Ferrari F40

The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine sports car produced in Maranello, Italy, from 1987 to 1992. Ferrari introduced the two-door berlinetta to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the company. It was the final road vehicle approved by founder Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988.

Engineer Nicola Materazzi directed the mechanical design, while Leonardo Fioravanti and Pietro Camardella shaped the body at Pininfarina. The body panels used Kevlar and carbon fiber bonded to a tubular steel frame, reducing weight while maintaining structural strength. Aerodynamic shaping included a flat underbody, cooling ducts on the front hood and rear quarter panels, and a tall rear wing fixed above the tail. Ferrari originally planned a build run of 400 units, but strong customer demand led the factory to complete 1,311 examples before manufacturing ended.

Power came from a rear mid-mounted twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produced 352 kW (478 hp). Drive traveled through a five-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels. The vehicle reached a top speed of 324 km/h (201 mph), surpassing the two-hundred mile per hour milestone. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) took 4.1 seconds. The cabin retained a minimalist layout without electric window lifts, sound insulation, or conventional door handles, relying instead on simple pull cords to unlatch the doors.

Ferrari modified the car for competition through specialist Michelotto, creating variants for endurance racing. In 1989, driver Jean Alesi took third place at the Laguna Seca circuit in the IMSA GTO championship during the debut race of the racing variant. Private teams later campaigned the model in European sports car events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the BPR Global GT Series, where it earned overall victories at circuits such as Monza and Anderstorp. Formula One driver Nigel Mansell owned a road example delivered during his 1989 racing season with Ferrari.