VIN: Enzo Ferrari's personal Ferrari F40 chassis 74049
History of chassis 74049
Chassis 74049 was one of the most famous F40 prototypes. Eight prototypes were built in total, seven of which emerged from the Maranello factory in 1987.
74049 made its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 1987. It was the centrepoint of a Ferrari stand that also included a Testarossa, 328, 412 and Mondial.
Like most of the F40 prototypes, chassis 74049 was equipped with a number of special features. They included uprated suspension and turbochargers, lightened body panels, adjustable ride height and air-conditioning. Several of the cooling solutions also differed to later examples.
Having served its time as a promotional and development machine, 74049 was retained by the factory as one of Enzo Ferrari’s personal cars.
Prior to the F40, Enzo Ferrari had variously owned a 400 Superamerica, a 330 GT and various iterations of the 365 GT4 / 400 line.
When il Commendatore passed away on August 22nd 1988, ownership of 74049 returned to Ferrari SpA. The car stayed in Maranello for circa ten years, at which point Ferrari’s then Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, reputedly gifted the car to a member of the Buitoni pasta family in Toscana.
Since then the car has passed through the hands of several private collectors.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ferrari - https://www.ferrari.com
