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| Ferrari F40 1989 |
The year 1987 was big for Enzo Ferrari. Not only did he celebrate his 90th birthday, but, more importantly to him, it was also 40 years since he built his first car. A year earlier, Enzo was reported to have said, “Let’s make something special for next year’s celebrations, in the way we used to do it”.
The name for this new car had been suggested by a friend of Ferrari’s, Gino Rancati, who was at Ferrari’s office for a meeting with Razelli, the general manager. Razelli had shown him the new Ferrari, which was to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Rancati asked what it would be called, and Razelli replied that they had two or three possible names but wondered what he would call it. Rancati replied, “Since Ferrari’s biggest market is the United States, and since it is now 40 years since the first Ferrari car has appeared, it should have an English-language name, for example ‘Ferrari Forty’”.
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| Ferrari F40 1989 |
Mechanically, the F40 bore much in common with the 288 GTO, and it was, in fact, closely based on the GTO Evoluzione, the race version of the GTO. The F40’s engine was also based on the twin-turbocharged V-8, which was bored to displace almost three litres. The car’s output exceeded 478 horsepower, making the F40 Ferrari’s most powerful road car to date. Ferrari’s riposte to the Lamborghini Countach and the Porsche 959 was to create the first production car to break the mythical 200-mph barrier, and the F40 did just that, as it was capable of reaching a top speed of 201.4 mph.
THE ROYAL CONNECTION
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| Ferrari F40 1989 |
Fittingly for what was the world’s fastest car, those with the means and appetite for such a car were often large personalities with a daredevil attitude. Few people sum up this description better than Stefano Casiraghi, to whom this F40, with its desirable Plexiglas windows, was delivered in March 1989. Casiraghi was an Italian socialite and businessman who would go on to become the second husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco. He was photographed many times in this car with Princess Caroline, as the couple made the most of the Monaco nightlife.
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| Ferrari F40 1989 |
A true daredevil, Casiraghi participated in 80 offshore powerboat races during his lifetime. Over a 20-year career, he won a dozen competitions and was the offshore speedboat world champion at the time of his shocking death in a race off the coast of Monaco. During his time with this F40, Casiraghi was often photographed in it, most notably when he led the Speedboat Parade around the streets of Monaco. In May 1989, the F40 was sold to the current owner at the request of the Princess of Monaco. As Stefano had a reputation for spirited driving, the Princess was apparently scared of the car.
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| Ferrari F40 1989 |
The Ferrari F40 was the last Maranello road car to be engineered under Enzo Ferrari’s direct leadership and remains one of the most celebrated high-performance supercars ever built. This example, with its desirable configuration, its royal connection, and the fact it was owned by a true daredevil, is surely one of the best.
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