Cavallino Classic. The real Ferrari party

Capturing Ferrari’s entire history in a single event might seem far-fetched, but each year at the end of every January there’s one in Palm Beach, Florida that does precisely that. The Cavallino Classic, a prestigious Concours d’Elegance that gathers together the most extraordinary array of Ferraris, much to the joy of onlookers and collectors. Palm Beach is a renowned location, as is The Breakers, the resort where the event is held within its vast park. To give you an idea of what this year was like, let’s take a quick look at some of the cars on show. The competition cars were out in force, with over 150 present, parked alongside numerous others from enthusiasts and clients, all lined up as if you were living a dream.

The spectacular location of The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Florida, where Cavallino Classic 2024 was held

The magical part is the journey through time: the early Ferraris, predating Pininfarina’s influence, create quite a stir to the extent that one of these, the 212 Inter by Ghia, made for Juan Domingo Peron and his wife Evita in 1952, won the Best of Show award among the Granturismo models.

The 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Ghia winner of the Best of Show award among Granturismo models

It only takes a few steps to come across the legendary “250”, the magical number which, when multiplied by the 12 cylinders of the engine, results in 3,000 cc. Prominent among these was the Best in Show “Competition” winner, the 250 LM, the twin of the one that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. And then all the others: from the 250 Europa to the Tour de France, the 250 Aerodinamica, and the iconic SWB.

The Best of Show Competition Award was awarded to the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM

Ferrari’s global success, especially from the late 1950s, led to the creation of the famous berlinettas and spiders, targeted at the prosperous American market: the 275, now celebrating its sixtieth anniversary, contributed to this growth thanks to its increased displacement and power in variants such as the exceedingly rare GTS/4 and the formidable GTB/4 Competizione.

What about the beloved, unforgettable Dinos? Here they are, both in GT and GTS versions, with some sporting exceptionally unique original colours.

The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 winner of the Ferrari 275 Award

A sight to behold at the Cavallino Classic are the “authentic Ferrari race cars.” This year’s standouts included the 412P, a 1967 sports prototype also known as the P3/4, and the 312 F1 from 1968, famous for its incredible tangle of exhaust pipes that has become legendary. Also unmissable were the iconic 250 Testa Rossa and 250 GTO. No further comments needed.

Above all the winner of The Ferrari Racing Award, the 1967 412P, also known as the P3/4 and considered by many as the most beautiful Ferrari ever built

As years passed, the era of the “small” rear-engined eight-cylinder models emerged, developed in response to the fears generated by the 1970s oil crisis. This family spanned a decade of models, culminating with the GTS Turbo, coinciding with the advent of this technology in Formula 1. In 1980, Ferrari pioneered what are now known as Hypercars. The first was the 288 GTO, followed three years later by the sensational F40, both creations of Ferrari’s brilliant engineer, Nicola Materazzi. In the years defined by hedonism, which encouraged bold and eye-catching styles, Pininfarina led the charge with the Testarossa, followed by the 512 TR and 512 M. Nearing the end of the Cavallino Classic showcase, we encounter newer models that still draw keen interest from collectors, particularly the younger demographic: the ‘90s marked the “return to the front V12” with the 456 GT, 550 and 550 Barchetta Pininfarina, 575 Maranello, Superamerica, and 612 Scaglietti, followed by the more recent F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari.

Is that all? Far from it: mark your calendars for the January 2025 event. A year-long anticipation for an event that promises to be unforgettable.

The 1996 512M that won the Ferrari Testarossa Award