Some people may only know Ferrari as a maker of luxury sports cars, but the company is also the most storied maker of racing cars for Formula 1. Ferrari has competed for every world championship since 1950, and its racers have the most race wins in Formula 1, a good bit ahead of rival McClaren and way out in front of the third place finisher, Mercedes.
In 1956 LIFE photographer Thomas Mcavoy went deep inside the Ferrari racing operation, following cars from their construction in Maranello, Italy, to their racing at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. Appearing in the some of the pictures is company namesake Enzo Ferrari himself.
Enzo Ferrari once said, among his many aphorisms, “Race cars are neither beautiful nor ugly. They become beautiful when they win.” Still, most would agree that his cars are quite stylish, and some of the images McAvoy shot with the cars on the streets of Monaco look like they could come from fashion shoots.
One of Ferrari’s drivers, Peter Collins, is photographed with his wife, actress Louise Cordier, and they were a certified mid-50s glamour couple. Reportedly the only person who didn’t approve of their marriage was Enzo Ferrari, who worried that the relationship would distract Collins from his racing.
After seeing the elaborate process required to construct a Ferrari racer, it’s plain to what Enzo Ferrari put his love into.
Outside the Ferrari factory, company namesake Enzo Ferrari (left) and head mechanic Vittorio Bellentani (right) spoke with an unidentified man next to a Lancia Ferrari D50 car, Maranello, Italy, early 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Ferrari head mechanic Vittorio Bellentani (second left, in dark blazer) watched as other mechanics lowered an engine into the chassis of a Lancia Ferrari D50 car (which will be raced in the Monaco Grand Prix) at the company’s factory, Maranello, Italy, early 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Ferrari head mechanic Vittorio Bellentani (center) watched as other mechanics lowered an engine into the chassis of a Lancia Ferrari D50 car that would be raced in the Monaco Grand Prix, Maranello, Italy, May 16, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
An unidentified Ferrari mechanic worked on a Lancia Ferrari D50 car for the Monaco Grand Prix, at the company’s factory in Maranello, Italy, May 16, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Mechanics worked on building a car for the Monaco Grand Prix at the Ferrari plant in Maranello, Italy, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Ferrari mechanics lowered an engine into the chassis of a Lancia Ferrari D50 car at the company’s factory, Maranello, Italy, early 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
An unidentified Ferrari mechanic stripped a brake drum from a Lancia Ferrari D50 car at the company’s factory, Maranello, Italy, early 1956. This drum went into the car raced by Peter Collins at the Monaco Grand Prix..
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Mechanics worked on building a car for the Monaco Grand Prix at the Ferrari plant in Maranello, Italy, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Mechanics worked on building a car for the Monaco Grand Prix at the Ferrari plant in Maranello, Italy, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Mechanics worked on building a car for the Monaco Grand Prix at the Ferrari plant in Maranello, Italy, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Mechanics worked on building a car for the Monaco Grand Prix at the Ferrari plant in Maranello, Italy, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Mechanics worked on building a car for the Monaco Grand Prix at the Ferrari plant in Maranello, Italy, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Ferrari mechanics readied Lancia Ferrari D50 cars for the Monaco Grand Prix, at the company’s factory in Maranello, Italy, early 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
An unidentified Ferrari mechanic pushed an engine for a Lancia Ferrari D50 car to be raced in the Monaco Grand Prix, on a cart at the company’s factory, Maranello, Italy, early 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
An unidentified Ferrari mechanic inspected the body shell segments for a Lancia Ferrari D50 car outside the company’s factory, Maranello, Italy, early 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Outside the Ferrari factory, head mechanic Vittorio Bellentani (in dark blazer) and company namesake Enzo Ferrari stood near several Lancia Ferrari D50 cars that would be raced in the Monaco Grand Prix, Maranello, Italy, early 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Enzo Ferrari stood in front of his race cars at the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Ferrari car on its way to the Monaco Grand Prix, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Ferrari car on its way to the Monaco Grand Prix, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Ferrari racing driver Peter Collins enjoyed a drink with his soon-to-be-wife, American actress Louise Cordier at the Monaco Grand Prix, May 13, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Italian racing driver Eugenio Castellotti stood over his Lancia/Ferrari D50 prior to the Monaco Grand Prix race, May 13, 1956. With him are unidentified mechanics.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Ferrari car at the Monaco Grand Prix, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Ferrari car at the Monaco Grand Prix, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Ferrari car at the Monaco Grand Prix, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Ferrari car at the Monaco Grand Prix, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Ferrari car at the Monaco Grand Prix, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A Ferrari car at the Monaco Grand Prix, 1956.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
The start of the Grand Prix de Monaco, May 13, 1956. British driver Stirling Moss (#28, center), in a Maserati 250F, went on to win the race. Others visible include Argentine Juan Fangio (#20) and Italian Eugenio Castellotti (#22), both in Ferraris on either side of Moss.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
British driver Stirling Moss (later Sir Stirling Moss) raced a Maserati 250F car in the Grand Prix de Monaco in Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 13, 1956. He went on to win the race.
Thomas Mcavoy/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
