Beschreibung:

Announced in 1987 to celebrate Enzo Ferrari’s 40 years as a carmaker, the 200mph F40 was the ultimate supercar. Inevitably, comparisons were made with the rival Porsche 959, but whereas its German rival represented a cutting-edge, technological tour de force, the F40 exemplified traditional Ferrari values. A relatively straightforward car, the F40 relied on enormous power, low weight, race-bred suspension, generously sized tyres and excellent aerodynamics to achieve a level of performance near-identical to that of the infinitely more complex 959. Developed from the limited-production 288GTO, the F40 was a two-seater, mid-engined coupé that mounted its V8 power unit longitudinally in the chassis (rather than transversely like the 308/328) a layout that greatly simplified the accommodation of the twin water-cooled IHI turbochargers. Enlarged from the 288GTO’s 2,855cc to 2,936cc for the F40, the four-cam, 32-valve motor produced 478bhp at 7,000rpm (some 20 percent up on the 288) with the promise of a further 200bhp if the optional factory tuning kit was specified. In one of its aspects the F40 did rival the 959 for innovation, and that was the method of body/chassis construction, which represented a new departure for a Ferrari road car. Drawing on Ferrari’s considerable experience in the use of composite technology in Formula 1, the F40 chassis comprised a tubular steel spaceframe with bonded-on panels of Kevlar, resulting in torsional stiffness greatly exceeding that of a metal-only structure without the penalty of excess weight. Carbon fibre was used for the doors, bonnet, boot lid and other removable panels. Using a wind tunnel and computer projection, Pininfarina produced a body that generated sufficient downforce without excessive drag, while avoiding the aerodynamic excrescences that adorn so many out-and-out competition cars. Nevertheless, there was no mistaking the pugnaciously styled F40’s antecedents as one climbed inside, the body-contoured seats, absence of carpeting and trim, and sliding Plexiglas windows only serving to re-enforce its image as a thinly disguised racecar. Delivered new in the UK and registered ‘H155 XYP’ on 31st October 1990, chassis number ‘86762’ - a catalyst-equipped model - has covered only 8,455 kilometres (approximately 5,250 miles) from new. The car was subsequently sold to the current (second) owner in Austria and first registered there on 8th April 1993. Recorded in the stamped service book, the first service was carried out by Maranello Concessionaires at 512km on 19th June 1992 and the second at 1,480km on 12th June 1997 by Ferrari Wien (Wolfgang Denzel) including belts changed and body re-undersealed. Further documentation contained within this car’s massive history file shows that ‘86762’ was sent to Michelotto (Ferrari’s collaborator on the F40 race programme) in June 2001, receiving new cam belts and fuel tanks while the brakes, shock absorbers, suspension bushes, exhaust system and wheels were upgraded, the latter to the 18” type. Other noteworthy features include a built-in fire extinguishing system (including engine bay), OMP racing seats (medium size) and racing harnesses. The car’s most recent TüV (roadworthiness test) was carried out in November 2005 at 8,397km, when the front/rear shock absorber mounts were renewed, the front bonnet repainted, the tyres replaced and various other more minor works completed at a cost of €8,032 (invoice available). We are advised that the car has been serviced and that in addition to the forgoing it benefits from a new clutch and brakes. Finished in Rosso Corsa, ‘86762’ is offered with Austrian registration papers.