The Beast has a number...it is a human number.....

The Number of The Beast is not 666, but F40.

I test drove Ferrari F40 chassis number 85690. A unique, race-winning example of only 16 recognised Competizione cars that were prepared for GT racing. This particular car is one of the most well known and widely documented F40s that competed in the Italian GT Championship, and was delivered new to Pierre Alexandre Popoff of Lerici, Italy in July 1990. Designer of the Mugello racing circuit in Italy, Popoff was a close friend of Enzo Ferrari. Popoff had ‘85690’ modified by Michelotto, including up-rating the engine to GT specification (circa 540-560bhp). Between 1992 and the end of the 1994 season, Popoff contested 27 Italian GT Championship races in this car, winning twice and finishing on the podium on seven other occasions.

I've often looked at photos of F40's and thought the car looked oddly proportioned, or like a car with a bodykit. In the metal however, the F40 looks stunning; not beautiful like a F330 P3/4, but mean and aggressive.

So, on to the drive...

No one at the dealership could work out how to adjust the side mirrors, so I went out with a partial view through them. Not that I cared too much, as when it mattered in changing lanes, no mortal car came close.

I am quite used to being in cars that turn heads; various Ferraris and Lamborghinis. But the F40 just freezes people in their tracks as they stop and stare. As I drove off, traffic stopped outside the dealer despite the green traffic light, just to get a better view of the car.

I thought I had driven most cars worth driving, and whilst some are very fast and impressive, I thought I'd seen it all. I was pretty sure that nothing would make my jaw drop, give me a MASSIVE adrenaline hit, and make me grin from ear to ear like a lunatic.

The F40 has no power steering, no ABS, a heavy brake pedal, a very heavy and sharp clutch. No sensible rearward visibility either in fact. The car has a very stiff chassis with no trace of flexing and it corners very flat at speed.

The F40 does have its faults of course. The chassis technology not up to F50 standards, being a steel chassis with carbon fibre rather than all carbon fibre. Thanks to turbo-charging it has a peaky power delivery, making it impossible to apply significant throttle quickly post apex. There were too many F40's made, although that does make it easier to find a decent one to purchase. The engine note is not orchestral like some other Ferraris. Despite it having a Tubi exhaust system, it sounded industrial, and this was a disappointment to me. Finally, whilst the F40 does look great, I actually prefer the more cohesive look of the F50.

The F40 is like a raw F348 with an infinitely stiffer chassis and moderately stiffer suspension, more grip, and an engine powered by grenades! Add amazing steering that is much lighter and infinitely more responsive than a F348's, and that offers as much feel and feedback as that of a Lotus Elise!

This car is an animal, an amazing awesome experience. A Jekyll & Hyde car from Hades. Go easy on the revs and throttle, especially the throttle, and the F40 is pretty docile. Easy to drive and barely a hint of the beast within. Open the throttle, one turbo kicks in, you think yeah baby...go! Then the second turbo kicks in.......OH MY GOD!!! You wrestle with the F40 trying to tame it as it launches itself forward with tremendous force. And wow what an adrenaline hit. This car is a monster.

The F40 is difficult to drive hard, and stay in control. It demands respect; in fact it insists on it, or it hits back, hard!

Wheel spin on a dead straight smooth road in the dry in first, second, third....and for all I know probably also in fourth. I just didn't dare go fast enough to find out! What an animal.

The Michelotto 550bhp was more than enough for the road. The bhp is misleading in any case, as the car's massive torque (I would estimate in excess of 450lbs ft) is what really counts. I'd love to try this F40 on a track, but know I would be holding back most of the time. I certainly can't imagine using full throttle anywhere but on a straight. This is a flaw with the car and could lead to cars with more linear power delivery outpacing it. The F40 is a difficult car to drive at the limit.

I managed to get the car sideways, well 40 degrees at any rate, but didn't have the courage to try to hold it there, so recovered it immediately. The F40 is a monster.

Accelerate to high revs, lift off, and it sounds like the beast has lobbed a few grenades behind! This isn't banging and popping like you experience in some other high performance cars, its mini explosions! It wouldn't surprise me if the car was throwing flames from its exhaust on over-run.

I thought I'd driven some awesome cars, but they ALL pale next to this car. The closest probably being my Caterham Superlight R, but even that was tame by comparison. The F430 and F360CS are *****cats in comparison. Yes I can drive an F430 faster, safely, easily from A to B, but in the F40 you live the DRIVE. But it's not just about speed when it comes to sports cars. It's about the whole experience, and the F40 delivers in spades. Everything I've ever driven now seems boring in comparison. The drive back home in my F348 Spider was sadly quite underwhelming afterwards. However the F348 engine sounds much better, orchestral even.

It's not to be forgotten that the F40 beat the hitherto dominating McLaren F1's in the GT in Sweden, showing what the F40 was capable of.

Can you get faster cars on the road? Sure you can, ranging from Ferrari Enzo's to 720 bhp Ultimas. Can you get better handling cars? Yes definitely, as I found the F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo SE (2006) to handle better; but no car I've driven makes such an impression on you as the F40. Nothing has the pedigree. Nothing is as awe inspiring.

The F40 is the last true supercar made by Ferrari, which is a real Ferrari. The rot set in with the softening up of the F50 and continues today with the electronics laden, odd looking, Enzo. Road going Ferraris peaked with the F40 and it's all been downhill from there.

This is Enzo's last supercar. The F40 is also Ferrari's last true supercar, the last proper drivers' car. They'll never build such an awesome machine ever again. No one will. Its power is not really usable on the road, but it is nevertheless a car every Tifosi, no, every petrolhead, must experience. I will never forget the experience for the rest of my life......the day I tried to tame the beast, the day I drove the legendary F40.

And it lived up to its legendary status. The F40 is everything a Ferrari should be, it's the real deal.

F40 ......it's an animal....a scary, snarling, growling, wild carnivore!








Videos:

F40 on track video:
http://www.f40.co.nz/f40/images/Web%...ing%20Hard.wmv

F40 on road video:
http://xfer.gofastvideo.com/gallery/...138/1/aal.mpeg

Reckless driving:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...39178783831483




[The above is a copy of my review posted on that other Ferrari discussion website I'm not allowed to name on FChat.]

 

Fixed links:

http://www.f40.co.nz/f40/images/Web%20F40%20Going%20Hard.wmv


http://xfer.gofastvideo.com/gallery/getitem/138/1/aal.mpeg


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6651839178783831483

 

Nice write up Jas...now go and get one so I will have one to drive when I visit England again !

 

Does Michellotto have an office in the US ?

I'd like to get a roll bar & a few other goodies from them for my Beastie

 

Only one office:

Michelotto G&C S.n.c.
Via Chiesanuova, 27
35136
Padova, Italy

 

Thanks


....but see below

 

An interesting turn of events that I thought would amuse everyone

Remember that the dealer said they did not know the car had been raced. I informed them of its history in order to establish facts, especially surrounding what race mods remained.

I got a call from the dealer saying that my "information had caused quite a stir", and HQ hadn't realised the history of the car. He went on to say that HQ reckoned the car was worth a lot more and now valued it at circa £260k

My response is "not for publication"

 

http://www.michelottoautomobili.it/

 

sent Michelotto an email, we'll see if they get back to me