Ferrari F40

 

This is the first in a series of European exotic supercars that were on display at my local Cars & Coffee almost two months ago that I have been super excited and impatiently waiting to feature on Carson's Car Pics ever since I saw them up close. I'll first begin with the coolest, most famed, and most valuable vehicle on display there, the Ferrari F40. The F40 is second in the line of Ferrari's ultimate supercars, succeeding the 288 GTO and preceding the F50. It is also the model built to commemorate Ferrari's 40th anniversary and the last vehicle Enzo Ferrari planned before his passing. 

The F40 was produced from 1987 to 1992, powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 with 471 horsepower and 426 lb-ft of torque mated to a five-speed dogleg manual gearbox. It launched from zero to 60 mph in around four seconds onto a 201 mph top speed. Every F40 was painted red from the factory, with at least a few examples repainted in different colors by aftermarket firms or for special orders. There is only one F40 logo on the exterior of the vehicle, located on the passenger side of the rear wing. It contains two sets of headlights, with the main ones being pop-ups located right above the fixed and most visible headlights. Unlike most conventional vehicles, the F40 contains center-lock wheels, which are typical of race cars. Another signature characteristic of the F40 is its lack of driver assistance features, creating one of the purest driving experiences of any Ferrari and any supercar for that matter. It features many aggressive air vents and is composed of a carbon fiber and kevlar mix, which was a first for Ferrari. The interior of the F40 is mostly spartan, with nearly every area of it stripped down to conserve weight. Ferrari has even gone as far as to remove the radio, climate controls, glove box, and cabin dome light to keep the F40's weight down. 

There are a few notable differences between the US-spec F40 and the Euro-spec F40, mainly the former having more pronounced bumpers, a third brake light, and automatic seat belts that move forward after getting in the car and opening/closing the doors. These changes were made to meet US safety regulations at the time, although the more pronounced bumpers don't look as good as the more regular bumpers on the Euro-spec model. In addition, the US-spec F40 has aluminum fuel tanks, while the Euro-spec F40 has fuel bladders that need to be replaced every 7-10 years. A total of 1,315 units of the F40 were made, which are the most out of any ultimate Ferrari in history, with pristine examples currently valued at north of $2 million. In all, the Ferrari F40 is one of the coolest and most magnificent vehicles of all-time. This was the first time I ever remember seeing an F40 up close, and I was completely blown away by how stunning and incredible this car is. The F40 is undoubtedly one of my top three absolute favorite Ferrari models ever produced and a truly one-of-a-kind vehicle.

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