Enzo Ferrari built his reputation on racing victories and some of the most desirable sports cars ever made, yet when he needed a car for everyday journeys around Modena, he often chose something far more ordinary.
The relationship with Peugeot was more than a passing curiosity, as Ferrari used several models over the years and the French manufacturer’s vehicles also appeared in the Scuderia’s support fleet. Through the recollections of his longtime chauffeur, Dino Tagliazucchi, it is possible to understand why the Peugeot 404 and 504 became part of Enzo Ferrari’s daily life and what those choices reveal about his approach to automobiles.
Beyond Ferrari
Although Ferrari had access to some of the finest sports cars in the world, he did not feel obliged to use one for every journey, and his personal preferences were often different from the image associated with his company. He frequently chose medium blue or metallic grey rather than red, while Giallo Fly also became one of his favourite colours during the 1960s. His cars were selected and adapted according to his own needs, rather than simply to represent the Ferrari brand.
Photo: Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari’s personal 1962 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2
One of his particular concerns was the fog that often covered the roads around Modena, which led him to request additional Lucas fog lamps when taking delivery of a new car. As Sergio Scaglietti later recalled, Ferrari wanted these lamps integrated into the design rather than merely attached to the front, a small detail that illustrates how carefully he considered the practical use of his automobiles.
The Peugeot connection
The origins of Enzo Ferrari’s interest in Peugeot are difficult to establish, and the available accounts offer several possible explanations rather than a definitive answer. One family story points to a sister of his wife who lived in southern France, possibly in Nice or Marseille, and who may have visited Modena in a Peugeot. Whether this encounter actually introduced Ferrari to the French marque is unknown, however, and the story remains unsupported by firm documentary evidence.
A more substantial connection can be found in Ferrari’s longstanding relationship with Pininfarina, whose designers worked with both the Italian sports car manufacturer and Peugeot during the same period. This shared association provided a natural link between the two companies, while Dino Tagliazucchi later recalled that Ferrari acquired his Peugeots through Martino Severi of Literauto, the local Peugeot dealer. Although the circumstances of the first purchase remain uncertain, Pininfarina’s involvement offers a credible explanation for how Ferrari became familiar with the French cars and developed an appreciation for them.
Photo: Peugeot
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 that won the World Rally Championship in 1985
The appreciation was mutual and extended beyond the purchase of road cars, as Ferrari maintained a warm relationship with Peugeot and recognised its achievements in competition. In 1985, he wrote to Jean Todt following Peugeot’s victory in the World Rally Championship, demonstrating that his interest in the manufacturer continued long after he had stopped using its cars as his principal daily transport.
The Peugeot 404
When Dino Tagliazucchi joined Ferrari in 1966, Enzo was using a metallic grey Peugeot 404 saloon with a beige leather interior and a radio, a combination that reflected his preference for understated colours and comfortable surroundings. The car was not entirely standard, however, because it had a modified Nardi steering wheel and gear lever, while the front incorporated indicators and fog lamps taken from a Lancia Flaminia.
Photo: Club Storico Peugeot Citroën
Dino Tagliazucchi with a Peugeot 404
The 404 was used for journeys around Modena and trips within a radius of approximately 200 to 300 kilometres, including visits to Monza, which meant that it served as genuine everyday transport rather than simply a car for short errands. Tagliazucchi also owned a Peugeot 404 himself, giving him personal experience of the model beyond his duties as Ferrari’s chauffeur, although there is no evidence that he influenced Enzo’s original decision to choose one.
The 504 Coupé
Around 1969, the 404 was replaced by a metallic dark blue Peugeot 504 saloon with a beige interior, no sunroof and no further modifications, according to Tagliazucchi’s recollections. Ferrari often drove the car himself, with his chauffeur seated beside him and any guests or bodyguard travelling in the rear, continuing a routine that allowed him to remain personally involved in the driving experience.
