F40. Enzo's last Ferrari

Who. A man of Enzo Ferrari's stature was always destined to conclude his legacy of triumphs and challenges with something extraordinary. A unique car that celebrated the 40 years of Ferrari's existence, demonstrating the level of technological competence the company had achieved.

The year of this celebration was 1987, an era dominated by turbo engines and lightweight materials, capturing the spirit of pure racing. This gem quickly became a coveted symbol for car enthusiasts.

The Ferrari F40 was produced to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Prancing Horse.

How. The almost unexpected success of the 288 GTO introduced three years earlier with the intention of competing in Group B – a program cancelled by the FIA due to the cars' excessive performance – laid the groundwork for the F40. The prototypes, engineered for the track with power increased from 400 to over 600 horsepower and weight reduced to less than 1000 kg, convinced the company to base the F40 on them. The collaboration with Michelotto, a specialist from Padua known for preparing Ferrari 308 GTBs for racing, was crucial during this phase.

The 2936cc, 478hp 90° V8 that boosts the F40 to over 300 km/h. A true road racing car.

When. The F40 was presented in July 1987 at Maranello by Enzo Ferrari himself alongside the designer Leonardo Fioravanti of Pininfarina, and the project's technical head, engineer Nicola Materazzi, an expert in turbocharged engines, Leonardo Fioravanti of Pininfarina, and the technical manager of the project, Nicola Materazzi, a great expert in supercharged engines The 3000cc biturbo V8, with 478 declared horsepower (with more potentially available) and a power-to-weight ratio of 2.58 hp/kg, achieved through extensive use of composite materials, essentially made the F40 a bona fide race car designed for street use.

Unveiled in July 1987 in Maranello, it is the last car presented by Enzo Ferrari himself with the intention of showing the level of technological competence the company had achieved.

Where. The answer is not just Maranello. It's "the entire world": the F40 fever, the rush to acquire one of the planned 400 units, was global, so much so that the initial price of 374 million Italian Lire (about 200,000 Dollars) became irrelevant as offers soared to 5 or 6 times that amount. Even increasing production did little to temper it. In the end, over 1200 F40s were produced, bringing significant profits to Maranello.

The F40's minimalist interior is pure racing style.

Why. The most obvious answer might be, "because it was a limited-edition, celebratory Ferrari," (at least in intentions). But the reality is that it’s a mechanical and stylistic masterpiece, drawing inspiration from Formula 1. More than 35 years on, its value continues to soar at international auctions. Ten years ago, you could find one for around €700,000, five years ago, that number had risen to somewhere between €1.1m and €1.2m, and today they’re changing hands for roughly €2m – more or less the same value in dollars. It has its ups and downs, of course, but the trend is pretty clear. The F40 stands as a timeless asset to safeguard and cherish.

Over the past 15 years, the Ferrari F40's prices have increased considerably, and the trend continues to rise.