Ferrari F40 (1989)

Ferrari's 201 mph 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 and the road-going 288 GTO (that the F40 replaced).

The design features a tubular steel chassis with bonded composite inserts, most notably around the sills and floor pan, The 2,936 cc motor produces approximately 500 bhp at 7,000 rpm with the help of two water-cooled IHI turbochargers running 1.1 bar of boost. At 1,202 kg, the F40 had, and still has, a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio. Shatteringly fast by any comparison (especially for 1988), the F40 can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.4 seconds and hit 201 mph flat out making it the first production car to surpass this mystical boundary.

Completed at the factory in January 1989, this example is one of the 7-series chassis cars completed that benefit from a number of key differences removed over the span of production. Naturally as a 7-series production example, this early F40 is both non-cat and non-adjust, which are considered to be the more pure, more raw variant of the esteemed model.

Corroborating with the very early build date are several characteristics which are indicative of an early ‘non-cat, non-adjust’ car. These include the bare aluminium intercoolers, and the different construction and finishing of carbon Kevlar components such as the more rudimentary surface undeath the front clam, which draws the eyes to the unique way in which the NACA ducts are affixed to its underside; a true reflection of how these early cars were built to be as minimal, basic and as lightweight as possible.

Under the front clam, the front brake cooling ducts and their flanges are also visible, and the manner they join to the clam is again different to later cars. The front wheel well is of the split, two-piece design, seen only on a handful of the earliest examples. Similarly, this example features non-adjustable suspension, introduced as an option on the later produced cars. The interior also sees alternative soft fabric seats witnessed previously on other early examples by DK.

The 74th example completed, this example was completed at the factory on 27th January 1989, already having been earmarked by Ferrari themselves for the upcoming Geneva International Motorshow. The F40 was delivered ahead of this to official importer IFS Ferrari Suisse SA in February. As corroborated by noted Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, this example then sat alongside Ferrari’s latest and greatest offering, the brand new Mondial T at the 59th Geneva Motorshow in March 1989.

• 9th December 1988 Factory build start date
• 27th January 1989 Factory completion date
• February 1989 Delivered new to official importer IFS Ferrari Suisse SA
• 9th March 1989 Displayed on the Ferrari stand during the 59th Geneva International Motor Show, upgraded to sliding windows for the show
• 9th May 1990 Road registered in the name of Graber Automobile of Wichtrach

With the Pirelli P-Zero having been developed as the first road-going bespoke compound tyre for the F40, it was this option-tyre that was selected for its presence at Geneva. The P-Zero name had been introduced five years earlier with the Delta S4, but as a semi-slick on a homologation production run. P-Zeros at the time had a slightly different sidewall to those available today. It is worth noting that the car recieved sliding windows for the show, to be returned to specification as per the original build sheets after the show.

It would not receive road registration until the 9th of May 1990 with its warranty booklet issued in the name of Graber Automobile of Wichtrach. The car was sold the following year to close friend of Graber Automobile, Fridolin Broder of Liechtenstein who was for a short period, the official importer into the country. Its next owner, Mr Höflinghoff-Hess of Germany retained the car for a number of years, eventually advertising the car in German-magazine Auto, Motor & Sport in July of 1998 with just 875 kms.

The F40 was snapped up by Bernhard Dransmann of Osnabrück later the same month and he would retain the car for just over two years. Dransmann would sell the car to its most recent custodian in September of 2000.

Over the past 25 years, this F40 has been cared for by just one custodian. Today this example has covered just 12,500 kilometres. All of the early details which set this car apart remain true today, including the original soft-fabric seats (although an additional retrimmed set will be supplied), bare aluminium intercoolers, split wheel well, unpainted lower sills and largely exposed engine bay weave.

This remarkable F40 today presents superbly at our showrooms outside London. With yellow in-filled tyres as a modern nod to how it was presented at the Geneva Motor Show just shy of 36 years ago, this F40 would be a standout addition to any collection. Today this F40 is accompanied by its original book pack and wallet, spare key and tools and whilst serviced prior to arrival, this example will pass through our workshops once more ahead of sale.

• The 1989 Geneva Motorshow Car
• Fitted with sliding windows for the motorshow and reverted after
• Retained by Ferrari for their official use & duties until May 1990
• Offered from 25 years of single ownership
• 12,500 km from new
• Non-cat, non-adjust
• Split wheel-well, soft fabric seats, bare aluminium intercoolers
• 7-Series chassis
• The 74th example completed