The
Ferrari F40 is a
mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door
coupé sports car produced by
Ferrari from 1987 to 1992 as the successor to the
Ferrari 288 GTO. From 1987 to 1989 it held the title as the
world's fastest street-legal production car, and during its years of production, was Ferrari's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car. The car had no traction control, and was one of the few to utilize turbochargers.
The car debuted with a factory
suggested retail price of approximately
US$400,000, although some buyers were reported to have paid as much as . A total of 1,315 F40s were produced.
Concept
Ostensibly, the F40 was conceived as the successor to the
288 GTO and designed to compete with vehicles such as the
Porsche 959 and
Lamborghini Countach; for Ferrari management, the vehicle was a major statement piece. Over a period of several years prior to the F40's conception, the company's dominance in racing had waned significantly, and even in Formula One, an arena they had once dominated, victories had become sparse.
Enzo Ferrari had recently turned 90 years old, and was keenly aware that time was not on his side. He wanted his new sports car to serve as his final statement-maker, a vehicle encompassing the best in track-developed technology and capable of being a showcase for what the Ferrari engineers were capable of creating. The company's upcoming 40th anniversary provided just the right occasion for...
Read More