Ferrari F40, the heritage of Enzo Ferrari.

1987, Fiorano circuit, an unusual effervescence reigns around the Ferrari test track.

But why are so many journalists present?

The reason is simple, the Commendatore Enzo Ferrari presents the last born of Maranello, the Ferrari F40.

Paying homage to the 40th anniversary of the prancing horse brand, this supercar is the most powerful car in the automobile, and to achieve this nothing was left to chance.

Design coming from the direct imagination of Pininfarina, V8 bi-turbo engine of 478 hp, body made of composite materials, glass and carbon fibers for the body, chassis and door panels made of Kevlar without forgetting the hunt for superfluous.

The radio? what for the v8 is placed behind the pilot the music is guaranteed.

Door handles? unnecessary, a simple cable will suffice.

The windows are made of plexiglass allowing a maximum lightening of the car all this to reach a weight of 1088 kg.

Note that the windows and especially the rear window in Plexiglas poses some problems of waterproofness, the owner raises for example some problems when the rain occurs, streaming then in the engine and at the stop causing then problems of functioning.

The car is thus reduced to the strict minimum, the body is covered with aerodynamic appendices, the grills let appear the exhaust of the car, while inside the bucket seats weigh only a few kilos, and the 5-speed gearbox is connected to a gear selector with the famous metal grill so iconic it is.

Finally on the characteristics side, the car wants to be like a return to the basics, when its German rival the Porsche 959 is equipped with modern electronics, the F40 it does not embark anything of that, ABS, non-existent, ESP absent, driving aids, that it race car to a driving aid?

The goal was therefore clear: to make it a homologated racing car, most of the technologies being derived from Formula 1, the guiding line was therefore well followed.

This F40 had an unexpected success, when only 400 copies were to be sold, the production was increased by almost 1000 new chassis to satisfy the customers.

Today the F40 is a myth of the automobile, the dream of every great enthusiast, to see it brings a sensation then without equivalent so much this car is impressive and of course the soul of Enzo Ferrari is more than ever present in this car.

Unfortunately, nowadays, seeing one of these cars is becoming more and more rare, the owners preferring to keep them preciously, in order to avoid damaging them.

The F40 illustrating the article is owned by a real enthusiast, "Shortly before the summer I drove with my son 2000km to the Mugello circuit" writes the owner.

Passionate above all, he bought this car 10 years ago, in superb condition, and decided to use it in the best way possible, presenting it at elegance competitions or taking it to circuits because, according to the owner, "It's a good place for a F40!

How to say the contrary, the car was born for the track, it is made to go and find the limits of the driver, to be alive

the limits of the driver, to be alive.

Should we leave it in a garage and wait for time to pass?

No, this is not the end for this legend of the automobile, it should not be driven but rather piloted.

It is thanks to these owners, who keep this model alive, that the Ferrari F40 continues to be this myth that every enthusiast dreams of driving, young or old, it is this first automobile fantasy.

It is by creating a car out of passion that it becomes a legend and Enzo Ferrari understood this well.

Arthur Legrand