Cars to “Master-Debate” over, Day 8
Posted In Cars
Ferrari F40 – $415,000 (though some buyers reportedly paid as much as $1.6M)
a. 2.94L V8 twin (IHI turbos at 16psi) turbocharged making 478 hp; boost comes on around 4000 rpm- hold on tight!
b. F40 stands for Ferrari Forty and celebrates Ferrari’s 40th anniversary as a car manufacturer.
c. Initially only 400 F40’s were commissioned, but 1,315 ended up being produced through 1992
d. 0-60 in 3.8 seconds (road tested) though the factory claimed 3.5 seconds. The track only version could go 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds!
e. The first production car to (barely) break the 200 mph top speed; held this record from 1987 until the Lamborghini Diablo came along in 1989 and hit 201mph. During the 2006 Bonneville Speed Week, Amir Rosenbaum managed to take his F40 to 226 miles per hour with some boost and air intake modifications.
f. Cool fact – In the 1980’s, Ferrari was starting to suck on the race car circuit, especially Formula 1. Enzo Ferrari commissioned the F40 when he was 90 (yep, the big nine-oh) for it to be considered his eulogy.
g. Another cool fact – the F40 was classically simple. It had no crazy electronic controls, six speed gearbox, or all-wheel drive. The F40 is about maximum power, minimum weight (2400lbs) and rear-wheel drive. The interior was pretty stripped – no carpets, electric windows, central locking, and only Mini-style cord pulls to open the doors.
h. Runner up- the 2002 Enzo with a 6L V12 that produced 660 hp, was mated to an F1 gearbox, went 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and had a 220 mph top speed. Only 399 were ever made, they sold at $1M and up, and many of those have felt their demise at the hands of an inexperienced dot-com or trust fund baby racer. They were available in red, yellow, or black unless you and Ferrari went way back. Coming soon- the FX70, which will replace the Enzo. Rumors are it will be powered by either a twin-turbo V-12 of about 800 horsepower or (in compliance with necessary Euro “greener pastures” regulations) a twin-turbo V-8 of around 700 horsepower.