Flawless F40 up for sale at Artcurial’s April auction

Well-maintained Prancing Horse expected to fetch €800,000 in Paris

If the 288 GTO set the tone for angular Ferraris in the ‘80s, the F40 wrote the symphony.

At launch, this world-beating thoroughbred was the fastest, most powerful Prancing Horse to have ever left the Maranello factory – as was fitting for a machine built to commemorate 40 years of the Italian marque.

And, with just 1300 built, finding an F40 for sale in fine condition today is no mean feat – which makes this 1989 example all the more desirable.

Due to sell at Artcurial’s Paris auction on Sunday (April 8), here’s everything you need to know about this iconic machine.

Bred to race

Launched in 1987, the F40 hit the road as an offshoot of Ferrari’s abandoned 288 GTO Evoluzione program.

Created to contest Group B events, when the FIA scrapped the category Enzo himself seized the opportunity to harness the leftover development cars to produce a dominant supercar for the street.

Unapologetic performance

Set to be the last supercar signed off by Enzo Ferrari, the F40 became a performance-focused celebration of Ferrari in its 40th year.

It was less about refinement, more about achieving sheer power in jaw-dropping fashion – as one look at the aggressive shell will show you.

Pure power

Equipped with a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V8, the F40 benefited from an on-paper power output of 471bhp – which, together with its slick aero package and lightweight build, put its top speed at just shy of 200mph.

That may not have been enough to defeat the Porsche 959 S, but it was more than enough to make it the fastest proper production car of its day.

No luxuries

That featherweight construction was achieved through copious use of space-age materials – including Kevlar, carbonfibre and aluminium – as well as less glamorous elements, such as a plastic windscreen.

Naturally, many mod-cons were cut to slash the kerb weight, including such luxuries as the glove box and door handles.

Limited numbers

Just 400 F40s were originally penned for production, though a total of 1311 eventually made it out of the factory by the time manufacturing ceased in 1992.

By that point, its angular lines had already achieved near-iconic status – in no small part thanks to the F40’s presence in a host of video games and as a poster boy for Ferrari.

Not one for the shops

All that in spite of several slatings in the press. Powerful it might have been, but the capricious F40 was hardly an everyday drive.

Rear visibility was negligible, reliability was questionable and suburban drivability was, well, non-existent – not to mention the terror instilled by gunning for 200mph in a machine with little in the way of driver aids.

Worthy of the wall

All the same, the F40 remained the Ferrari to have at the time. Its arresting looks and alarming performance combined to give it the kind of irresistible appeal that only a machine almost too twitchy to be road legal could command – and that remains very much the case today.

Well looked after

Which all brings us neatly to the F40 in question: a 1989 example, it’s been stabled with just three owners in its 30 years on the road and has just 53,000km on the clock.

And for most of those kilometres it’s been meticulously maintained by Modena Motors – as the dutifully stamped service book can attest to.

Fresh rubber

Still wearing the Rosso Corsa shade in which it was originally finished by Ferrari, it’s been subject to several small refurbishments over its lifespan – including a clutch change in 2010 and new fuel tanks in 2013.

Last year, its belts were changed and new tires fitted when it found a new home with the current owner.

New coat

Earlier this year, it also received a fresh lick of paint at the hands of a specialist – meaning that it’s now a near-pristine example of the ferocious F40.

The best bit? Its wheels got the works at the same time, so the alloys are as shiny as the day they left the factory.

Extra baggage

Sucker for a bundle? Win the bidding on Sunday (April 8) and you’ll bag a full set of original Ferrari luggage to go with your F40 – alongside a full set of manuals, spare keys and a healthy clutch of invoices to prove just how well-maintained your new stallion is.

Not a pocket money purchase

Carrying its original engine and thoroughly looked after during a life of limited running, this F40 represents a rare chance to own one of the most famous Ferraris going – and in fabulous condition to boot.

As for the €850,000 (£740,000) upper estimate? We might stick to the Lego version.