PROVENANCE Richard Ashby, Huntington Beach, California (acquired new in July 1990) David Bobert, Mendota Heights, Minnesota (acquired circa 1994) James Malouin, Banning, California (acquired in May 1997) Mark Mountanos, Ukiah, California (acquired from the above via Karam Automotive in February 1998) Mattia Asinari, New York, New York (acquired in March 2001) Steven Goldman, Saddle Brook, New Jersey (acquired in November 2008) Eric Cheung, Hong Kong, China (acquired circa 2010) Don Davis, Arlington, Texas (acquired circa 2012) Tony Shooshani, Beverly Hills, California (acquired from the above in 2013) EXHIBITED Ferrari North America 60th Anniversary Concours, Beverly Hills, California, October 2014 THIS CAR The Ferrari supercar tradition truly took hold in the mid-1980s with the introduction of the 288 GTO, a twin-turbocharged V-8 powered berlinetta that was originally intended for sports car racing. Since the model’s debut in 1984, Ferrari has introduced a similarly awe-inspiring supercar every five to ten years, creating a lineage of limited-edition hyper performers that lives on today in the LaFerrari. Among this small range of a half-dozen hypercars, perhaps none is so universally appreciated as the F40, the 40th anniversary model that was built for track exuberance and open road excitement. Many examples of the vaunted F40 were driven just as they were intended to be used, experiencing miles on racing circuits. It is rare to find a well-maintained and minimally used F40, which is part of what makes this finely preserved example so impressive. In 1986, Enzo Ferrari conceived the idea of a 40th anniversary model, proposing a special commemorative limited-edition hypercar to his engineers. The 288 GTO proved to be an ideal basis for the new project, as the race-intended model had never quite served its original competition mandate due to a change in FIA class regulations. For the new model, Maranello’s engineers modified the GTO’s foundations, widening the track and integrating a greater degree of carbon fiber know-how from the lessons learned in Formula 1. The 288’s twin-turbocharged V-8 was enlarged to displace three liters and tuned to develop 478 hp and 425 lbs./ft. of torque, which could propel the F40 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, and a top speed of 201 mph. Performance was aided by Pininfarina’s coachwork, an aerodynamically perfected wedge of carbon fiber and Kevlar that was meticulously sculpted and evaluated in the coachbuilder’s wind tunnel. Former Daytona stylist Leonardo Fioravanti is credited with much of the body design, which made an overwhelming use of NACA ducts on the surfacing for cooling and airflow. The F40 proved to be so popular that nearly 1,311 examples were built before it was discontinued in 1993. Despite not being the rarest of the Ferrari hypercars, it is often remembered as the purest, as no Ferrari road car stressed track eligibility so harmoniously. The F40 claimed minimal creature comforts, and weight was shaved remarkably, with the model featuring roll-up windows rather than electrically powered units, pull-strap door releases, and Plexiglas covering the engine. By comparison, the Ferrari was more than 500 pounds lighter than its German archrival, the Porsche 959. Often outfitted with fire extinguishers and racing harnesses, the new berlinetta was a model intended for track use, and it provided a brilliant showcase for Maranello’s highly evolved racing technologies. Chassis no. 86554 is the 49th example built to American specifications in 1990, and one of 213 cars delivered to the US in total. Completed by the factory in July 1990, the F40 was retailed through Newport Imports of Newport Beach, California, and delivered new on December 7, 1990, to Richard Ashby of Huntington Beach, California. As confirmed by the Ferrari’s original warranty card and service log, Mr. Ashby regularly serviced the car as needed. A thorough compendium of service invoices demonstrates a continuous chain of owners that dutifully tended the F40 as required. The car remained in California through 2001, at which point it was purchased by a New York-based collector. Further invoices reflect additional regular attention from East Coast dealerships, which included a replacement of the suspension forks under warranty, and several belt services. Briefly sold to Hong Kong-based collector and privateer racer Eric Cheung in 2010, the F40 returned to the US under the care of esteemed collector Don Davis of Arlington, Texas. The Ferrari displayed only about 3,400 miles when Tony Shooshani visited the Davis collection in 2013 to assess the car personally. Impressed with its original condition and minimal use, Mr. Shooshani immediately arranged to ship it to his building in Beverly Hills. The F40 has since benefited from the regular upkeep and now displays approximately 3,720 miles. The paint and interior appear to be original, and the car’s identity as a US-specified example is confirmed by the correct paint stickers and USA decals on the suspension arms. Given its outstanding originality and low mileage, this car perfectly represented the F40 model in October 2014 when it was exhibited at Ferrari North America’s 60th Anniversary Concours d’Elegance on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. This highly desirable F40 has furthermore been certified with a Ferrari Classiche Red Book, confirming its authentic presentation and the presence of the original matching-numbers drivetrain. The car is accompanied by the three-piece Schedoni leather luggage set, service records, manuals in the proper leather pouch, factory tools, and a car cover. Finer examples of the legendary F40 rarely become available, and this well-maintained low-mileage Ferrari offers serious collectors the opportunity to experience the track prodigy at its finest.