Ferrari cars are proof that Maranello is one of the excellences of Made in Italy in the world. In more than 75 years of history, it has written epic motorsport pages and produced some of the most beautiful and fastest cars in history.

There are dozens of models that have characterized different times and choosing which are the most important is not easy. We've tried it though, and after careful analysis, here is our pick of the ten most iconic Ferrari cars in history .

Ferrari 250 GT California (1962)

Ferrari 250 GT California, luxury car — Ferrari 250 GT California

The 1962 Ferrari 250 GT California is the car with which Maranello entered the American scene through the front door, establishing itself as a luxury product as well as a sports car; For racing driver and businessman Enzo Ferrari, selling production cars was just to pay for racing cars, not to make money.

The 250 GT California is powered by the classic Maranello -built 3-litre V12 , producing between 240 and 280 PS depending on version.

Ferrari 250 GTO (1962)

Ferrari 250 GTO, luxury car — Ferrari 250 GTO

The Ferrari 250 GTO, also from 1962, was the vehicle designed for gentlemen drivers, who left the garage at home and arrived at the circuit ready to race; in fact, the O in its identification code stands for Approved.

Here the 3.0 V12 was taken to the extreme and reached up to almost 10,000 revolutions, leaving the crumbs to the rivals of the time.

Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona (1968)

Ferrari 365 Gtb 4 Daytona, luxury car — Ferrari 365 Gtb 4 Daytona

The 1968 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona was the last major front-engined GT built in Maranello before the switch to mid-rear engine, which would last until the mid-1990s.

His nickname, never included in any official document, is due to his feat in the 24 Hours of Daytona competitions, where the small Maranello factory put all the American giants in check.

Ferrari Dino (1969)

Ferrari Dino GT, luxury cars — Ferrari Dino GT

The Dino series, born in 1969, is one of the rarest and most beloved of all time, and the 206 GT is its purest and most original expression.

Its V6 engine, designed by Enzo's ill-fated son, remains unique in Ferrari history (racing aside) and was also used in other projects, such as the Lancia Stratos. The Dino 206 GT was also the first of the Ferrari cars to feature a mid-rear engine.

Ferrari 512BB (1976)

Ferrari 512 BB , luxury cars — Ferrari 512 BB

The 1976 Ferrari 512 BB is a true icon of the 1970s, a very special car powered by the first 180° V-engine in the history of the Prancing Horse , a five-liter twelve-cylinder directly derived from the one used in racing cars.

Formula 1 of the time. In terms of design, the 512 BB also stands out for special solutions, such as the double side fascia or the orange headlights.

Ferrari 288 GTO (1984)

Ferrari 288 GTO, luxury car — Ferrari 288 GTO

The 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO is the first true supercar to come out of the gates of Maranello , initially conceived to comply with the approvals of that Group B that lasted very little, but thanks to which some of the most spectacular cars in history were born.

It was the first street Ferrari with a turbocharged engine and its characteristics for the time were formidable.

Ferrari Testarossa (1984)

Ferrari Testarossa, luxury car — Ferrari Testarossa

The design of the 1984 Ferrari Testarossa made history the day it was introduced, with a massive rear hood, unique side air intakes, low hood and pop-up headlamps.

On a technical level, it was the latest evolution of the twelve-cylinder berlinetta design with the V12 positioned 180° centrally.

Ferrari F40 (1987)

The 1987 F40 is for many The Ferrari , for several reasons. Because of its absolutely unique and incredible design even today, because it was the last car Enzo Ferrari saw , because of its absolutely superior features and because of its reputation as a difficult-to-drive vehicle.

Although under the rear hood there is not a 12-cylinder, but an 8-cylinder —derived from the 288 GTO— which, thanks in part to the two turbochargers, revs a lot and emits a sound like that of an airplane.

Ferrari F355 Spider (1995)

Ferrari F355 Spider, luxury car — Ferrari F355 Spider

The 1995 Ferrari F355 Spider is a must-have from the 1990s. The car that definitively put an end to the technical crisis that Maranello experienced in the late 1980s and laid the foundations for the successes of the new millennium.

The F355 is also the vehicle that debuted the electro-actuated gearbox and in this version Spider was a true queen of the jet set .

Ferrari 458 Italia (2009)

Ferrari 458 Italia, luxury car — Ferrari 458 Italia

The Ferrari 458 Italia is perhaps the most significant car of the third millennium, characterized by a dizzying growth in features and on-board electronics, but also, in the last five years, by the return of the turbo engine.

The 458 Italia is the latest expression of the atmospheric V8 engine, which in this case has 4.5 liters and is capable of going over 9,000 revolutions generating 570 CV.

[Via GQ Mexico]