Named in honor of Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, the Ferrari F40 was, in practical terms, the product of a development program centered on the 288GTO Evoluzione, whose racing mission was abruptly ended with the sudden cancellation of the FIA’s Group B rally series in 1986. In terms of the sheer passion the Ferrari name has stirred over the decades, however, the F40 stands alone as the very definition of the 20th century supercar.
This was the last car produced at the behest of Enzo Ferrari, unveiled in a dramatic ceremony inside Maranello’s “Civica” in the summer of 1987 with the man himself holding court. It was as pure an expression of the Ferrari mystique as anything that had come before it, exactly as Ferrari had intended when he directed his engineering department to produce “the best in the world.” The most expensive road car in the world, the F40 showcased Ferrari’s advanced technology in every detail while delivering the raw performance and sensuality found only in cars wearing the fabled Prancing Horse.
Gorgeously wrapped in Pininfarina-designed, Scaglietti-formed Kevlar composite bodywork over a steel tube chassis, the F40’s 2.9L DOHC V-8 engine used twin water-cooled IHI turbochargers with Behr air-to-air intercoolers and Weber-Marelli sequential electronic fuel injection and ignition systems to generate 478 HP at 7,000 RPM and 426 lb-ft of torque, enough to propel its 2,900 pounds to 60 MPH in 4.7 seconds and a top speed a mere tick below 200 MPH. Its foundation comprised long-proven 4-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension with coilover shock absorbers, massive Brembo ventilated disc brakes and Kevlar-belted Pirelli P-Zero asymmetric tires on center-locking alloy wheels.
Its unmistakable shape rendered in Rosso Corsa over a black carbon fiber cockpit dressed in red fabric upholstery, the F40 offered here is one of 213 total U.S.-spec cars built over a three-year production run that began in 1990 and one of only 22 U.S.-spec cars produced in 1992. A three-owner car with just 8,688 miles on the odometer, this sensational F40 carries essential Ferrari Classiche Certification and the high honors of winning both the Platinum and Best Supercar Awards at Cavallino 30 in Palm Beach, Florida, in April 2021. In August that same year it was invited by Ferrari North America to be displayed at Casa Ferrari at the world famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Offered with a tool kit, books and manuals, the car’s service history is documented back to 1992. Most recently, a major service was completed in October 2022 by Pocono Sportscar in Shohola, Pennsylvania, which included belt service and fresh cam cover seals, as well as changing all fluids and replacing the water pump and seals, all eight spark plugs, the tensioner bearing, rear cover gasket and the air conditioning belt. More than three decades after its history-making Maranello debut, the magnificent Ferrari F40 remains the gold standard in the heady world of pure thoroughbred Ferrari road cars.
This vehicle will be featured at the Mecum Auctions event in Kissimmee, Florida, known as The World’s Largest Collector Car Auction®. The auction will showcase more than 4,000 cars and thousands of Road Art items. The event is scheduled to take place from January 2 to 14, 2024. To explore more cars and participate in onsite, telephone, or online bidding, visit https://www.mecum.com/auctions/kissimmee-2024/.
