PROVENANCE
First Owner, Germany (acquired new in 1991)
Private Collector, Japan (acquired by 2001)
Current Owner (acquired in 2016)

EXHIBITED
Concours d’Elegance of America at the Inn at St. John’s, Plymouth, Michigan, July 2016
Concorso Italiano, Monterey, California, August 2016

THIS CAR
Steeped in race-bred engineering and aerodynamic considerations, the Ferrari F40 was one of the defining supercars of its era, setting standards for a production-based premium flagship sports-racer. Conceived in 1986 by Enzo Ferrari as a 40th anniversary model, the F40 was developed from the prodigious twin-turbocharged 288 GTO, which was originally designed for competition.

The new chassis was widened and infused with a greater use of carbon fiber, while Pininfarina stylist Leonardo Fioravanti penned an exterior shape that was honed through extensive testing in a wind tunnel. The 288 GTO engine was enlarged to displace almost three liters and tuned to develop 478 hp and 425 lbs./ft. of torque. In combination with a pervasive use of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and Kevlar, and the forbearance of electric amenities or even standard door handles, the F40 weighed 500 pounds lighter than competing models like Porsche’s 959.

The Maranello supercar was capable of reaching 60 mph in a blistering 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 201 mph, metrics that were particularly impressive by the standards of 1986. Although nearly 1,200 examples were ultimately built, many cars experienced damaging track use or were modified to individual owners’ tastes, making the availability of this scantly driven and authentically presented example all the more unusual.

This beautifully maintained F40 benefits from minimal use and long-term ownership, as well as some recent cosmetic detailing and mechanical freshening. Originally finished in the standard F40 factory colors of Rosso paint over an interior of (Vicuna Cloth), chassis 88083 was specified for Europe and retailed through Auto Neuser in Nuremberg, Germany. The car was officially delivered to the first owner in February 1991, and is believed to have passed to at least one more European owner by 2000.

In 2001, the F40 was registered by a Japanese collector. In July 2014, he submitted the Ferrari for service at Rosso Scuderia, the official brand dealer in Tokyo, where it received a comprehensive service, including timing belts and fresh fluids.

In late 2015, after owning the F40 for nearly 15 years, the owner sold the car to a Japanese export company; the car was serviced again in anticipation of a new home, at which point it displayed 15,562 km. After being imported into the US, the F40 went to Ferrari of Atlanta in February 2016 for evaluation and service. Mechanically, the car received new motor mounts, brake pads and rotors, and a new factory-stock muffler. Cosmetically, the dashboard was refurbished with correct new cloth, the windshield was replaced, and correct new Pirelli P Zero tires were mounted on the original Speedline wheels.

The Ferrari then passed to a performance-focused dealer in Pennsylvania, which commissioned additional work by Scuderia Performante in Malvern, Pennsylvania, including the tuning of the clutch and installation of a new fuel cell. The seats were reupholstered with proper materials from Re-Originals, and the interior was detailed to a high standard. The car was also certified by Ferrari Classiche with a Red Book that indicates all the original major components remain in place, including the matching-numbers twin-turbocharged V-8. After this refurbishment, the F40 was displayed at the Concours d’Elegance of America at the Inn at St. John’s and Concorso Italiano during summer 2016.

In July 2016, while displaying 15,664 km, the Ferrari was sold to the consignor, a bicoastal collector who has kept the car in the Philadelphia area. He has dutifully maintained the F40 while using it very sparingly, ensuring that the car still presents very impressively. The odometer displayed less than 16,500 km at the time of cataloguing. In addition to the Ferrari Classiche Red Book, this F40 is documented with Japanese invoices and receipts from the more recent work conducted in the US. It is accompanied by a tool kit, manuals in the proper leather pouch, flat repair kit in pouch, and a fitted Ferrari car cover. Ideal for display at FCA events or spirited driving, this wonderfully maintained F40 is a highly authentic example that would make a scintillating addition to any collection.