In the history of Ferrari, some models have made a mark more than others. The series of supercars by the prancing horse brand obviously contributes to its legendary status, and among the Ferrari supercars, the F40 is undoubtedly the most iconic, for multiple reasons.
The Ferrari F40 was built between 1987 and 1992 as a celebration of the brand’s 40th anniversary and a successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO. Last product created by Enzo Ferrari (1898-1988), it is at the time of its release, the fastest, most powerful and most expensive car in the history of the industry, no less.
In 1984, Ferrari launched a study program on the Ferrari 288 GTO, to compete against the Porsche 959s (stars of Group B), but to also celebrate the brand’s 40th anniversary.
Nicola Materazzi, the man in charge of this study, explained that he had suggested to Enzo Ferrari modifying the 288 GTO and making a car with which customers could enter racing competitions. Unfortunately, and as surprising as it may seem, Enzo Ferrari could not give his approval, as he no longer had control over the production part of the business.
Nicola Materazzi therefore approached Eugenio Alzati, the director of production of Ferrari car series, who quickly gave him the green light. For the record, he ordered that the F40 should be developed on Saturday mornings to not disturb the ongoing production of the other Ferraris happening during the week.
In 1987, Ferrari presented the F40. It is at the time the most performant and efficient sports car in the history of the industry, directly inspired by racing competitions and in particular Formula 1. It is the latest model of Ferrari supercars to push boundaries, without resorting to the first solution assistance systems and technological aids to driving which were popular in the world of car construction at the time. The F40 is the first standard car in the history of the brand to be built with various composite materials. At the time of its presentation, it was the fastest production car ever built with a verified 324 km/h.
The Ferrari F40 is equipped with a 3.0 liter V8 engine placed in a longitudinal position. In addition, two IHI turbochargers with an intercooler for an output of 478 horsepower. This allows the F40 to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and
reach 1,000 meters from a standstill in 21.8 seconds at a top speed of 324 km/h.
Its production, initially limited to 400 units, conquered a large public and was increased to 1,311 units, with in addition a few rare models such as the 700 horsepower F40 LM (18 units) or the F40 GTE (19 units). Limited production and the death of Enzo Ferrari in 1988 sparked speculation about this exceptional model, which will go down in history forever. The Ferrari F40 still remains today a world reference for the best in automobile, even 40 years later…
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