Ferrari F40 (1991)

There was no ABS, no traction control, no electro-hydraulic paddle shifting, and no stability control. With a 201 mph top speed and 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds, no one was disappointed with the F40. Ferrari proposed only a limited run of 400 or so F40s, but the model's reception was overwhelming and the run kept growing until 1,315 were built by the time production ended in 1991. The 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. F40's were closely derived from the experimental GTO Evoluzione's and the road 288 GTO (that the F40 replaced).

The F40 was a simple machine that, like the greatest Ferraris of the past, relied upon its engine for its performance. The 2936cc motor produces approximately 500bhp at 7000rpm with the help of two water-cooled IHI turbochargers running 1.1bar of boost - at 1202kg the F40 had a and still has a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio. Shatteringly fast by any comparison (especially for 1988), the F40 can sprint from 0-60mph in just 4.4 seconds and hit 201mph flat out making it the first production car to surpass this mystical boundary.

Suspension and layout were conventional, and there were no serious attempts to employ cutting-edge technology. The F40 was good, sound, basic design, with a superb twin-turbocharged engine, aerodynamics heavily weighted toward downforce and stability, and generous use of lightweight composite materials. The chassis was, like the 125 built 40 years before, based on two large-diameter steel tubes. They were joined and stiffened by light, compound structures, to be sure, but the basic form was as rudimentary as the ones welded together in the Gilberto shops a generation before.
The design featured a tubular steel chassis with bonded composite inserts, most notably around the sills and floorpan. Whilst the GTO had pioneered the use of composite panels, the F40 was the first whose bodywork was constructed entirely from such materials. The F40's body was assembled from just eleven panels made from Nomex, Kevlar and Carbon composite with a heavily ventilated Plexiglas rear windscreen.

Sliding Lexan windows were an option on all F40s and were fitted to many of the early cars, but most were fitted with the more practical glass wind-ups type windows. The F40 was a landmark not just on account of its crushing performance and stunning looks, but it was fittingly the last ever car presented by Enzo Ferrari, this taking place at Maranello in June 1987, 14 months before the great man's death. From 1991 onwards cars were fitted with catalytic convertors to meet ever tightening legislation and at this time adjustable suspension became an option. Production was discontinued in 1992 after 1311 examples had been completed in five years (600 or so being bound for the USA and being noticeably different to their lighter and faster European cousins), the F40 was only ever available from Ferrari in left-hand drive and presented in Rosso Corsa (Approximately 7 examples were converted to RHD for the Sultan of Brunei).

At DK Engineering we have executed over 130 trades of this iconic supercar. Our workshops have maintained approximately 85 different examples at various points in their life over the past 26 years. With this we are generally acknowledged as one of the leading F40 specialists in the world.

This particular example was manufactured in October 1991 in Maranello and was a "Diretta" delivery car, which was collected from the factory on Italian Export plates (still with the car!) by its first owner and then exported to Kuwait. Having covered just 4,500 kilometres from new, this F40 has previously been part of a major car collection so has been maintained to the highest possible standards. It has been recently subjected to a major service at DK Engineering, with a replacement fuel tank being fitted. In addition, the cambelts have been changed, the suspension dampers have been completely overhauled with new bushes fitted all round, the turbos have been overhauled and new tyres and fuel pumps fitted among other works. As a result, the car is in sensational condition and needs nothing; it is UK registered and is ready to be viewed at our showrooms just outside London and enjoyed immediately by its new custodian. This opportunity to acquire perhaps the most iconic Ferrari of recent years that has covered so few miles and is presented in such outstanding condition is not one to be missed.