1990 Ferrari F40 Coupe

Ferrari had some strong competition in the form of the Porsche 959 and Lamborghini Countach. Enzo was approaching his 90th birthday and he had a desire to reestablish his 40 year old stable firmly atop the supercar field. The result would be the fastest Ferrari would ever build for the road and the first car built for the street that would be capable of speeds in excess of 200mph. Ferrari wouldn't just witness his last creation top the speed charts, he would have the opportunity to witness what was the most exciting car of its period.

Though built for the street, there would be very little on the F40 that wouldn't come directly from, or that wasn't inspired by, Ferrari's efforts on the racetrack. From the enlarged 3.0-liter V-8 engine to the twin IHI turbochargers and Behr intercoolers to the unequal-length double A-arm suspension and large Brembo disc brakes, the F40 was the epitome of aggressiveness.

Initially, it was believed that no more than 400 examples of the F40 would ever be produced. However, the design would be so evocative and desirable that production would end up cresting above 1300 between 1987 and 1992. In spite of the surprising longing for the car by customers only 213 would ever be produced in United States spec. Chassis 0087200 would be one of those.

As a result of there being only 213 examples produced in United States spec it was not unusual to have bidding wars break out with the purpose being of securing a place in line for the new car. Just like that, a collectible supercar was born.

This particular chassis would arrive in Newport Beach, California in January of 1991 as the property of Mr. Richard Engel. To say Engel was proud of his new acquisition would be an understatement as he would immediately take it and display it at the Ferrari Owners Club USA meeting held at Long Beach.

Engel would own the F40 from 1991 to 1993, but this would not be all smooth sailing. A lubrication failure resulted in the engine needing to be changed. This would not deter its second owner, Harry Eberlin, from purchasing the car in 1993. He too would display the car at the FOC meeting in Long Beach that year.

The following year Eberlin would decide to trade the car to Garry Roberts and Company. At that time, there was less than 13,000 miles on the car, and even less than that on the replacement engine.

In June of 1995 the F40 would be found in Indiana where it would remain right up through 2004. In 2006 the car appeared in the Chicago area as a result of some service received at Lake Forest Sports Cars. At that time, V. Thomas Taglia owned that car. He would end up selling the car through Exoticars of Pittsburgh and Joseph Gaddini would end up the next owner. Gaddini would invest heavily in the Ferrari commissioning some extensive maintenance work costing in the neighborhood of $50,000 Then, later that year the car would be listed for sale with less than 6,000 miles on the odometer.

In April of 2007, the Ferrari would be purchased by a interested buyer from the Encinitas, California area. One year later it would again be made available for sale, this time through Paramount Auto Group. Not long after being registered the car would be serviced and it would be found to still have less than 7,000 miles on the replacement engine. In total, the car would have less than 14,500 miles.

In 2008, the F40 would again be made available for sale, this time via The Sports Car Company of La Jolla, California. Sold through eBay, the well-known collector Tony Hart would end up buying the car. Hart would follow tradition and would display the car as part of the FOC's Pasadena Concours d'Elegance. It would prove to be a wise decision as the car would end up leaving with a Platinum Award in Class 8.

Retaining its correct Rosso Corsa finish, original Speedline alloy wheels and a Tubi triple-outlet stainless exhaust, 0087200 is a fine example of the last Ferrari supercar Enzo would ever lay eyes on.

Part of Tony Hart's collection, distinct in being one of just 213 U.S.-spec F40s and complete with an FCA Platinum Award, this particular Ferrari F40 would be a highlight of Bonhams' 2015 Quail Lodge auction. Some spirited bidding would take place. The end result would be a final sale price, inclusive of buyer's premium, of $1,237,500.

By Jeremy McMullen