Alfredo Ferrari

Alfredo Ferrari (nicknamed Alfredino or Dino) (1932-1956) was an Italian automotive engineer and the first son of automaker Enzo Ferrari. He suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and died at the age of 24. After his death the Ferrari 'Dino' was fitted with the engine that Alfredo was working on at the time of his death; because of this Enzo Ferrari decided to name it after his son.

Early life

Born to Enzo Ferrari and his wife Laura Dominica Gaurello, Alfredo was named after his paternal grandfather. Enzo, who at the time was a racing driver for Alfa Romeo, had vowed to stop racing cars if he had a son. True to his word, he retired from driving in 1927 and concentrated on racing team management with his newly formed Scuderia Ferrari.

From an early age Enzo groomed Alfredino—"little Alfredo"—to be his successor. Alfredo studied economics in Bologna before moving to mechanical engineering in Switzerland. Over time, however, it was clear that something was wrong. His physical movements gradually became stiff and he was often unable to maintain his balance. Doctors had no idea what was afflicting him, and he only managed to complete two years of his engineering education before returning to Modena.

Career at Ferrari

In his short career at Ferrari, Alfredo was widely credited for the 750 Monza racing car and to a limited extent a 1.5-litre V6 that would later see action in Ferrari's early Formula racers. Alfredo suggested to his father the development of a 1.5 L DOHC V6 engine for F2 at the end of 1955. Twelve years later, to honour his son, Enzo named the Dino series of road and racing Ferraris using this V-6 engine after him.

Death

Alfredo was suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In the final days of his life, while hospitalized, he discussed technical details of the 1.5-litre V6 with fellow engineer Vittorio Jano. Alfredo would never see the engine; he died in Modena on 30 June 1956 at the age of 24.

The death of Alfredo took a toll on his parents' marriage, as his mother never got over the loss of her only son. Enzo had another son, Piero, with another woman, Lina Lardi. As divorce was illegal in Italy until 1975, Piero was officially acknowledged as Enzo's son after Laura died in 1978. Piero is now vice-president at Ferrari.

The Autodromo Dino Ferrari in Italy is named in Alfredo's honour, with his father's name added after Enzo's death in 1988.

References

• Pritchard, Anthony (2009). Ferrari: Men from Maranello. Haynes Publishing. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-84425-414-9.