F40 PROTOTYPES

Yes, the Coke bottle shape is evident on both sides of the model but if you look closely you’ll note that the LHS design has a less pronounced horizontal ledge at the waistline and so is narrower at the doors, resulting in a more exaggerated bulging of the rear fender. The RHS of the model more closely presages the production design which, in the words of @of2worlds, is more slab-sided, though still with some evidence of the Coke bottle shape.

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The windscreen itself and the door glass frames are the same dimensions on the F40 as they are on the 308, as I mentioned before, the production F40s had the metal profile that separates the sidelight window and main window on the doors moved backwards on the production F40 to give the driver a clearer view of the door mirrors via a bigger sidelight, allowing a more conventional mirror to be used.

I once put the bare door from an early 308 fibreglass car that was being restored, into the mould for an F40 door, it fitted like a glove! other than the gap between the door skin of the 308 and that of the mould being a couple of inches wider, which would tend to confirm that on the clay model, it has a 308 door on the right, looking at the pic, and a more pumped out F40 version on the left.

 

You can't beat 'hands on experience' there. Great observations, thank you!

 

That is 73015 there! I wonder if they stood on the overpass to take that picture...

 

The 10 prototypes

• 73015
• 74045
  
• 74047
• 74049
• 75052
• 75580
• 76687
• 77107
• 78206
• 80697

 

80697 was a standard production F40 but sold new to Giuliano Michelotto. Not a vettura esperienza (prototype).

Marcel Massini

 

80697 is a vettura esperienza (prototype) F40 and was built by Michelotto.

the list of 10 cars is complete and correct

 

No.

Marcel Massini

 

yes

 

You may want to check the paperwork.

Marcel Massini

 

your paperwork is not correct

 

Aha.
Official factory dox are not correct.......
Maybe yours isn't correct either?

Ciao
Marcel Massini

 

Maybe do your homework again.

80697 is a prototype, 100%

 

80697 is not a prototype, 100%.

Marcel Massini

 

as said do your homework again
1) You ever saw the car and inspected it thoroughly?
2) Spoke with the builder/manufacturer?

if not, you do the above and come back to this topic again.

 

Given the previous level of first hand info Tom has detailed in the past then I doubt he would be putting his reputation on the line by making such assertions, if Marcel is solely relying on factory records on this occasion? then I am sure he will acknowledge Toms update, if Tom has the approval of his source to do so that is.

 

Is it this one Tom?

 

that is 79890

 

80697 got the documents by Ferrari ON PAPER yes in 1990 as a normal F40, but it is not in real life
The car was a prototype and still is and built by Michelotto.

in recent years restored

- five rear side vents
-no front spoiler lip
-more slots in the plexi window of the engine cover
- mirrors on the a-pillars
and so on with differences inside and outside.

a normal F40 was not converted to the looks of a prototype!

 

Essentially then, Ferrari recycled an original prototype and later sold it on as a normal production car on paper? given it went to Michelotto then I guess it was no biggie as it would be converted into a race car anyway?

I believe they have form for doing such many times over the years.

My understanding is that proto cars are crushed after they serve their purpose because no duties are paid on them by the manufacturer and they do not confirm to the type approval of the finalised version, so it was probably a work around to make a few extra lira instead.