Unforgettable Car Geniuses: Gioachino Colombo

On Ferragosto 1945, sketching on the garden table at his sister’s house, Gioachino Colombo drafted designs for what would become the first Ferrari in history: the 125. Enzo Ferrari was in a rush to make his dream as a car manufacturer come true. The war had ended in Italy on April 25th, and Enzo, then 48, immediately sought a technician to support him in his ambitious goal. He had one specific person in mind—the one who had worked with him in Modena in 1938 to create the Alfa Romeo 158, destined for “voiturette” races: Gioachino Colombo, a Milanese who was then working at Alfa Romeo, where he had already built significant engines like that of the P2.

The Alfa Romeo 158, nicknamed "Alfetta", designed by Gioachino Colombo and powered by an unprecedented inline 8-cylinder engine for its time.

The idea of designing the first Ferrari captivated him instantly during their meeting. He accepted. He and Enzo, notoriously demanding and gruff, had worked well together and understood each other. Alfa Romeo would become Ferrari’s first rival, an Alfa that triumphed both in 1950 with Nino Farina and in 1951 with Juan Manuel Fangio, powered by the very engine Colombo had created for Scuderia Ferrari back in 1938.

Gioachino Colombo, center, at the 1949 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, won by the Ferrari 125 F1 he designed.

Returning to 1945, to those Ferragosto sketches, it’s crucial to understand that Enzo’s technical challenge was anything but simple: he requested a 1500cc V12 engine. Once completed, it would have a displacement of just 125cc per cylinder, an unthinkable jewel for the time. That’s why the first Ferrari of 1947 is called the 125!

The Ferrari 166MM represents the evolution of the 125, with its displacement increased to 1992cc, which led to its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1949.

When the 125 debuted at the Piacenza Circuit, dominating but not winning, and then conquered the GP of the Terme di Caracalla in Rome two weeks later, Colombo didn’t even have time to celebrate. A larger displacement and more power were immediately required, and by 1949, the Ferrari 166 MM (166x12 = 1992cc) won the Mille Miglia, the 24 Hours of Spa, and, most spectacularly, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, sending a clear message to the world.

The 3.0 V12 engine designed by Gioachino Colombo is at the heart of the Ferrari 250 family, among the most beautiful and successful Ferraris, such as the Testa Rossa and GTO.

The potential of this engine seemed endless, as its displacement was progressively increased, doubling the capacity of each cylinder to 250cc. The many iconic Ferrari 250s, including the legendary GTO, remain symbols of Maranello’s golden age. Meanwhile, Colombo moved to Maserati, which won the 1957 Formula 1 World Championship with Manuel Fangio driving the 250 F. The engine of that single-seater, considered one of the purest and most sophisticated Formula 1 cars of its time, was another testament to Colombo’s talent.

At Maserati, Gioachino Colombo designs the engine that powers the 250 F to the Formula 1 World Championship with Juan Manuel Fangio.