Once again Ferrari has left behind its competitors and has created the most beautiful, powerful and most desired car in the world.
During the presentation, the head of Pininfarina Leonardo Fioravanti admiringly talked about a new car, which was created for everyday use and to participate in racing competitions. Well, the boss of Ferrari-Enzo Ferrari - at all said it was the best car in the history of his company.
Since the introduction of the Ferrari F40 has been more than 20 years, and since then many new cars appeared and not one "the fastest car in the world." But it is F40 who makes heart beat faster, remembering this wonderful epoch of 80s. The era of brutal uncompromising sports car, damn attractive chopped form and the complete absence of electronic "collars".
Technically and ideologically Ferrari F40 was an evolution of 288GTO model, which was produced from 1984. Initially, the 288GTO was created to participate in rally (group B) and is, in fact, the homologation versions of its rally car (which came later and was called GTO Evoluzione). After all, according to the rules that allowed the car to the races, it was to be released in an amount not less than 200 copies. Directly rally GTO Evoluzione was prepared for 1985. The engine of the car developed a fantastic 650hp! It was a serious bid for the leadership in 1986. Rally GTO Evoluzione was ready to appear on the track when Rally Federation suddenly changed the rules of racing and Ferrari appeared out of business. Due to changes in technical regulations, 288GTO Evoluzione appeared behind the competition because it does not fit the new requirements. However, as the main competitor - Porsche 959.
But new technologies implemented in a rally car could not remain unclaimed. And so it happened - most of the technical developments have found their application in direct continuation of 288 GTO Evoluzione - Ferrari F40. This turbocharged engine and space frame and body made of composite materials.
The main goal when designing new sports car body was the maximum reduction of its mass. That is what had been thrown at all efforts of engineers and designers. As a result, Ferrari F40 was ultra-modern at the time of the carbon fiber body, which was hidden under light aluminum frame. F40 wasn’t a pioneer in using composite materials - previously they have been used in Ferrari GTO - but F40 body was full made of such materials. To reduce the weight of the car engineers had to sacrifice comfort. In the salon they refused mof all additional equipment - power windows, audio system and more. Only bare necessities was left in F40’s interior. For example - the air conditioner. Drive F40 without him was unbearable, powerful the engine warms up cabine! For even greater weight savings F40 can be optionally equipped with plastic windows (except windshield), instead of conventional glass. Even the seats were specially lightened and had no adjustments (when ordering Ferrari F40 with the future owner all measurements were taken and the cabin seats were installed "on it", it was only 3 sizes of seats). As a result, the comfort of the cabin F40 could not even think about. The driver was shaking on every mound, and hard chairs were not allowed to relax.
Externally, F40 was very similar to rally Ferrari GTO Evoluzione, but he was more rough and straightforward. Swollen round arches replaced GTO chopped and flat surfaces. There was a "normal" lighting and a full rear bumper. Rear wing has become even more and it looked scary, hinting at the possibility of non-standard automobile.
Given the fact that the GTO Evoluzione was released in very small quantity (since this was rally version of 288GTO), F40 wasn’t perceived as his continuation. Designers deliberately accentuated the similarity with racing cars - a huge rear wing, a lot of air intakes, asceticism in the interior .. All this was to emphasize that the Ferrari F40 - not just a regular road car, albeit with different dynamics. On the idea of the Enzo Ferrari, who took an active part in the process of creating the car, the car must be able at any time to go to the race track and take part in competitions.
Under the hood lies a modest to date, V-shaped 8-cylinder unit, which, thanks to dual turbo system (twin-turbo scheme), had a capacity of 478hp. This was an outstanding result for the mid-80s, which made Ferrari F40 the fastest car of its time. His dynamic performance - acceleration to 100km/h in 3.8s and maximum speed at 321km/h for several years remained inaccessible to competitors. It should be noted that the engine was a revised version of the engine of 288 GTO, and it differed in the increased volume and turbines with high pressure.
Ferrari originally planned to release no more than 400 cars. But this was not enough to satisfy the huge demand for F40. The excitement around the car was also maintained in press - they written about this car very much.
Despite sky-high cost ($ 300K) there were a lot of willing to buy Ferrari F40. Some people who was still lucky to get the F40, offered him for 2 or even 3 times the original cost! As a result, Ferrari’s management decided to increase the production of F40. That’s why the car was produced in more than 3 times higher amount than initially planned. By 1992 F40 was released in 1311 cars. Most of the cars were painted in red Rosso Corsa, the other options (Nero, Blu, Giallo) enjoyed less popularity and today are much less common.
Rare version.
In 1989. specialists Michelotto was built racing version of the F40 - Ferrari F40LM. The three-liter engine of the car developed a power of 720 hp! With this "flaming heart" of the car developed a 367km / h, and "hundreds" of accelerated 3.1c! Results were released 19 cars Ferrari F40LM. Today it is a very rare cars, the cost of which exceeds the value of "ordinary» F40 three times! In addition, Michelotto constructed additional 7 F40 GT for the Italian championship auto racing, and 7 F40 GTE - for the British.
Exclusive party in a few cars were built for the Sultan of Brunei. This is a long-time collector and connoisseur of sophisticated products from Maranello. Especially for him to design some changes were made - the wheel has shifted to the right side, the cabin appeared more comfortable seats on the Ferrari Testarossa, and even interior trim was more luxurious. As long as the fleet of the Sultan will not be offered for sale, find a RHD F40 in the market realistic.
P.S.
In 2004, Sports Car International published a list of top 80 sports cars. Ferrari F40 was there on the 5th place, while its "ideological forefather» - GTO Evoluzione - took 2nd position. Between them, surprisingly, housed Golf GTI and Audi Quattro. Well, who is located on the first line? That's what this car is considered one of the best sports cars of all time, we will tell the next time.
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