For the Ferrari F40 shopper, catalytic converters and adjustable suspensions are particularly meaningful. Normally options are great, but Ferrari often dishes out barely roadable race cars. In these special cases, the absence of both the cat and the problematic adjustable suspension is the pinnacle of collectibility. Coming up for auction at RM Sotheby’s London event on November 4th is this 1990 Ferrari F40 with one of those boxes UNchecked – it does not have adjustable suspension though it does have a catalytic converter (bummer!) The estimate on this example is £1,900,000 – £2,100,000, and despite the slightly strangled engine, it has much to recommend it, beginning with the very low km reading of 20,967, solid provenance, certification by Ferrari’s Classiche division and its accompanying Red Book, fitted luggage and tools. We have Barn Finder Araknid78 to thank for this exotic tip – keep them coming, please!
The F40 landed with a flourish into the collective psyche of automotive enthusiasts in 1987. It was essentially a road-going derivation of the 288 Evoluzione, a car whose race series was terminated. With no door panels, no air conditioning, only the sparest of seats, a “strictly business” instrument panel, and fixed or sliding Lexan windows, the F40 barely disguised its intent, which was to scare the pants off you until you learned to drive it. Buyers could do just that, at Maranello: the price of the car included instruction at Ferrari’s factory. This example shows minor wear commensurate with multiple owners and its few miles.
No doubt the engine is of paramount importance in a Ferrari, but so is what it hauls around. The aforementioned exclusion of creature comforts and the use of carbon fiber, kevlar, and aluminum to craft the body results in a curb weight of about 2800 lbs for a Euro-spec car. The longitudinal rear-mid mounted 3.0 liter twin-turbo V8 engine generates about 475 hp and ungodly torque. Blasting through the five-speed gearbox can bring on a top speed very close to 200 mph. This example has a relatively new clutch, rebuilt turbochargers, and new fuel tanks. The seller does note that an aftermarket exhaust has been fitted; a factory replacement is required to bring the car back to its Red Book specs.
The Pininfarina design screams “race me” but it’s no pretender. Virtually every duct, vent, fairing, and valence has a purpose – mostly to control air in one way or another. Adjustable suspension was supplied after complaints from owners who discovered the car couldn’t clear even the slightest pavement ripple, but the technology has a poor reputation. Every one of the 1311 F40s produced left the factory painted Rosso Corsa. US-spec cars do differ slightly from Euro-spec cars, but beyond that, buyers could also request custom items such as wind-up windows. As F40s go, the estimate here seems within the range of recent sales.
Perfect ride for the Virginia City Hillclimb https://www.virginiacityhillclimb.com/
or the Silver State Challenge https://www.sscc.us/
Then again, this would be the car for someone to challenge the record of Warren “Snowy” Monroe (a newspaper owner from Elko, NV) who became the stuff of legend when he raced an airplane about 300 miles from Elko to the capital of Carson City in days before the state had a speed limit – and won…
Simply amazing, but about as far from a “Barn Find” as it gets.
It’s unrestored with low miles so actually it’s a lot like a barn find.
So new buyers could get instruction at Ferrari’s factory at Maranello on how to drive it…Whoever buys it get no instuction and will most likely end up being featured on You Tube crashing
I bet it would be fun to get driving training at the factory. Wish I could afford that.
Whoever buys it has the means to get whatever driving instruction he wants, from the best drivers in the world.
Right, because it will be some 16 year old kid that buys it, right?
Car isn’t going to be driven anyway. I do agree with the guy commenting that cats are important, but this car is never going to be driven again except on and off a trailer. Probably not even that much. Going into a deep dark hole in a nice glassed in room that protects it from dust, temperature, and envious prying eyes-until it gets flipped again. Still, I really do love the car.
Oh, I don’t know. Ferrari just held a Legacy Tour where a bunch of F40 drove their cars around Italy: https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/magazine/articles/celebrating-the-f40-legacy-tour
The F40 is actually my dream daily driver!
As long as the wheel is pointed straight when the boost comes on, they will be fine. It’s not like many of these are driven in anger anyways.
Whose barn did you find this car in???
Those exposed lights up front give the car kind of a, IMO, homely look.
& the dash is nothing to brag about.
I find it hard to believe they had tires that low profiled in ’90.
& wheels that big
You’re right Anthony, I’ll get off my soapbox. Getting back to what this thread is all about; The F40 is one of the most beautiful machines to come out of Maranello. Creature comforts? NAH! This car indeed is a thinly disguised race car. Long trips? I don’t think so, the F40 was built to get your heart beats per minute up to 160 in a short time. Would love to drive one….
The performance of the F40 is legendary and priceless.l can’t comment on the problems of the world,l leave that to a higher power but I would love owning a 67 Corvette 427 and if that makes me guilty of harming the planet then Sue Me.
Amen…..if I had won that billion dollar lotto….I’d be after this car in a heartbeat!
I had not looked at one of these for a good long while. I was amazed at this car the first time I saw one. I’m also amazed that in a world of Paganos and Koeingseggs, the F40 looks a bit dated. I wonder what a Veyron’s competitors will be like in 2050?
Still a beautiful shape for a car. It just looks like a proper Ferrari.
Beautiful looking car. I remember first reading about the Ferrari F40 when it was first intro’d. I thought it was a beautiful looking car.