Ranking high on many “best of” lists, Ferrari’s F40 was the product of a program initiated in 1984 to develop an improved 288 GTO to counter Porsche’s 959 in FIA Group B rally competition. However, this thrilling but lethal motorsports arena was canceled in 1986 before the latest high-tech gladiators from Maranello and Stuttgart could face each other. Redeveloped into a 200 MPH road model celebrating Ferrari’s 40th Anniversary, the F40 was introduced at Frankfurt in 1987. Featuring aggressive, low-drag bodywork styled by Pininfarina’s Leonardo Fioravanti and fashioned of lightweight Kevlar, carbon-fiber and aluminum, the new Ferrari supercar was based upon a tubular spaceframe chassis mounting fully independent underpinnings and ventilated disc brakes with 4-piston calipers all around. The 2.9L V-8 engine delivered 471 HP at 7,000 RPM with twin IHI turbochargers and twin Behr intercoolers. Bearing S/N 93607, this specimen is particularly interesting, having been purchased new by Phil Bachman directly through the Ferrari factory. Phil and Martha Bachman participated in an exclusive F40 owners’ trip to Maranello and took delivery of this car in 1992. Phil referred to this F40 as his “ex-Works” F40 because the factory did, indeed, build it outside the scope of the normal allocation process or dealer network. Offered with the odometer reading 458 miles at the time of writing, this fascinating F40 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.9L/471 HP V-8 engine, numbered 31088 and equipped with 5-speed manual gearbox (No. 650), all tucked within Body No. 59. In addition to its intrinsic rarity as one of 1,315 F40s produced in total and one of the 213 U.S.-specification F40s built, this F40 is one of 60 produced for the U.S. for the 1992 model year and, of them, it is one of 24 F40s produced for the U.S. during calendar-year 1992. Even more significantly, this F40 was produced with one other car on the last day of 1992 production for U.S. cars in April 1992. The Rosso Corsa Fer. 300/12 exterior finish is handsomely complemented by Rosso Stoffa Vigogna (red Vicuña fabric) upholstery, one of the world’s most expensive luxury textiles. Fashioned from the fine wool of the Vicuña, a South American camelid, this rich material is coveted for its exceptional softness and warmth. Given its single-owner provenance and special ordering and delivery process, it is no surprise that this legendary Ferrari supercar has received top-level awards, including Platinum honors and the Supercar Cup at the 2007 Cavallino Classic. Other accolades include Platinum and Coppa Bella Macchina at the 2007 FCA Annual Meet, Best of Show at the 2012 Celebration Exotic Car Festival, Platinum at the 2016 Ferrari Classiche Concours at the Finali Mondiali at Daytona, and the Speedster Award at the 2018 Trump Charlotte Concours d’Elegance. As a rare, factory-delivered car, this special F40 is offered with its original Escursionisti Esteri (EE) plates from the Ferrari factory, plus correspondence from Ferrari regarding the order of this car. Ferrari Classiche certified in 2014 with its corresponding Red Book, this legendary Ferrari supercar is also accompanied by its factory-issued books, manuals and tools. Simply put, this F40 stands tall as a fitting exemplar of the last road car of the Enzo Ferrari era.
