Why is the Cavallino Black on rear of GTOs?

I recall them being black on the Testarossa also.

 

It might have been a '80 thing.
If I'm not mistaken previously (in standard form) the cars did not have any cavallino on the rear, they only had the badge on the front.
The black cavallino might have been selected for a progressive introduction, IIRC the 348 tb still did not receive any cavallino on the rear.

 

I cannot steal Caeruleus' thunder.....

 

Yes, I believe the story is that Mr. Ferrari was upset. And thanks Traveller, I hope I have this correct. The story that was told to me by someone at FNA at the 599 GTO introduction- and this is purely from memory- Just prior to the introduction of the 288 GTO, there was an argument between Mr. Ferrari and some higher ups at Fiat. I'm not sure the reason for the argument. However, as the story was told to me, the Fiat executives were adamant this new 288 GTO would feature an oversized bright Cavallino Rampante on the rear. Supposedly, at the very last minute, and unknown to the executives at Fiat, Mr. Ferrari went ahead and changed it!... To the now famous small black prancing horse. Lesson- don't mess with Mr. Enzo Ferrari!

As far as I am aware, the 288 GTO is the first Ferrari production car to wear a black Cavallaino Rampante. And not used again by the Factory until the 599 GTO.

PS- this caused me to go back to some books and so far I can't find anything that disputes this story. I welcome corrections/ improvements.

 

And in the 348 also.
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Great points about the other cars. I wonder if it was that the Testarossa was sometimes marketed alongside the 288? The 348 is interesting as well as I don't remember seeing it with black but I have seen it with a silver CR. Now I see the picture with black and the same photo is on Ferrari's website. A search of images on line shows Testarossas with either. I will see about learning more on this and getting back to you all. Might be a few days.

 

When I went to the factory to spec my 599 GTO, the Atelier told me the same evocative story. And that because only the GTO has a black prancing horse, I should put a tiny one on the fuel filler flap. Given the depth of passion swirling around I had little choice but to agree. I didn't have the heart to ask how much. Months later when my car was delivered there was the cost: around 500 GBP inc tax. For an item that must have cost pennies to source. It didn't bother me at all and it was a superb example of the power of the Ferrari brand. Enzo would have been justifiably smiling at the margin.

 

348's from 1989 ~ mid-1993 left the factory with a matt black horse mounted on the rear grille.

348's from mid-1993 onwards left the factory with a chrome horse mounted on the rear grille.

Some owners replace the black horse with a chrome one because they either prefer the chrome horse due to it standing out more on the grille, or they misguidedly believe that the black horse is an after-market replacement.

Both badges are also prone to getting their tails and legs bent when the car is washed if not enough care is taken, so it's also quite possible that the chrome badge gets ordered by mistake for early cars and gets fitted to the car.

And finally, the Chrome horse is both cheaper, and easier to get hold of than the black horse when a replacement is required.

 

on the modern cars I have a black cavallino on the back of my SpecialeAperta (unbelievably it was a free option and you don't get much free from Ferrari these days)

but the wouldn't do it for my 488 or 488spider

 

Thanks for the information- I am curious to learn more.

 

I'm placing a black prancing horse on my tdf. The delectable and irresistible Titanium fuel filler cap released by Ferrari as a retro fit option for the tdf, and being fitted to my car now, has one on it

 

And the legend of the Nero Cavallino Rampante lives on!

 

Surely it is because the blackbody radiation adds just that little extra bit of "oomph" to the car?

 

I think the Testarossa also switched to a chromed horse when it became the 512 TR.

Earlier models may get chromed horses to mimic the more recent models, in the same way they often get the black spoilers and skirts repainted in body color (as on the later versions).

 

I asked Marcel this question in person and he denied the story was true.

 

I would think that solves it. I will have an update for this probably middle September... Sorry for the delay but thats how it goes. I certainly don't want to give out a story if its not accurate!

 

*laughs* .. and to think back then, so many gripes about the black prancing horse when the TR/348 released. Nobody connected the dots, until this thread.

 

TBH, I think the black horses are a bit too anonymous on the back of the 348 and Testarossa - They tend to disappear into the rear grille (at least on the 288 GTO the black horse stands out against the red background)

The chrome horse stands out far more, and to Me at least, despite not being original to early cars, looks a lot better.

 

Resurrecting this thread, but it has been mentioned in a couple of posts on the 348 owners group on facebook that the black horsey on those cars was as a mark of respect to Enzos death also they have no horsey on the front grille which was subsequently phased back in.

This seems to make sense for the 348 and Testarossa from mid 88.

Not sure about the F40 and Mondial, I dont recall ever seeing any with a black horse on those cars.

If anyone knows whether the Testarossa was supplied with the black horse pre '88 then we can bust that myth, then a more rational explanation is that they were just painted at the same time as the grille components!

 

I have this black horsy, seems not really old, anyone know from which model it is?

 

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