Ferrari F40

Why it matters

Unveiled at Maranello in July 1987, the F40 evolved from the experimental 288 GTO Evoluzione and was the final new Ferrari road car personally approved by Enzo Ferrari. Its longitudinally mounted 2,936 cc V8 used twin IHI turbochargers and twin intercoolers to produce 478 hp at 7,000 rpm through a five-speed manual transaxle. Pininfarina shaped the dramatic composite body around aerodynamic necessity: a low nose, NACA ducts, a vented rear screen and an immense fixed rear wing helped the F40 remain stable at a claimed 201 mph, making it the first production road car advertised to exceed 200 mph. Ferrari pursued lightness with a tubular steel chassis reinforced by Kevlar and carbon-fiber panels, fixed-back cloth seats, pull-cord door releases and minimal cabin trim. Demand transformed the original limited-production plan into 1,311 completed cars. Raw, light and unassisted, the F40 closed Enzo Ferrari's era while establishing an enduring benchmark for every Ferrari halo car that followed.