Beschreibung:

'The take-up into the next gear is flawless and, with the turbos cranking hard, the blast of acceleration just goes on again and you seem to be in a blur of time conquering distance, gearshifts and noise. It has the tonal quality of an F1 engine, if not the sheer ferocity. From outside, if you stand and listen, you hear the frantic whoosh as the turbos start to drive oh-so-hard.’ - Autocar magazine, May 1988. Introduced in 1988 to celebrate Enzo Ferrari’s 40 years as a motor manufacturer, the F40 was the ultimate supercar. A mid-engined, two-seater berlinetta, the F40 was a development of the limited-production 288GTO, and like the latter - but unlike the preceding 308 series - mounted its power unit longitudinally rather than transversely. A four-cam 3-litre V8 with four valves per cylinder, the F40 engine employed twin IHI turbochargers to liberate 478bhp at 7,000rpm. For the seriously speed-addicted, this could be boosted by 200bhp by means of a factory tuning kit. Of equal, if not greater, technical interest was the method of body/chassis construction, the F40 drawing on Ferrari’s Formula 1 experience in its use of composite technology. A one-piece plastic moulding, the body was bonded to the tubular steel chassis to create a lightweight structure of immense rigidity. The doors, bonnet, boot lid and other removable panels were carbon fibre. Pugnaciously styled by Pininfarina, the F40 incorporated the latest aerodynamic aids in the form of a dam-shaped nose and high rear aerofoil. Despite the need to generate considerable downforce - and with a top speed of 201mph, higher than the take-off speed of many light aircraft, the F40 needed all the downforce it could get - the result was a commendably low drag coefficient of just 0.34. The F40’s interior re-enforced its image as a thinly disguised race-car, with body-contoured seats, an absence of carpeting and trim, and sliding Plexiglas windows. When it came to actual competition, race-prepared F40s more than held their own and in the Global GT series proved quicker on many circuits than McLaren’s F1 GTR. Autocar concluded its test thus: ‘on a smooth road it is a scintillatingly fast car that is docile and charming in its nature; a car that is demanding but not difficult to drive, blessed as it is with massive grip and, even more importantly, superb balance and manners. You can use its performance - the closest any production car maker has yet come to race car levels - and revel in it. …there’s little doubt it is the very personification of the term sports car.’ Chassis number ‘91502’ was delivered new in Germany via the Ferrari dealer Autobecker on 30th June 1992, enjoying three owners before coming into the vendor’s possession in July 2000. Since acquisition the current owner has spent circa €85,000 on modifying the car to 3.6-litre ‘LM’ (Le Mans) specification, this work being undertaken during 2006-2007 by respected Ferrari specialists Euromotor, in Padova, Italy (invoices available). We are advised that the engine has been prepared to racing specification and that the turbocharger’s inter-coolers are now independent of the engine’s cooling system, offering increased reliability. The running gear has been up-rated appropriately, featuring Bilstein dampers fitted with Eibach springs front and rear complemented by Brembo racing brakes. Wheels are of 17” diameter shod with 235/35 tyres, while other noteworthy features include a computerised dashboard information display, fire extinguishing system and racing seat. Finished in the rarely seen black livery that endows it with a special charisma, this superb F40 is currently fitted with its race-prepared engine but comes complete with the original unit (which has done only 3,000 kilometres from new) plus the original dashboard, speedometer, seats, owner’s service booklet and (cancelled) Swiss registration papers. Swiss taxes have been paid, but if the car is to be re-registered for road use in Switzerland a catalyser-equipped exhau