Great Cars: Italian Beauty

Long before Dustin Hoffman discovered it in the "Graduate" a nascent, Neapolitan entrepreneur, Nicola Romeo had taken over this fledgling auto company turning it into an automotive legend. These stylish and fast racecars fetch millions of dollars today from collectors. After the War Alfa had to find a way to recapture its glory. Its factories were destroyed but its spirit was still intact.

Enzo Ferrari's greatest desire was to become a racecar driver. Through sheer dint of character he succeeded and eventually gave birth to the most formidable racing machines ever produced. We'll follow the incredible story of Enzo Ferrari and his company and see his namesake car, the Ferrari Enzo. It has a top speed of 217.5 mph and a price tag to tilt the radar gun, $500,000. Enzo would love it!

Sant' Agata was the home of a poor farm boy who was pressed into the Italian Air Force during World War II. He built and maintained army trucks. After the war, Ferrucio began to convert leftover engines into tractors for farming. Whatever Ferrucio touched turned to gold. Shortly after, he became the visionary manufacturer of one of the most avant-garde automobile in the world, Lamborghini.

In 1914 Alfieri Maserati took his patented automotive spark plug and started building racecars. Using war surplus parts and machinery, he began what would become the trident trademark of Maserati and a tradition of Italian sports cars. Today, Maserati is being revitalized by its new owner, Ferrari, who is helping its former rival regain its position as one of the greats in the world.