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Enzo and the F40

15. Jul 2023 
by Ziv Knoll
2897 views

The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car engineered by Nicola Materazzi, with styling by Pininfarina. As the successor of the 288 GTO (also imagined and engineered by Materazzi), it was designed to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary and was the last Ferrari car personally approved by Enzo Ferrari (picture above), who died in 1988.

At the time (1987-1992) it was Ferrari’s fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car for sale. It is powered by a 3L twin-turbocharged V8 engine, developing 478 PS. At first, only 400 cars were going to be built, and sold at a retail price of 400,000 $, but finally, no less than 1315 cars were manufactured.

Both Ferrari F1 drivers, Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto actively participated in the promotion of the F40. Alboreto was regularly seen pushing the car to its limits in the outskirts of Modena (picture below).

In 1988, Classic and Sportscar magazine concluded after a test: “It’s far from perfect. Actually, perfect isn’t even on the radar but it’s brutal, ballistic and a bit scary. Magic. No, it really is that good.”

Ferrari chief test-driver Dario Benuzzi feels that despite the 1970s and 80s technology, the car is very interesting to passionate drivers: “It was a lightweight car with a lot of power and that’s what makes it fun to drive. Of course, the handling was also very good. So, all in all, a very good package!”

Source: DR

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