The Origins Of The Ferrari Portofino Name

Portofino is a name that now evokes two Italian style icons: one on wheels and another of refined tourism. One of the most beautiful villages in Italy has been chosen by Ferrari chaps at Maranello as the heir to the California T.

It might be a chic resort that's known around the world, but for the first time in the history of the Ferrari brand it means a nameplate that has no relevance to its origins or the company's headquarters whatsoever. 

Throughout Ferrari's history, there have only been three other names of Italian locations associated with one of the marque’s famed supercars. The 550 Maranello (followed by the 575M Maranello), the 360 Modena and the 599 GTB Fiorano.

Each nomenclature was chosen by specifically by Enzo Ferrari and was home either to a manufacturing plant or a race track. Even more interesting is that other manufacturers have already built cars with the Portofino name. 

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The first car to bear the name was the Lamborghini Portofino concept (pictured above), presented 30 years ago at the 1987 Frankfurt motor show. The four-door, four-seat GT car was created by Kevin Verduyn of Chrysler, then-owner of the Italian marque. The Portofino name has since remained a trademark of the Chrysler group, the rights seemingly transferred to Ferrari.

The second model to wear the Portofino nameplate was the Fiat Portofino, a concept car built by Vernagallo-Holiday and Salt in 2008, which was a recreation of a fully open beach cruiser.

The Portofino name was also used by Ford as a paint colour. Portofino Blue was smattered on Ford, Lincoln and Shelby vehicles throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. Land Rover also used a Portofino Red on a number of its vehicles.