A new exhibition, "Ferrari and the Music", opened this morning at the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello which celebrates the many stars of the entertainment world who own or have owned a model of the famed Italian sports car.

Show business and the Ferrari brand have gone hand-in-hand ever since founder Enzo Ferrari began to sell his cars with the prancing horse emblem after World War II, to help finance his Grand Prix race team. However, he was openly suspicious of those who bought his dazzling creations because he was convinced they did it more for the prestige of owning one than for the car's actual performance and excellence.

The new exhibition at Galleria Ferrari, located between Ferrari headquarters and the nearby Fiorano race track, includes such items as a trumpet played by the late jazz legend Miles Davis, guitars owned by rockstar Eric Clapton, an Othello costume worn by tenor Placido Domingo and the first recording microphone used by Italian singer-song writer Lucio Dalla. Also on display are several of the Ferrari models owned by these entertainers including an Enzo Ferrari, a 250 California, a 275 GTB and many others.
 

The Galleria Ferrari itself is a permanent museum for the full range of Ferrari sports cars as well as its Formula 1 Grand Prix and GT models. The new exhibition, which runs until August 31, will also present a collection of music videos in which Ferrari cars appear. These include Madonna's Material Girl, Robbie Williams' Supreme and Jamiroquai's Cosmic Girl. Starting next month and through the summer, a series of concerts will be staged in the lot outside the Galleria Ferrari with performances by known groups and performers as well as up-and-coming stars. This initiative is being organized in collaboration with the local town council .

The Galleria Ferrari is open to the public every day from 9.30am to 6pm. Starting May 1 and for the summer, closing time will be extended to 7pm.