Photo: Peugeot
Peugeot 504 Coupé
In 1970 or 1971, a light blue Peugeot 504 Coupé with a blue velvet interior arrived as a replacement. Tagliazucchi remembered it as a comfortable and reliable car. The Coupé was an especially interesting choice because its Pininfarina design connected Peugeot’s mechanical engineering with the Italian styling tradition that Ferrari knew so well, although there is no evidence that Pininfarina personally persuaded him to purchase it. The car was replaced around 1973, after which Ferrari’s household used vehicles from the Fiat Group.
Chauffeur’s memories
Dino Tagliazucchi’s recollections offer an unusually personal perspective on Enzo Ferrari, revealing how the founder of one of the world’s most celebrated sports car manufacturers behaved during ordinary journeys. Tagliazucchi joined Ferrari in 1966 and later became his personal chauffeur, a position that allowed him to observe Enzo’s habits away from the factory and the racing circuits. His memories are particularly valuable because they describe the Peugeots as working cars that formed part of Ferrari’s daily routine.
For several years, Ferrari continued to take the wheel himself, with Tagliazucchi seated beside him and ready to assist whenever necessary. This arrangement continued until 1972, when knee pain eventually made driving uncomfortable for Enzo to hand over the responsibility to his chauffeur. The change was significant for a man who had spent much of his life closely connected to automobiles, although it did not diminish his interest in how a car behaved on the road or his willingness to express an opinion about its performance.
Photo: Curbside Classic
One of Tagliazucchi’s more entertaining memories concerns Ferrari’s behaviour at traffic lights, where he reportedly expected his chauffeur to accelerate away ahead of the surrounding traffic, much as a racing driver would seek an advantage at the start of a Grand Prix. Tagliazucchi also recalled Enzo describing the Peugeots as more responsive than Fiats. Together, these anecdotes suggest that Ferrari’s competitive instincts remained present even during routine journeys.
The chauffeur’s account also helps explain why Peugeot remained part of Ferrari’s life for several years, since the cars offered a combination of qualities that suited his regular movements around Modena and beyond. They provided comfortable transport for longer journeys, accommodated passengers when required and allowed Ferrari to travel without the attention that might accompany one of his own sports cars. Although Tagliazucchi’s memories cannot answer every question about Enzo’s personal preferences, they reveal a man who approached everyday motoring with the same curiosity and attention to detail that characterised his wider involvement in the automotive world.
Scuderia Ferrari Support
The relationship between Ferrari and Peugeot was not limited to Enzo’s personal garage, because period photographs show Peugeot 404 estate cars and light commercial vehicles being used by the Ferrari team. These practical vehicles were well suited to carrying people, equipment and supplies, providing the dependable transport required by a racing organisation whose activities extended far beyond the circuit itself.
Photo: Ferrari
Their presence in the Scuderia’s support fleet also showed that Peugeot had a useful role within Ferrari’s wider working environment. While the racing cars represented the company’s pursuit of performance, the support vehicles fulfilled a different purpose. Ferrari clearly understood the value of choosing the right machinery for each task.
The 308 name
The relationship between the two manufacturers is also associated with Ferrari’s use of the 308 name, which followed Peugeot’s established convention of using three digits with a zero in the middle. The best known example of Peugeot protecting this naming system is Porsche’s 901, which became the 911 following an objection from the French manufacturer, making Ferrari’s use of the 308 name an interesting part of the wider relationship.
Photo: Ferrari
However, the precise legal circumstances surrounding Ferrari’s use of the name deserve careful verification before presenting the story as a formal agreement or a specific concession from Peugeot. It is a worthwhile historical detail, but the more revealing connection is found in the cars Enzo actually chose to drive and the personal relationships that developed between the two manufacturers.
Want to ensure you never miss an update?
Subscribe to the ROSSOautomobili newsletter.
We make every effort to credit photographers and image sources accurately. Some images may have unknown origins. If you see a photo that’s yours and would like it credited or removed, please contact us.
Leave a comment