www.hotcars.com A Detailed Look At The 1991 Ferrari F40

The argument that the F40 is one of the most iconic and legendary supercars is not only limited to the bracket of Ferrari cars alone; it is probably the most iconic supercar in automotive history. It is almost impossible to talk about the Ferrari without the Ferrari F40 having for itself a tangible part of the discussion.

The iconic super car is very popular and highly desirable even today. A perfect blend of performance and style — plainly put, the F40 is a track-ready sports car that was tamed for the road. Don’t you just like the sound of that? The speedster, no doubt, will be one of the trump cards in any collector's garage.

Notably, the 1991 Ferrari F40 is a two-door and two-seater car that you can’t just ignore, no matter how hard you try. It is endowed with a state-of-the-art engine and a serious interior and exterior design.

One feature we cannot fail to mention is the quacking, loud howl the engine screams out whenever it is called upon.

Using the 1991 model as the sample, let’s take a dive in and look at the awesome features of the iconic car and the reasons it is adjudged as one of the best supercars in history.

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An Iconic Ferrari Model: The Ferrari F40

The Ferrari F40, a mid-engine rear-wheel drive speedster, was a landmark car — it was designed to mark the 40th anniversary of Ferrari and was the last Ferrari car with its production influenced by Enzo Ferrari. At the time of its production, it ticked the boxes of Ferrari’s fastest, most expensive, and most powerful car.

The car was engineered by Nicola Materazzi and styled by Pininfarina. It saw production between 1987 and 1992, but the racing version continued till 1996 before the curtain was drawn on its production. Ferrari planned to produce just 400 units of the car during its production run, but at the end, 1,315 units had been produced; thanks to the warm embrace it got from car enthusiasts and the high demand for it. Ferrari set the per-unit cost of $400,000 on the car at production.

The 1991 Ferrari F40: The Interior And Exterior Features

The Ferrari F40 is not your regular fancy on wheels. The automakers knew what they wanted — a roadworthy car that looks and moves with the grace and charisma of a race car, and they went for it without a compromise. Instead of loading the Ferrari F40 with high-tech and luxury conveniences, Ferrari opted for a different approach on the car.

The design and styling of the car were minimalist. For strength and improved drivability, light-weight materials were used to make the car like carbon fiber, Kevlar, and aluminum. Polycarbonate plastic windshields and windows were also used to further reduce the weight of the car. Even with these lightweight materials which saved the F40 some weight over his predecessor, the Ferrari 288 GTO, Ferrari still wanted more out of the car.

To achieve this, the car wasn’t fitted with fanciful air conditioning; it didn’t even get a sound system; there is no glove compartment, and the dash is almost bare — only gray flannel serves as covering for it. There is also no carpeting and leather trim. The door also didn't get door panels and handles. All these dieting had to tell on its weight, as it weighed about 2,400 lbs. — a remarkable feat for a supercar at the time. The aggressive weight reduction enhances the engine and makes it possible for it to express its full potential.

If you are the type that loves car seats that are as comfortable as a water bed, the Ferrari F40 is not for you — the minimalist standard that was employed in designing every other area of the interiors didn’t leave the seats out. The two-seat in the car is a racing-style bucket seat. The exterior of the Ferrari F40 too is designed with speed in mind; It is an aerodynamics wonder.

The 1991 Ferrari F40 Packs Some Serious Ponies

The 1991 Ferrari F40 is a midship supercar, and it is powered by a juicy mechanical marvel; the Evoluzione twin-turbo and intercooler 3.0-liter V8 engine. For more effectiveness, the racing Weber-Marelli engine management system comes with the engine. The engine can generate a mouth-watering 477 horsepower and 426 lb. ft of torque. It is paired with an equally capable 5-speed manual transmission, a super-sharp brake bossed by a set of 330 mm disc brakes, and Brembo calipers front brakes. All this is aided by a double-wishbone suspension which can be adjusted. This makes drivability and handling as solid as it can get, and it gives nothing less than a top-notch experience.

Due to the minimalist concept of the car and aggressive dieting that was embraced in the car's production, the full capability of the engine and car was unleashed. The roaring machine can zoom from a standing position to 60mph in just 4 seconds and can hit a quarter-mile in 11.8 seconds. The speedster has a top speed north of 200 mph.

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How Much Is The 1991 Ferrari F40 Worth Today

The Ferrari F40 when it was introduced in 1987 had a per-unit price of $400,000. It has managed to keep its value even if the impact of inflation is factored in. The value of the supercar has been hovering around the $1 million mark, but it has soared in the last two years, with some F40s even valued at over $2 million now. Gooding & Co. recently offered a perfectly maintained 1991 Ferrari F40, with just 6,042 km on its odometer, for over $2 million during its annual auction in Amelia Island.

OLUWAFEMI Joshua loves to explore the history of the automobile industry and the role of automobiles in popular culture and film.