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The Most Beautiful Cars Ever Built |
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1990 Ferrari F40 |
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Sold for: $857,200 The year 1987 was a landmark one for Ferrari. Not only was “Il Commendatore” celebrating his 90th birthday, but his company was also celebrating its 40th anniversary. It is reported that he decided to build something special: an all-out, traditional sports car that would succeed the 288 GTO as the ultimate Ferrari. Mechanically, the F40 bore much in common with the 288 GTO, and it was, in fact, closely based on the 288 GTO Evoluzione, a race version of the GTO that never saw competition due to a change in regulations. The F40’s type F120 AB chassis shared the wheelbase dimensions of its predecessor, but it featured a wider track and the extensive use of carbon fibre and Kevlar; the lightweight body also featured NACA ducts that contributed to cabin and brake cooling, whilst the engine was displayed under a louvered Plexiglas engine cover. The F40’s engine is based on the 288 GTO’s twin-turbocharged V-8 and was bored to displace almost three litres, which, in combination with additional tuning, contributed to an output of 478 brake horsepower, making the F40 Ferrari’s most powerful road car to date. The powerful engine and lightweight construction helped the F40 deliver breath-taking performance, hitting 60 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 201 mph, making it the fastest car in the world when it was launched. With the special distinction as the last Maranello road car to be engineered under Enzo Ferrari’s direct leadership, the F40 remains one of the most celebrated high-performance supercars ever built. 478 bhp, 2,936 cc DOHC twin turbo-charged V-8 engine with Weber-Marelli engine management and fuel injection, five-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel independent suspension by double wishbones, coil springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars, and four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. Wheelbase: 2,450 mm
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