Ferrari F40: the last car approved by Enzo
- westendorptom
- Sep 8
- 2 min read
The Ferrari F40 is one of the most revered supercars in history. Built to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, it was also the final car personally approved by Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988. With its raw performance, aggressive design, and uncompromising character, the F40 became an instant legend and remains a benchmark for purity in supercar design.
Origins and Purpose
The F40 was introduced in 1987 as a successor to the 288 GTO. Ferrari wanted to demonstrate its dominance in road-going performance cars, especially as rivals like Porsche and Lamborghini were pushing boundaries. The F40 was designed as a no-compromise machine—lightweight, powerful, and brutally fast.
Engineering Brilliance
The F40 was powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 478 horsepower. It weighed just 1,100 kg thanks to extensive use of Kevlar, carbon fiber, and aluminum. This combination gave the F40 a top speed of 324 km/h, making it the fastest production car of its time.
Driving Experience
Unlike modern supercars, the F40 offered no driver aids, no ABS, and no stability control. It demanded skill and respect from its driver. Turbo lag was notorious, but once the boost kicked in, acceleration was ferocious. Owners often describe the experience as raw, visceral, and unforgettable.
Design and Aesthetics
Its wide stance, large rear wing, and aggressive lines made the F40 instantly recognizable. Designed with function first, every element served a purpose in aerodynamics or cooling. Yet it remains one of Ferrari’s most beautiful cars, precisely because of its purposeful look.
Collectability
Originally priced around $400,000, the F40 quickly became a collector’s dream. Today, values exceed $2 million, with rare low-mileage cars fetching even more. For many, it represents the pinnacle of Ferrari’s analogue era.
Conclusion
The Ferrari F40 was Enzo Ferrari’s final gift to the automotive world: a pure, unfiltered supercar that captured the essence of performance. More than three decades later, it remains one of the most iconic Ferraris ever built.
Tom Westendorp
