Ferrari F40 LM (1991)

Ferrari's 201mph F40 is the definitive supercar and has a formidable reputation alongside the 250 GTO as possibly the best road Ferrari built to date. With the F40 Pininfarina produced an era defining creation, one that even today is instantly recognisable by old and young enthusiasts alike. If there was ever a poster car for every generation, this is probably it.

The F40 was closely derived from the experimental GTO Evoluzione's and the road 288 GTO before it. Competition was not in Ferrari's original plan for the F40, but Daniel Marin, managing director of French Ferrari importer Charles Pozzi SA, took the initiative and persuaded in 1990 Ferrari to authorise Michelotto, the famed Padova Ferrari race car builder, to construct a series of F40 LMs for racing under IMSA rules in the U.S. Just 19 of these cars were built, but in reality, only a few of these cars ever raced. LM, was for Le Mans, and whilst they would never make it to that ultimate race in this form, it was the only factory authorised race version to be built.

Michelotto started by reinforcing the chassis and fitting lighter and aero purposeful bodywork with proper front and rear adjustable wings, as well as of course uprated brakes and suspension, a competition-spec dog box, wider wheels and tires, and an even more stripped-out interior, which featured a futuristic digital dashboard. In a further effort to save weight, the F40’s distinctive flip-up headlights were replaced with fixed lamps behind Lexan covers. In the end, the F40 LM weighed in at just 1,050 kgs.

The engine, now designated F120 B, retained the same displacement as the road going car, but boost was upped to 2.6 bar and the compression ratio was increased to 8.0:1. Michelotto also fitted bigger Behr intercoolers, new camshafts, and a new Weber Marelli electronic fuel-injection system. Power was quoted as 720 horsepower at 7,500 rpm, but with the air restrictors removed, the engine could produce upwards of 760 brake horsepower! Sadly, the LM never quite fitted any set of regs or rules enough to make it a front runner, and only a handful saw period competition. Some could argue however, that the LM was the start of the now oversubscribed Corsa Clienti programme, for track days only.

This Ferrari F40 LM is the 1 of 3 GTC versions built featuring a slightly different aerodynamics package. Supplied new in March of 1991, the car was delivered to to its first owner in Berlin - a long standing client of Ferrari who would became the official dealer for Berlin for several years.

In September 1996, that owner sold his F40 LM to Georg Loos, the former racing team owner and Cologne resident. In December of 1998, Eberlein Automobile of Kassel, Germany, again brokered the car to a gentleman from Hamburg, Germany. Used extremely sparingly throughout its life, this LM has predominantly been stored as a part of significant Ferrari collections.

DK Engineering originally purchased the car in 2005 and at the time, the car was subjected to a comprehensive service and was used for one track event. The current owners purchased the car in 2010 and at that time sent it to Michelotto for a 80,000 euro overhaul. This included, but was not limited to, new wish bones, drive shafts, fuel cells, crack checking, and an engine major service and inspection. Since then it has raced once and has remained largely unused as part of a collection of significant competition Ferraris based in the UK.

In 2021 DK Engineering have carried out another comprehensive and thorough overhaul prior to marketing the car, meaning that it is equally ready for the track as it is for the show field. A rare opportunity to acquire a true factory authorised and supplied race F40 with clear and clean history, in superb condition and with low usage since new. Classiche Certified and verified as matching numbers throughout