Roland's F40

I remember that F40 engine on ebay (if it is the same, but according to the above post it is not). I did not even own a Ferrari and almost purchased it, and I think it sold somewhere around 20 or in the 20s. Story was someone purchased it thinking that there would be blown motors, but there was no demand-

 

i have two i will sell for 19K

 

You sold a great engine to a great guy and he rebuilt a car doomed to extinction with it . Kudos, David.

 

When someone buys a burned out chassis, another engine, non stock interior, non stock brakes and then fabricates body parts that are a bit different from what the original car had, for whatever reason (to fit in it better), then what you have is a kit car. Not an F40LM, not an F40 modificata, certainly not a stock F40, not an F40 GT, in fact nothing at all related to an F40 other than the eBay motor. At best it is a tribute car, or one of those weird Barrett-Jackson inventions, a Resto Mod.

 

I've got to wonder if that structure has any safe amount of rigidity left in it.

 

It may not be a "pure" F40 by any means. But if it has a F40 VIN, chassis (most of it) engine and other parts, it IS an F40, those who say it isn't are oblivious to the facts.

 

Much of it was rebuilt and further stiffened.

 

F40RM !!

 

I knew Roland when he lived here in Colorado, and he's a great guy. (I know that there are numerous posts here claiming that Roland "misrepresented" himself and his car, but I don't believe that is true.

The Forza article of May, 2003 includes all of the details about the car. The teaser on the cover refers to is as "F40 LM: Ferrari resurrected." This is misleading, but not, to my knowledge, a misrepresentation on Roland's part.

Roland is quoted in the article as saying, "I call it my F40 LM Evoluzione." Since there is, or was, no such thing as an F40 LM Evoluzione prior to that (correct me if I'm wrong here), I guess Roland can call it that if he wants to.

The Forza article does say that Roland used Michelotto blueprints during the construction of the car. The body panels, also according to the article, were custom fabricated by an outfit in Longmont, CO; the frame is special construction, and the engine - a genuine Ferrari F40 unit - was purchased on eBay.

Some of the characteristics of the car, such as the engine mounts, were designed to mimic the original LM.

According to the article, "Although Michelotto had accomodated with blueprints, [they] were unable to supply any original parts."

As far as I know, Roland never said his F40 was anything but a one-of-a-kind rebuilt Ferrari.

I don't think this is a car that would win any prizes at a Concours - except, perhaps for People's Choice. My opinion, having seen but not driven the car, is that it is a real beast, meant to be driven - certainly not a garage queen or investment vehicle.

I do know that Dave Helms, now of Scuderia Rampante in Boulder, did quite a bit of the maintenance on the car. Dave's expertise on Ferraris is second to none.

I doubt that the car is worth $600k, but it's difficult to appraise such a unique vehicle.

I've lost contact with Roland since he moved to Florida, but I'd love it if he would post some information about the car. I believe it would also be valuable for anyone seriously interested in purchasing it for Dave Helms to weigh in.

I believe that Roland and his F40 were misunderstood and/or misrepresented through his unfortunate association with Aaron White. I don't know the whole story, and it's difficult to piece it together by reading the threads on this board regarding Mr. White.

That is another matter that I wish that Roland, or anyone who knows the whole story, would address in this forum.

 

Resto-Mod is probably the best way to describe the car. It was restored using some updated and non factory parts. There are many people that will frown upon anything non OEM going onto a Ferrari, then again there are those of us that think it is a very cool and unique car. As a few have said, the only way that the true value of this car is set, is when someone actually buys it.

 

I have never met or talked to Roland, but based on seeing the car, I don't think a Concours ever was a factor in the build. Again, one look at the engine bay will show you that it is no where near stock (what car comes factory with red annodized Tial waste gates?). I can understand doing what he did (if I had that kind of money). Why not save a burnt out F40 and build it into something unique instead of cutting up a car in good condition. IMO, we should be thanking him for saving the car and building somehting so cool, instead of starting with an intact car.

 

And a burned chassis without a VIN is ???

 

hehe, are you speaking of 01C/010l ?

 

You're right, I don't know the whole story. I wish Roland would post something about it.

I'd rather defend someone based on my personal experience than slander someone based on what I've heard secondhand.

I never heard ROLAND say he raced at LeMans. Guess I missed that show.

 

well... in heavily raced/crashed/etc. race cars, that isn't an uncommon thing...

 

Exactly....

 

Whats a bent cut up chassis that was considered scrap with no number, a load of speculation and a bunch of old race car parts make?

 

There's an interesting one coming up for auction at RM lot 173...

 

He is a good guy, and when he joined our caravan last January with the car in question, he was completely candid as to its origin.

 

I can't believe you all get so caught up in this. I am willing to bet that if he told everyone his car was an "F40" and his profile said "F40" you'd be ripping him apart just the same. I can hear it now: "The serial number stamp on that part is missing, it's not a REAL F40" - "Yeah, he put a different tachometer in it too, and it has different seats, it's almost a Feiro." The car is well known enough that in the community that he doesn't need to explain it.

For those of you who don't think Roland's car is even an F40, you have a lot to learn (and some of you claim to be serious car guys). What do you think happened to all those 250 GTO's, SWB's, F1's cars, prototypes and earlier cars "we" all love so much? Many of those cars were involved in accidents (hit, crashed, burned) and were stripped down and rebuilt to run again. Some were modified and updated in the process but you all don't seem to have problems with them. Roland's car is no different than countless car's that have been brought back to life when there was almost nothing left. If some parts of the car are salvageable, especially any frame sections and anything with a serial number, those parts (and associate serial number) go to the rebuilt car.

Let's face it, this thread (and countless others of the same topic) are not about the "F40LM." They are about the fact that some of you simply can't get over yourselves. Why? Is it because Roland drove the heck out of his car and enjoyed it more than most? Because he openly invited people to his house and to examine the F40? Is it because he simply did not care what others thought, did what he loved and made the car he wanted and then told the entire story hiding nothing?

I think a lot of you guys are jealous of Roland. You're the same guys who b!tch people out for posting a pic with your license plate in it while he is inviting people to come to his house, take pics and sit in the cars. Yes, the same guys who get pissed when someone associates an owners name with their car while Roland is getting written up in Forza. Some of you should get over yourselfs because (are you sitting down for this) - you're not that cool... no one cares about you or the fact that you have a Ferrari, or don't, or have 10. You are the guys who own these cars because they make you feel taller or something... put some lifts in those Bruno Magli's, you'll save a lot of money and won't have to pretend to be a car guy anymore.

 

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KUDOS and bravo to you for that post and I completely agree....






































Now, if it wasn't for that prickly little detail of him having spewed a pathological haze of BS for two decades while perpetuating a gross misrepresentation of fact to seduce others as clientele that kills it for so many of those "Poseurs"
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