One to Buy: 1989 Geneva Motor Show Ferrari F40 (SOLD)
In our opinion here at Supercar Nostalgia, Ferrari’s Group B-inspired 288 GTO and F40 rank far higher in terms of design quality and historical significance than any of the low volume flagships that followed.
The F40 evolved from its forebear on account of Ferrari’s decision not to pursue a circuit racing programme with the 288. Instead, the GTO Evoluzione that theoretically would have taken to the track was used as the basis for the F40 which performance-wise re-wrote the rulebook in terms of what could be expected from a high end super sports car.
In total, a little over 1300 examples of the F40 were produced between 1987 and 1992 and today these cars have rightly come to be regarded as the ultimate expression of late 20th century Ferrari-Pininfarina collaboration.
While every F40 is the stuff of most collector’s dreams, some cars are just that little bit more significant than others and just such an example is currently on offer at the DK Engineering showroom in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire.
The star exhibit at the most important motor show of 1989, the Geneva Salon, this was the 74th F40 produced and retains all the distinct features that can be found on these very early copies.
Following its completion on January 27th 1989, the car was dispatched to Ferrari’s Swiss distributor, IFS Ferrari Suisse SA, and then appeared at the Geneva Show which opened on March 9th. It wasn’t road registered until May 9th 1990, to Graber Automobile of Wichtrach, from where it was sold to Fridolin Broder of Liechtenstein who was briefly that country’s official Ferrari importer.
Today, this superb F40 is being offered in immaculate condition with just 12,500km on the odometer and comes complete with its original book pack.
Reprinted below is DK Engineering’s description:
The 1989 Geneva Motor Show Car
12,500km from new
Completed at the factory in January 1989, this example is one of the 7-series chassis cars completed that benefit from a number of key differences removed over the span of production. Naturally as a 7-series production example, this early F40 is both non-cat and non-adjust, which are considered to be the more pure, more raw variant of the esteemed model.
Corroborating with the very early build date are several characteristics which are indicative of an early ‘non-cat, non-adjust’ car. These include the bare aluminium intercoolers, and the different construction and finishing of carbon Kevlar components such as the more rudimentary surface underneath the front clam, which draws the eyes to the unique way in which the NACA ducts are affixed to its underside; a true reflection of how these early cars were built to be as minimal, basic and as lightweight as possible.
Under the front clam, the front brake cooling ducts and their flanges are also visible, and the manner they join to the clam is again different to later cars. The front wheel well is of the split, two-piece design, seen only on a handful of the earliest examples. Similarly, this example features non-adjustable suspension, introduced as an option on the later produced cars. The interior also sees alternative soft fabric seats witnessed previously on other early examples by DK.
The 74th example completed, this example was completed at the factory on 27th January 1989, already having been earmarked by Ferrari themselves for the upcoming Geneva International Motorshow. The F40 was delivered ahead of this to official importer IFS Ferrari Suisse SA in February. As corroborated by noted Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, this example then sat alongside Ferrari’s latest and greatest offering, the brand new Mondial T at the 59th Geneva Motorshow in March 1989.
9th December 1988 Factory build start date
27th January 1989 Factory completion date
February 1989 Delivered new to official importer IFS Ferrari Suisse SA
9th March 1989 Displayed on the Ferrari stand during the 59th Geneva International Motor Show, upgraded to sliding windows for the show
9th May 1990 Road registered in the name of Graber Automobile of Wichtrach
With the Pirelli P-Zero having been developed as the first road-going bespoke compound tyre for the F40, it was this option-tyre that was selected for its presence at Geneva. The P-Zero name had been introduced five years earlier with the Delta S4, but as a semi-slick on a homologation production run. P-Zeros at the time had a slightly different sidewall to those available today. It is worth noting that the car received sliding windows for the show, to be returned to specification as per the original build sheets after the show.
It would not receive road registration until the 9th of May 1990 with its warranty booklet issued in the name of Graber Automobile of Wichtrach. The car was sold the following year to close friend of Graber Automobile, Fridolin Broder of Liechtenstein who was for a short period, the official importer into the country. Its next owner, Mr Höflinghoff-Hess of Germany retained the car for a number of years, eventually advertising the car in German-magazine Auto, Motor & Sport in July of 1998 with just 875 kms.
The F40 was snapped up by Bernhard Dransmann of Osnabrück later the same month and he would retain the car for just over two years. Dransmann would sell the car to its most recent custodian in September of 2000.
Over the past 25 years, this F40 has been cared for by just one custodian. Today this example has covered just 12,500 kilometres. All of the early details which set this car apart remain true today, including the original soft-fabric seats (although an additional retrimmed set will be supplied), bare aluminium intercoolers, split wheel well, unpainted lower sills and largely exposed engine bay weave.
This remarkable F40 today presents superbly at our showrooms outside London. With yellow in-filled tyres as a modern nod to how it was presented at the Geneva Motor Show just shy of 36 years ago, this F40 would be a standout addition to any collection. Today this F40 is accompanied by its original book pack and wallet, spare key and tools and whilst serviced prior to arrival, this example will pass through our workshops once more ahead of sale.
