FERRARI F40

ENGINE                    Compression 7.8:1 Bore and stroke 82 x 69.5 mm

MAX POWER

478 bhp at 7,000 rpm

MAX SPEED

201 mph, 324 km/h

0-60 TIME

3.5 Seconds

QUARTER MILE

12.0 seconds

In 1987 when Enzo Ferrari was 90 years old he celebrated another anniversary. He had been making cars under his name for 40 years and to celebrate he created the F40. When Ferrari himself unveiled the car at the factory at Maranello the world saw that he had created a true supercar.

The aim behind the F40 was simplicity, it was to be the fastest road going car ever built, it would have one of the fastest accelerations and more than anything else it would be very basic. The car was to have no extravagant flair, it was to be the closest to a race car that money could buy.

Ferrari saw it's closest rival to be the Porsche 959 and they set out to make the F40 the complete opposite of it. Where Porsche had made their supercar a higher advanced technological car with luxuries such as four
wheel drive, leather seats, a high-fi and air conditioning, Ferrari made their car basic, it was light, had huge power and instead of the 959's familiar looks it was styled to be aggressive with huge spoilers and air vents.
The Ferrari had no carpets, electric windows or central locking, this car was not meant to be a luxury sports car like other Ferrari's it was to be a real race car for anyone that could afford it.

It is important to realize that although the car has been very cleverly designed and does look amazing, there is a point to all of the styling features. Every vent has a purpose, normally to cool the huge engine or brakes
and every spoiler is needed just to keep the car on the ground at top speeds.

It is said that Ferrari was impressed with his celebration of his career because in the F40 he had built probably the last mid engined super car that did not have the electronic technology such as assisted braking that
Ferrari himself saw as taking away the risk and excitement of owning a true sportscar.