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1991 Ferrari F-40 For Sale $699,000

As the last Ferrari designed under Enzo Ferraris ever-watchful eye, the F40 was designed to celebrate 40 years of Ferrari greatness. And in true Ferrari style, it did that, with no holds barred and uncompromising performance. As a car that will do 90 MPH in second gear, its day-to-day usefulness in todays 60 MPH traffic conditions is questionable, but once youre behind the wheel and those two turbos spool up to speed, youre in for a thrill ride unlike any youve ever experienced. In the world of high-performance automobiles, the F40 is a singular experience. More racecar that has been [barely] tamed for the street than street car, its surprisingly docile until you really put your foot in it. And when you do, all bets are off

A one-piece plastic molding, the body was bonded to the tubular steel chassis to create a lightweight structure of immense rigidity. The door, hood, trunk, and other removable panels were exotic carbon fiber. Styled by Pininfarina, the Ferrari F40 incorporated the latest 1980s-vintage aerodynamic aids in the form of a dam-shaped nose and high rear airfoil, yet managed to be a thing of beauty nonetheless. One of the first production cars to break the 200 MPH barrier, the F40 looked every bit a supercar, especially when bathed in traditional Rosso Corsa red paint. Now 20 years old, this car shows you exactly how these cars were constructed. As an exceptionally well-maintained example, the paint is deep and vivid, and the body shows few signs of use. Take note of the factorys constructionracecar simple, and although Ferrari technicians had to know they were building a car collectors would hoard and cherish, they didnt necessarily build them to perfection. To Ferrari, cars were tools, and as such were treated with respect, but the reverence that enthusiasts would assign to them came later. Gaps are surprisingly good given the hand-made qualities of the car, and the lightweight materials have their own exotic appeal.

The car is extreme and all about going fast. If it doesnt make the car go faster, it was probably left off the final build sheet. Glass, except for the windshield, is lightweight plexiglass thats all in excellent condition. Badges are simple, and the headlights are tucked under lexan covers with flip-up units higher on the fenders. Out back, the tail panel is a mesh to allow hot air to escape from the engine compartment. The lightweight rear window that shows off the 2.9 liter twin-turbo V8 has not discolored due to age or heat.

The engine was a state-of-the-art twin-turbo 2936cc V-8 mounted longitudinally, and featured double overhead cams, twin intercoolers, and electronic engine-management systems. Ferrari quoted 478 horsepower in a car that tipped the scales at under 3,000 pounds in U.S. trim, making for explosive performance. Open the massive rear clamshell (which is impressively light given its size), and you have easy access to all the components. The engine is nestled up front, ahead of the rear axle, and breathes through a set of beautifully formed intake pipes. The massive intercoolers live up top as well, breathing clean, cool air from intakes mounted in the body. Every component is race quality, and theres an all-business look and feel to every single piece. More than one onlooker has noted the similarities to NASA spacecraft, with heat-reflective materials, carbon fiber, and other exotic equipment throughout the engine bay. Looking carefully, youll see that there is no dirt, no leaks, nothing that diminishes the beauty and function of this amazing car.

At part throttle, the engine is smooth, with plenty of torque and excellent flexibility. It lugs effortlessly at 30 mph and cruises smoothly at 80. But when the pedal is aggressively depressed, the monster is released. The F40's full-throttle acceleration can only be described as brutal. The turbos hit full pressure in an instant, and shift points come in the blink of an eye. The massive rear tires struggle to spin freely while the exceptional chassis fights valiantly to keep them in place. Torque always wins, making judicious throttle modulation necessary to maintain any traction whatsoever. This F40 can overpower even the best drivers.

Like the 288 GTO that came before it, the Ferrari F40 has a tubular steel chassis but differed in its extensive use of carbon-fiber composites on the floorpan, dashboard, front bulkhead, and other areas. The body was also made of composite materials employed in Ferraris Formula 1 program, in this case a Nomex, Kevlar, and carbon-fiber weave. Everything remains in factory-new condition, from the carbon fiber tub to the massive disc brakes devoid of any electronic assistance such as ABS. The transmission is a 5-speed manual, which, given the cars screaming 7750 RPM redline, allows a 200+ MPH top speed. Tires are modern Pirelli P-Zeros in the original sizes, 235/45ZR-17 in front and 335/35ZR-17 in the rear.

The experience of driving a Ferrari F40 begins when you open the door, made of a lightweight composite material clad with only the minimum of an inner door panel. The inside door latch is nothing more than a plastic-covered wire, and pulling it open takes less effort than picking up the keys. Once inside you're struck by the sparseness of the cabin. Large panels of carbon fiber are everywhere that you would normally see carpet. The dash and center console are covered in gray cloth. No glovebox or radio, and even the windows are manually operated. The F40 does have A/C, but if you expect it to keep up with the climate control in your daily driver, youll be disappointed. Starting the car is a two-step process. First a key is turned to energize the electronics, then the starter button is depressed. The car fires easily and idles smoothly, with no hint of the ferocity that is to come. On the road, you can hear every pebble flung off the front tires into the undercarriage, a sound that is amplified by the composite panels devoid of usual sound deadening material. And you will love every second of it!

This car is currently equipped with red competition seats and harnesses, but it also includes a set of the original comfort leather seats, which were available for drivers who did not intend to use their F40s in anger on the track.

Obviously, these cars are most at home on the track, where they are always candidates for fast time of the day. Even better, they are mechanically dead reliable, so while the other guys are fidgeting with their racecars, an F40 owner simply does the contortionist routine to get in, presses the START button, and the fun starts.

Documentation is extensive. With any Ferrari, ownership and service histories are of paramount importance. This car is well-known and has had all service and maintenance procedures done at the correct time and mileage markers. With only 6000 miles on the clock, it can be considered an almost-new car, but with Ferraris, time is as much the enemy as mileage, and as such, even a static museum piece should have service records as this one does