F40LM photos

All this hoopla!!! I think the phrase LM get's thrown around to describe almost any F40 upgrade. When a guy puts bigger brakes on the car, we say they are LM brakes. If you have 18" Speedlines, they are LM wheels. If you have a Tubi wing, it's an LM wing. If you have the Tubi Compitition exhuast its got LM pipes. Even when you buy the F40 replacement turbo's (we are up to the 3rd generation now) We call them LM turbo's. Nothing could be further from the truth! They weren't even invented when there were LM's! Go to Carabu's web site, LM turbo's and chips. It say's it right there!!! Whatever!!!

Anyway..... Let's all enjoy our mod'ed F40's throughout the Holidays!! No mater what we call them!

Rick

 

Hi Roland, my name is Gil Matthews, and I own F40LMGTC #97881. I personally don't have a problem with you calling your car an F40LM, even though it isnt one of the 20 built. It's an individual thing as to whether you want the real thing or not. I'm very strict with myself as to having "the real thing". But I don't hold it against others who want to have look alikes and if a good custom job has been done, (and I'm sure it has on your car), I don't have a problem with it.

 

I'm sorry if some people were confused but from day one and Forza wrote a bunch about the car, it was never said that was an original LM. Maybe better call the car an evolution but for sure a long way from any F40 with some mods. At least, what's on the car is real.
Roland
F40LM "evolution"

 

Thanks Gil and congratulation to you. If mine isn't an original one. it's for sure the better we could do to get there.
I hope that you have as much joy that I have.
I like my car's name and at least you and own an F40 and very specials one !
Take care
Roland
F40LM

 

Well, actually I own a road going F40 as well. # 85034. And the difference between the 2 is really incredible. When you compare a road going F40, to the LM and then you realise that the LM is 200 kilos lighter, you just stand back and think, "how did they do that". But as I've said, this is all about "being in love with your car"..........whatever it is.
F40's forever

 

Yeah, it is impressive of what Ferrari does with there supercars to make them more magical. It would be neat some time to see all the evolution (F40LM, F50GT, and FXX) and the road cars (288GTO, F40, F50, and Enzo) all together on one track to see how far Ferrari has really come!

 

Gil, thanks for your input! You are truly my new hero!

I think your last comments are so important because they truly establish that a road car F40 and an LM are truly distant cousins.

The problem started when people started referring to Roland's F40 as an actual LM. I guess I just hold true LM's in such high regard that I feel it is incorrect and misleading to call any F40 an LM unless it came from Michelotti.

I think we will be back here having this same discussion 6 months from now if Roland's car is continued to be referred to as an LM or LM Evolution.

I see it as a black and white issue, it is either an LM or it is not. I do not care what Roland calls the car when its just the two of them alone together, but since he continues to call it an LM this issue will continue to be brought up from time to time.

I think it clouds what is otherwise a very interesting and popular F40....

Chris
F40 89782

 

You have stand between an F40 raod car and an LM, to really get an idea of what this is all about. The road car was built, obviously for the road and built to a budget. The LM was built to win Le Mans, and had NO budget. They only put together 20 cars (4 GTC's which is 786 Horsepower, the highest of the lot), and if you sit down and think about how much money all of that would of cost (and were talkng lighter panels, titanium bolts drilled through the centre to lose weight, pinifarina wind tunnel testing etc. etc. F1 computers............the list just goes on. So being the owner of both an LM and an F40, I appreciate the differences that took place, when building the LM. But as for guys having look alike cars, well that goes back a long way and the classic is the movie "Ferris buelers day off" with a flop molded corvette made to look like a 250 Californian spider". I must say , pretty good job they did on that car as well. BUT, you know, I'm the first person to say to someone when looking at a look alike LM, "that's not an LM" (deep down knowing that I actually am a proud owner of a REAL LM. Still I'm not upset at all by Roland. He's not the first guy to customize an F40 and call it an LM, and he won't be the last. And he's proud of his car and loves his car and has fun in it, which is important.

 

Gil,
Thanks for posting here. Can you describe the feel of how the cars are different? Also thanks for posting your vin #. I like that. I see Chris caucht on.

Rick
F40LM (Lightly Modified)
92708

 

Gil thanks you must have a blast in your LM too bad you live down under! I would love a ride in a true LM.

I have been asked by Ferrari to be a guest of the F1 team at next years race in Australia, would you like to join us?

Let me know, I will see what I can do.

Chris
F40 GTC (Got The Cash)
89782

 

If you can locate a copy of the Cavalleria publication "Ferrari F40 LM" hard back book printed in 1994 there are some good interior pics of chassis No. 88521 car No. 3. Call FML they may have a copy in stock. Regards, Vern

 

Gil,

What a wonderful car to own and drive. I was wondering what weak points you've found in the engineering on it. And, in the event that things do break, how are you finding the parts availability?

