Enzo Ferrari: Biography, Cars and Facts You Probably Didn’t Know about Enzo Ferrari | IE

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How old was Enzo Ferrari when he died, and why did he die?

The great Enzo Ferrari died on the 14th of August 1988 in Modena, Italy. He was 90 years old at the time of his death.

According to sources like biography.com, the cause of his death is unknown, but he appears to have been suffering from kidney disease for some time prior to his death.

Ferrari F40. Source: Ferrari

Just weeks after Enzo Ferrari’s death, the Italian Grand Prix was held. The result was a 1-2 finish for Ferrari, with the Austrian Gerhard Berger taking first place and Milan native Michele Aboreto second. 

It was, interestingly, the only race the McLaren did not win that season.

Was Enzo Ferrari married?

Yes, indeed he was. Enzo married Laura Dominica Garello on the 28th of April 1923. They would remain married until her death in 1978.

The couple had one son (more about him later), and Enzo did have a mistress, Lina Lardi, whilst being married to Laura. With his mistress, Enzo had another son, Piero. Because divorce was not legal in Italy at the time, Piero could not officially be recognized as Enzo’s son until Laura’s death. 

7 interesting facts about Enzo Ferrari

And so, without further ado, here are some interesting facts about the man and the legend that is Enzo Ferrari. Trust us when we say this list is far from exhaustive and is in no particular order.

1. Enzo was a WW1 war veteran

Enzo Ferrari actually fought during the First World War. During the war, Enzo served under the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment of the Italian Army. 

Although he did survive the war, his brother and father were less lucky. Both died, not from direct conflict, but by succumbing to a flu outbreak in Italy at the time.