Ferrari F40 (1988)

Ferrari's 201 mph F40 is the definitive supercar and has a formidable reputation alongside the 250 GTO as possibly the best road Ferrari built to date. With the F40, Pininfarina produced an era-defining creation, one that even today is instantly recognisable by old and young enthusiasts alike. F40's were closely derived from the experimental GTO Evoluzione and the road-going 288 GTO (that the F40 replaced). The design features a tubular steel chassis with bonded composite inserts, most notably around the sills and floor pan, The 2,936 cc motor produces approximately 500 bhp at 7,000 rpm with the help of two water-cooled IHI turbochargers running 1.1 bar of boost. At 1,202 kg, the F40 had, and still has, a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio. Shatteringly fast by any comparison (especially for 1988), the F40 can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.4 seconds and hit 201 mph flat out making it the first production car to surpass this mystical boundary.

Delivered new to official dealer S.V.E.A. S.p.A. in Bari, Italy, this F40 was subsequently sold to its first private owner shortly after.

First registered under ‘Scuderia Apulia’, its director was Mr Michele Di Gioia of Bari, Italy. Di Gioia was a keen racer, competing in a 3.0 RSR, Lancia 037 and in 1987, winning the inaugural Italian Touring Car Championship. Whilst previously owning a 288 GTO must have helped in his acquisition of an F40, no doubt winning a nationwide motorsport championship helped to ensure his F40 was one of the first cars delivered! As such, this example is in the preferred non-cat, non-adjust configuration. Di Gioia would use the car sparingly away from the race track and retain the car until 2010.

Its second owner, Mr Kristiansen of Billund exported the car to Denmark where it would be kept for 5 years. Mr Kristiansen used the car sparingly, no doubt as result of his profession in the toy making industry! In October 2015, this example was purchased by its current and imported to the UK where it has resided since. Its current owner, a seasoned historic racer who has competed in a wealth of cars from 1930s Bugatti’s, through Group C Endurance racers, up to and including Historic F1, used the F40 sparingly on high days. A year after his purchase, the car was awarded Ferrari red book Classiche Certification. Cared for by marque specialists Furlonger Specialist Cars, this F40 received a major service in 2022 including fuel cells and will pass through our workshops once more as part of the sale.

This lovely, early, non-cat, non-adjust Italian supplied F40 is available to view with just 18,300 kms from new, at our showrooms outside London immediately.

• Supplied new to Italy in 1988
• First registered to the director of Scuderia Apulia Michele di Gioia
• Michele di Gioia won the inaugural Italian Touring Car Championship in 1987 in a BMW E30 M3
• 20 year single ownership from new
• Just two subsequent keepers
• Major service including fuel tanks in 2022
• Ferrari red book Classiche Certification
• Just 18,300 kms from new