i forgot i started this thread ! so long ago.... result is i got the '90 without cats, new version turbos, and the guys at bob houghton thought the bhp was over 550....BUT we could not dyno it because they said there wasnt a dyno they had access to that had a fan that could simulate more than 60mph and the f40's true power cant really be detected unless the fan can put out 100mph. dunno if they are right. they seem to be pretty serious guys so i took them at their word.
I agree - I have to think the chassis dyno power loss is also attibutable to the fact that you cannot get good airflow over the intercoolers unless the car is moving and they have to heat soak pretty quickly.
Anyway, I was in FerrariClassiche this morning for my 246 GTS - talking with a old mechanic man (he was working a 275GTB) I took advantage and I ask him about engine power tollerance of the F40 during the production. He answer me that he remember average was about 480, seen something close to 490. Early cars without catalytic converters were powerful. He said me, sometimes closer to 500. He has pointed, that these data were reffered to "new" engines...
Very minor items such as stone guard shield grate design, oil filler cap type, really not significant.
I believe the ratios were actually the same, what differed was the crown wheel and pinion which was lower geared.
With respect to the gear ratios, please note the following: First gear - 1:10.707 (USA), 1:10.069 (Euro) Second gear - 1:6.628 (USA), 1:6.262 (Euro) Third gear - 1:4.745 (USA), 1:4.463 (Euro) Fourth gear - 1:3.724 (USA), 1:3.501 (Euro) Fifth gear - 1:2.965 (USA), 1:2.787 (Euro)
Interesting. So when added to the different crown wheel that must have allowed for presumably the fact the engine was less powerful than Euro spec otherwise why bother?
Presumably. Although we have seen persistent reports (which I cant corroborate) that state that the USA car in fact had more power to deal with the extra weight.
Apologies I have posted a thread before but prior to being a subscribed member so now I can host the pictures. It was my first and only sighting of an F40. This is a very early example direct from Maranello for this exhibit I attended at the London Science Museum in Nov 1988. It was entitled Fiat 1899-1989, included is a rare Fiat prototype. I had a crude camera and the attentive guards would not permit me to cross the barricade ropes! Just adding to this thread with a very early European F40 example: GV27TIFOSI Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Door glass frame is the same as 308. Triangular glass is larger and sliding glass is shorter on production F40. An early prototype F40 maybe?
More power to make more torque, to spin lower gears, to regain performance lost by the added weight? You'd need both the power/torque and the gears to get the heavier US car to behave like the Euro car, don't you think? Are there no acceptable dyno numbers for examples of each?
The best info I have come across is here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/288gto-f40-f50-enzo-laferrari/255868-acceleration-f40-f50-enzo-cgt-veyron.html
This video may well be of the F40 I photographed at the London Science Museum. 5 louvers on the back, high level of finish and the windows and rear window identify it as a prototype. The car in the video was considerably lighter with more performance; [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_6bPI0dTyk&list=FLMDx6JRfY1XUFi9NjsGEyUA&index=567]Ferrari F40 Prototype - YouTube[/ame] GV27TIFOSI
Joe Sackey, could the prototype personal Enzo owned car be the one I photographed in London all those years ago. It has the five tail louvers and I'm not sure of the rear glass uniqueness, but it does have the sliding windows, ect. What is your opinion as the car I photographed came directly form Maranello. Please look at the video I put up, could this be the same car with a higher level of interior finish, much lighter and with more horsepower. Thanks in advance GV27TIFOSI
Could it have been the Maranello Concessionaires car, Ch.no 77289? With reference to ivo73's earlier posting it must be later than 77181 since it have the integrated rear fog lamps. Wonder when they went from 5 to 4 cooling slots? But 77289 seems to have a 4 slot rear clip these days?
There was a brand new/old stock, very very early spec rear mesh for sale on ebay last year with the cut outs for the rear fog lights. Not a lot of money, I should have snapped it up, but had no use for it.
Dear Sir, It was a pleasure saw your post on this topic. I would like to say that also The seats of The first cars, had a differente tissue but are very hard to find now because all changed with the standard one.