PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Ferrari. That name, probably more than any other, has a magical, mystical quality about it that makes serious car enthusiasts shiver.

 These blood-red racing machines carry a panache unequaled by more common cars. Enzo Ferrari, born in central Italy in 1898, formed the Scuderia Ferrari racing team in 1929 and his team raced Alfa Romeos. The first Ferrari was unveiled in 1947 and won its first race a few weeks later. The Ferrari legend today includes hundreds of victories including the 24 Hours of LeMans and Formula 1.

Ferrari was one of the honored brands at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Aug. 15, and event promoters said the display of up to 50 Ferraris was “the greatest gathering of historically significant Ferraris ever assembled.” There were so many current Ferraris around Pebble Beach that weekend that they outnumbered Chevrolets in some hotel parking lots.

 Ferrari was a featured marque at the accompanying Monterey Historic Automobile Races held at the nearby Laguna Seca racetrack. Legendary names, such as Dino, Testa Rossa, GTO, Pininfarina and Scaglietti, were all represented. Walking down pit road at the historic race was like seeing an automotive history book brought to life.

 A 1963 250 GTO can be worth upwards of $12 million, and at least 18 of them were at the race. Scarcity and skyrocketing value have driven many of them into collections, but on this weekend their V-12 engines shrieked in anger once again.

 On the 18^th fairway of the Pebble Beach golf course, one of the early mid-engined Ferraris, the 196 SP Dino Fantuzzi Spyder, sat in repose like a famous thoroughbred put out to pasture. It had chipped paint and a weathered patina of racing use that reinforced the notion that Ferraris always were, and always will be, racing cars first and foremost. They are, like a hammer, a tool meant for a single purpose.

 Enzo Ferrari believed that to race was to be alive. Seeing so many of his famous racers gathered in one spot would have made his heart full.

Left: The 1961 196SP Dino Fantuzzi Spyder.