One to Buy: last of 19 built 1994 Ferrari F40 LM
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Following the decision to abort any official motor sport programme with the 288 GTO, Scuderia Ferrari elected to focus purely on Formula 1 and transform the GTO Evoluzione into a flagship production car that could satisfy the firm’s legion of customers in what was becoming a red hot collector car market.
The resultant F40 was an even more extreme vehicle than the 288 GTO and, with its race car dynamics along with an almost infinitely tuneable twin turbo motor, few were surprised when a competition version was requested.
The call for a racing F40 came from Ferrari’s French distributor, Charles Pozzi, who wanted to compete in the high profile IMSA GTO class against the likes of Audi’s all-conquering four-wheel drive 90 Quattro and Nissan’s spectacular Z32 300 ZX.
With factory blessing, Pozzi commissioned Ferrari’s partner organisation, Michelotto, to create what became known as the F40 LM. 19 cars were ultimately built, most of which were acquired by wealthy collectors who chose not to race their new steeds.
One such example is currently on offer with Bingo Sports in Tokyo: chassis 99401.
Often referred to as F40 LM number 20 (number 13 was skipped for reasons of superstition), chassis 99401 was completed in May 1994 and dispatched to Ferrari North America. It was the last F40 LM built and rolled out of Michelotto’s Padova facility ten months after car number 19 (chassis 97904).
Chassis 99401 was subsequently exported to Japan where, apart from a return to Michelotto for a full restoration between 2013 and ‘14, it has resided ever since.
Today, this ultimate expression of the F40 has covered circa 3000km and is presented in as -new condition.
