paul, You are a STAR!!!
Toujours 404!! Always a 404.
Mille Grazie, a thousand thank yous!
Dawid
Nice find, and interesting…. I see (hopefully) a series coming…. what are the automotive “stars” really driving?
This was covered somewhat by Car & Driver some years ago. Depending on the definition of automotive ‘stars’, the vehicles driven by race car drivers (I vaguely recall they focused on F1 drivers) were quite mundane. While there was the odd Porsche, the few that had cars were usually Mercedes, but the majority just drove rental sedans like Crown Victorias.
Honestly, with any celebrity, whether automotive or not, I would imagine, most of the time, they just drive whatever a sponsor pays for. I could even imagine Ferrari driving Peugeots simply because they provided them for the exposure. I wonder if they ever used it in any Peugeot ad.
After the Fiat deal, Enzo appeared in TV and print for Fiat.
A Ferrari for speed, a Pug for comfort. Nothing wrong with that. Perhaps a perfect combination in 1960s Europe.
If I’d had a staff of Ferrari mechanics and the means to pay them full time, I’d have adored my Peugeots too.
I nominate this as Best Comment of the Day on any automotive related website!
Grazie mille!
To be honest, Peugeots in those days, especially 404 and 504, were considered very reliable and easy to maintain 😉
They STILL use them in Africa….;)
That has everything to do with French colonialism and nothing to do with the quality of the product.
Wrong. Even in former British colonies they excelled take for example Nigeria and Kenya.
Certainly beats driving donkey’s – if they don’ t like them then they can give them back.
Unasked was what to me whould have been the most interesting question: why did Ferarri pay someone to ride along with him at all times, when he was doing the driving?
It mentioned knee problems. Sometimes my knee acts up at random. Plus, it would look like he had a bodyguard, which might’ve put potential bad guys on notice, though that mostly came later in the form of the Red Brigade during the ’70s.
Expectation of a 5 martini lunch? We can guess and specualte (to varying degrees of plausibility) all day. That’s why I would have liked to see the question asked.
Sometimes it was a liquid lunch, but it was mostly an informal convention. Agnelli did the same, he would drive while his driver rode shotgun. Partly to do with security (Red Brigade later as Neil mentioned) and partly just to have someone to converse with for longer trips. Given these were captains of industry, having someone with them makes sense if only from a precautionary point of view.
Didn’t Ferrari also have eye problems as he aged ?
Did you ever try to park in an Italian city?
I recall that in the early ’70s Il Duce drove a Fiat 128, as did I. That made us pals, but I never saw the Daytona that he had promised me.
I remember the Fiat ads featuring Sr. Ferrari and his 128, but now wonder if that was just Fiat-Ferrari marketing quid pro quo.
I think he actually did use one for shorter trips around Modena.
Enzo and Tagliazucchi (and others, maybe bodyguard) with 130 Coupe
Enzo and Tagliazucchi with Ferrari-engined Lancia Thema 8.32
Man, Ferrari wasn’t “il duce”…il duce was a totally different, bad, story….
Yes, I’m afraid he mixed that up with “il Commendatore”.
To some of Ferrari’s drivers he was “Il Duce”. As far as Ferrari was concerned, drivers were expendable.
Ferrari was a grumpy old man with a very bad temper but i’ve never heard that he was known as “duce” by anyone…maybe just by some frustrated driver or worker…to most people he was just “the drake” ! He had a thing for Peugeots indeed, at least until Fiat sent him free cars…
404 was one of the most reliable cars ever been produced by peugeot,followed by 504 which was amazing&tough as nails(not the american model).my grandpa bought a new 404 on 1968&drove it till his last week of his life.he ended up putting over 700 k KM&the motor still was not burning any oil&this was in africa(south)but when it comes to states market for some unknown reason(504 mostley)things did not work out the way they should?nice to know that he was into lions for a while.
I must admit that I’ve developed a definite soft-spot for Peugeots since discovering this site. Very impressive little machines.
And you questioned me for liking PSA cars, seems I’m not the only one, if they were good enough for Enzo is it a surprise when speedway loving Bogans discover them too?
These comments (mostly!) stir my heart! Anyone who wishes to know more more about Peugeots, feel free to contact me. The clubs over the world are big and very dedicated. Although designed in Europe I don’t think many Europeans really ever knew how reliable and rugged these cars were. In Africa we really do know how tough they are! Fairly priced good condition 404’s and 504’s are freely available in Europe.
Dawid Botha: Club Peugeot Afrique du Sud
dcbotha@adept.co.za
Hello!
Last two photos I made I and the model is not an Eligor Model but this is a Provence Moulage Kit in 1/43 scale and this is hand made by a small firm of Florence.
This is the serial number plate of Enzo Ferrari’s personal Peugeot 404 sedan. The car still exists today in Italy, and is Grey Metallic 1025 with beige leather seats, Lancia Flaminia front fog lights and some Nardi equipment.
Do you have any photos on Enzo and his Peugeot together..? ,
It would be great to see them.. 🙂
Brilliant. In 1960, the University of Bologna had decided to bestow il commendatore with an honorary ‘Ingegnere’ (Engineer) title. On the day he was to receive the title, he was to go in one of his prancing horses, but thought the better of this as it gave off too ostentatious an appearance.
‘Pepino Verdelli suggested Laura’s (Enzo’s wife) brother’s old Peugeot 404, which was currently in the household. Ferrari rejected it as inappropriate. After all, what sort of impression would be made if Italy’s premier maker of exotic cars pulled up in a French sedan? A train was rejected for no good reason and it was known that Ferrari refused to fly. The discussion dragged on. Finally a solution was reached. The Peugeot was employed, although it was parked a kilometer away and the two men trudged through the thick Bolognese heat to the university!’
– Gino Rancati recounting to Brock Yates. The only problem with this story is that it was said to have occurred in July 1960. Perhaps the ‘old’ car in question was a 403.
Pic of Enzo with Tagliazucchi in a Peugeot
I’m not going to argue with Enzo Ferrari, our daily drivers should all be vintage Peugeots. I’ll take the 504 coupe with the blue velvet interior.
Given that Ferrari did not offer four doors. I do not see the conflict in being chauffeured around like a proper top flight Italian executive in a Maserati Quatroporte or an Iso Fidia. Being given Pugs and Minis and Fiat 128s and then being made to shill for them must have been demeaning.
Alec Issigonis and fan…
I understand Enzo’s daily driver being a 5o4 Coupe. For I have one myself.
There is a pic somewhere on the internet showing Bandini getting into a 404 sedan. Always wondered; now I know. The 404 is one of my favorites, but the 504 is superior. Great cars.