Ferrari built the 125 S, the first car to carry the Ferrari name, in 1947.
Enzo Ferrari founded Auto Avio Costruzioni after leaving Alfa Romeo, but the 125 S was the first automobile produced under the Ferrari name. It made its public competition debut at Piacenza in May 1947, although it did not finish that first race. The car was powered by a 1.5-litre V12 designed by Gioachino Colombo.
The 125 S was a racing sports car rather than a conventional road car. Ferrari's early identity was therefore closely tied to competition before its road-car business expanded. The model name referred to the approximate displacement of each cylinder, while the S stood for sport. Ferrari's famous road cars and Formula One cars developed later from this small but significant beginning.