Chassis n° ZFFGJ34B000077676
Bonhams
Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris
The Grand Palais Éphémère
Place Joffre
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2023
Estimated : € 2.200.000 - 2.270.000
Sold for € 2.185.000
Introduced in 1988 to celebrate Enzo Ferrari's 40 years as a motor manufacturer, the legendary F40 was the ultimate supercar and is historically significant as the last model conceived and introduced before Il Commendatore's death. A mid-engined, two-seater berlinetta, the F40 was a development of the 288 GTO Evoluzione, and like the latter - but unlike the preceding 308 series - mounted its power unit longitudinally rather than transversely. The Evoluzione version of the 288 GTO had been intended for Group B racing, only to be rendered obsolete when the formula was cancelled. Nevertheless, it did bequeath its tubular steel space-frame chassis to the F40, suitably strengthened with bonded-in composite elements.
The F40's power unit too, was a development of the 288 GTO's: slightly enlarged from 2,855cc to 2,936cc and incorporating up-rated internals and a state-of-the-art Weber/Marelli engine management system. A four-cam 3-litre V8 with four valves per cylinder, the F40 engine employed twin IHI turbochargers to liberate 478bhp (approximately 352kW) at 7,000rpm. For the seriously speed-addicted, this could be boosted by 200bhp by means of a factory tuning kit. Power reached the ground via a five-speed transaxle.
Of equal, if not greater, technical interest than this stupendous engine was the method of body/chassis construction, the F40 drawing on Ferrari's Formula 1 experience in its use of composite technology. Thus the chassis had a bonded-in mix of Kevlar, carbon fibre and glassfibre panels. A one-piece plastic moulding, the body was bonded to the tubular steel chassis to create a lightweight structure of immense rigidity. The doors, bonnet, boot lid and other removable panels were carbon fibre. Compared with rest of the car, the F40's suspension was entirely conventional, consisting of unequal-length wishbones and coil spring dampers all round, with anti-roll bars at both ends.
Pugnaciously styled by Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti, the man responsible for the 365 GTB/4 'Daytona', the F40 incorporated the latest aerodynamic aids in the form of a dam-shaped nose and high rear aerofoil. Despite the need to generate considerable downforce - and with a top speed higher than the take-off speed of many light aircraft, the F40 needed all the downforce it could get - the result was a commendably low drag coefficient of just 0.34. The F40's interior re-enforced its image as a thinly disguised race-car, with body-contoured seats, an absence of carpeting and trim, and sliding Plexiglas windows. Performance was breathtaking, with a 0-200km/h (0-124mph) time of 12 seconds and a top speed of 323km/h (201mph) it comfortably eclipsed both Porsche's 959 and Lamborghini's Countach. And when it came to actual competition, race-prepared F40s more than held their own, and in the Global GT series proved quicker on many circuits than McLaren's F1 GTR.
Initially Ferrari announced that they would build 400 F40s, only to be overwhelmed by the response from would-be purchasers numbered in the thousands. The production run was upped to 950 but Ferrari would end up producing 1,315 examples. Even then demand continued to exceed supply, with speculation the inevitable result.
Autocar found the experience of driving the F40 somewhat overwhelming: "The take-up into the next gear is flawless and, with the turbos cranking hard, the blast of acceleration just goes on again and you seem to be in a blur of time conquering distance, gearshifts and noise. It has the tonal quality of an F1 engine, if not the sheer ferocity. From outside, if you stand and listen, you hear the frantic whoosh as the turbos start to drive oh-so-hard."
Autocar concluded its test thus: "on a smooth road it is a scintillatingly fast car that is docile and charming in its nature; a car that is demanding but not difficult to drive, blessed as it is with massive grip and, even more importantly, superb balance and manners. You can use its performance - the closest any production carmaker has yet come to race car levels - and revel in it. ...there's little doubt it is the very personification of the term sports car."
Even decades later the F40 still had the power to impress. Reacquainting himself with the F40, F50 and Enzo Ferraris for Octane magazine (July 2014 edition) racing driver Mark Hales declared: "The F40 is for me, the special one. Not just because I have spent so much time in them, but because it was such an explosive, other-worldly creation when it first appeared, and it still retains much of that character." Enough said.
The 24th Ferrari F40 built, this very early 'pre-series' model commenced production on 3rd June 1988 and was completed on 20th September that year. As such it is one of the pre-catalyst models with non-adjustable suspension that is the most highly sought-after today. The F40 was delivered new by Motor SPA of Modena, Italy and the delivery and warranty date was 8th October 1988. Its first owner was Mr Carlo Sama of Ravenna.
Since 1997 the Ferrari has resided in the Netherlands, spending seven years in the hands of its first Dutch owner and more than 16 years with its second. The car is accident free and the paint is believed to be original (see September 2022 inspection report from official Ferrari dealer Kroymans Automotive). Kroymans' report notes that they replaced the fuel tanks in June 2021 at 30,082 kilometres, and carried out the last service on 4th March 2021 at 29,970 kilometres -just 275 km ago. Last year's extensive service included new brake discs and pads at the front, new fuel tanks, and re-upholstering the original seats at a total cost of more than 56.000 euro (bills on file). The car's service history is as follows:
29th May 1990 at 7,900km - Michelotto, Padua
15th June 2004 at 20,066km - Ferrari Kroymans in the Netherlands
27th July 2007 at 25,015km - Ferrari Kroymans in the Netherlands
20th June 2011 at 28,400km - Franco Auto Maserati in the Netherlands
1st July 2016 at 29,600km - Franco Auto Maserati in the Netherlands
4th March 2021 at 29,970km - Ferrari Kroymans in the Netherlands
Ferrari Classiche certified, the car comes complete with toolkit, keys (x5), and a Netherlands registration document. Recently serviced and 'on the button', this beautiful F40 represents a wonderful opportunity to own an outstanding example of this historic Ferrari model.
