Anyone know the origins of the 'Mondial' name? | FerrariChat

Anyone know the origins of the 'Mondial' name?

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by Nuvolari, Jan 10, 2005.

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  1. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    Sep 3, 2002
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    Yesterday out of the blue I wondered the origins of the 'Mondial' naming of the car. Can anyone give me a definative answer. The best I could assume is that 'Mondial' is a stylized form of the Italian word 'Mondiale' which directly translates to 'worldwide' (put the online translators away guys). It is also the term that denotes the F1 World Championship and one who as won it has won 'Il Mondiale'. Given that the Mondial was released in 1980 could it be that this name was given to commemorate the 1979 F1 world championship? I have looked but cannot find a definative answer.
     
  2. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    I believe it was in homage to the 500 Mondial race cars of the 1950s.

     
  3. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    I think it means 'Not very popular'. :D
     
  4. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    No, no. It means "slow Ferrari" in Italian ;)
     
  5. Ken

    Ken F1 World Champ

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    You guys are unkind! LOL My first Ferrari will be a 3.2 and if anyone wants to call my car ugly, that's fine with me!

    Ken
     
  6. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    #6 Smiles, Jan 10, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  7. tuttebenne

    tuttebenne F1 Rookie

    Mar 26, 2003
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    Mondial is Italian for "the kids go back here" :)
     
  8. tuttebenne

    tuttebenne F1 Rookie

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    Revise that. It's Italian for "just as fast as a GTB or GTS"
     
  9. Michael B

    Michael B F1 Rookie
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    Apr 28, 2004
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    Well then...

    "Mondial t" must mean: Much quicker than 308 or 328.

    I am still working on the popular thing...
     
  10. Ken

    Ken F1 World Champ

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    Who wants a "popular" car anyway? 4 seats, open air and a yellow horsie. Under $30k; well slightly over for a nice 3.2. That's a steal.

    Ken
     
  11. rossofiorano355

    rossofiorano355 Karting

    Dec 22, 2003
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    To quote the standard catalog of Ferrari:

    "Mondial, which means "world", was named to honor Ferrari's four-cylinder sports racers of the early 1950's"
     
  12. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
    7,821
    Central Texas
    Somewhere it seems we read that the name Mondial was to commerate Jody Scheckter winning the world championship in 1979, as in your statement above.

    Carol
     
  13. atlantaman

    atlantaman Formula 3

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    Think the original name was the "308 ugly" but USA marketing dept did not go for it--
     
  14. TOM B

    TOM B Formula 3

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    That's what my books say as well.

    And.....to all you Mondial-bashers...I can fit three supermodels in my car...how many can you fit?

    "Stop pushing girls. There's room for everybody." :)

    Tom
     
  15. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    How many 4'6" supermodels are there in the world? ;)
     
  16. TOM B

    TOM B Formula 3

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    Good things come in small packages. :)
     
  17. Philjay50

    Philjay50 Formula Junior

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    It does not matter how many there are, we can still get more in our Mondials !!!!
     
  18. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

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    Mondial means "You can drive your Ferrari a lot more often if the wife and kids fit in it."

    But it never hurts to have a 2 seater for the rest of the time as well.

    :)

    Birdman
     
  19. 348SStb

    348SStb F1 Rookie
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    It's amazing: out of all these replies, you and DonV are the only people who attempted to answer the question of the original poster.

    I'm curious to know why the name "Mondial," which certainly has some meaning that has to do with the word "world," was chosen for the 1950s cars.

    The Mondial-bashing may have been funny the first few times, but beating it to death not only is poor humor; it also might offend some Mondial owners.
     
  20. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    We have very thick skin.
     
  21. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

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    I wasn't bashing...I own one. Please re-read my post.

    I think most Ferraristi are aware that the "new" Mondial is named in honor of the original Mondial of the 1950s. I know Nuvolari, who started this thread, is well aware of that fact. I think he is asking how the original Mondial came to be known as the Ferrari named "World." I would like to know as well. Since I don't, I thought the Mondial needed defending! Hey, it's a better name than "Aztek"

    Mondials rock!

    Birdman
     
  22. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
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    #22 Bryanp, Jan 12, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The first car to be called "500 Mondial" appeared at a race, Casablanca, I believe, in December '53. The appelation "Mondial" was given to these 2-liter, 4 cylinder sports racers by Ferrari in recognition of Ferrari's back-to-back World Championships in '52 and '53 by Ascari in 2-liter Formula 2 cars.

    There were approximately 23 Series I 500 Mondials made with bodies by both Pininfarina and Scaglietti. There were between 8 and 10 Series II 500 Mondials - all Scaglietti-bodied. Among other minute differences, the Series II cars have a wider angle between the cams (entirely different motor tipo #) and have a 5-speed box in comparison to the 4-speed Series I cars. The Series II Scaglietti-bodied Mondials are nearly indistinguishable from their bigger 3-liter brothers, 750 Monzas. You need to look at the size of the Weber throats and the size of the exhaust headers to tell the difference in most cases.

    This (and my avatar) is one of the Series II 500 Mondials, 0556(0446)MD owned by my father for the past 45 years. The picture is from 1961.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  23. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    Bryan thank you very much for taking the time to post this information. I feel entirely educated.

    Now the Mondial bashing may continue. :)
     
  24. sjmst

    sjmst F1 Veteran
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    No. They are all correct. Mondials are awful cars. They deserve to continue to be priced SO low.
     
  25. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    That is until you build up a complete set, right Sam? ;)
     

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