CW

 

For the last couple of years, I have been lucky enough to be able to display my cars in the Tatterall's historic tent and also been allowed to take the LM, as part of a parade lap, to run around the track. The best part of all of that, is to go "the last car", and hold back and give the LM heaps past the Ferrari pits, on the sunday, 3 hours before the race. Not sure if I'm going to display both F40's this year. I have been asked, but there are some changes to the tent and the position of the tent. BUT I could be there with the 2 F40's.
HOWEVER, I would love to join you guys. I am a great Ferrari fan and the owner of 6 cars, soon to be 7 (430 F1 spider). I am also the treasurer of the Ferrari Club Australia (victorian branch), and a national Ferrari club committee member. GTC (got the cash).....very good. What about LM.............(LOTS of MONEY)

 

I can't begin to tell you how much of a love affair I have with my LM. God's car really. I've owned the car for 6 years now and I have replaced the clutch, (probably worn out due to my early lack of driver knowledge about straight cut gears, and clutches that are on or off.) And also a car that has about 50 horsepower when the turbos are off, then over 700 when the turbos on. Only fault I can find with "God's car", is that the header tank, needs to be rebuilt every couple of years, because it's made out of very light alum and also has square edges. My mechanic says that ..."for it to be stronger it should be round". He wants me to have a round one made but, I love things being original. I've taken out the fire extinguisher system as it's too easy for some idiot to sit in the car at a display event and push the button on the dash. As far as I know, it's the only LM of any year Ferrari, in the southern hemisphere. Other than the 2 things above, this car starts every time and is a dream. Getting a new clutch from michelotta was easier than I thought and cheaper than a new one for my road going F40.

 

Rolands F40 LM (Linder Modifica'tion)

done..



-a

 

The answer to this would take forever. One is a road car and the other is a full one race car designed to run 24 hours flat out. It's a bit like trying to explain to someone how great a normal F40 is, when all they've experienced is a corvette or a mustang or a porsche or WRX. Hard to explain how awesome even , a normal F40 is.

 

I am so glad all those who believe a real F40LM does not have to be one of the twenty (or so ) produced.
I have a 250 GTO, yes it is not one of the 37 original produced but I am willing to sell it to all those believers for only 5 million. And besides I also got the blueprints for this and that etc etc. or at least thats what the dealer told me.

 

I can see exactly where you are coming from with this point.....LMs should be held in high regard, and your right it could be seen as a 'distant cousin' to the F40...

Im not sure how helpful it will be, but i started a thread some time back http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45077 it went on forever...and has tonnes of info on LMs and LM GTEs, their variants etc etc...might bw useful

 

Dax,

You might want to read more of the post before making statements like this, as Roland has never attempted to sell the car undert he pretence, nor has ever a claimed that this was a "origina from michelotta".

All F40's left Ferrari the same, a street version, and them went to michelotta to be mod'ed.

Lets all remember that FERRARI didnt sell a LM version, these all came from michelotta. (and lets not get into the license and etc debate)

Roland aquired the blueprints from michelotta, and built his car based on those blueprints, and made the changes he wanted to. PERIOD.

The only reason I make a comment is that it seems people like DAX, are implying that Lying about something and defrauding people is what is going on here. and its NOT...

I have never ONCE heard roland tell someone that this car came from michelotta or that it was one of the original built.

maybe read : http://www.sportcarschool.com/appearances.html#forzajun05

and I am glad to see Steve Wynn and Roger Penske like it, But hey that is only a Ferrari Dealership and MR Penske that wanted Rolands car in the showroom on opening day ....

-a
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Aaron, at the same time his website never says it was a street car, it ONLY refers to the car as an "LM". IT is not an LM, so any reference to the car as an LM is misleading. (The Forza article is the only reference to its its true DNA).

And I have heard him tell someone that it was one of the 6 LM's made after the the origional 13...

Every mention Roland makes about this car is a reference to his "LM"... I do not think anyone could argue it is at best misleading.

If Roland wants to do that, it is fine, but the facts are clear, he represents the car as an LM on his web site and in conversation as an LM (not a replica, not LM influenced, but as an LM).

It is not a question of if people like the car or the man,the answer to that is yes, it is simply a question of is this car an LM and should it be referred to as an LM. The answer to both is no.

 

Chris,

Come on man, you know damn well that the LM (LeMans w) was a design and modification, and FERRARI doesnt even acknowledge it as a model from the factory.

They only recognize the f40.

13 were produced straight from ferrari to the modifications, and then I think 6 or 7 more were built from private persons who ordered them, and theose modifications were NOT the same as the original 13.

so do we call all thoise others not LM's either ??

I have always heard roland follow any conversation with the statements that its a LM Evoluzione'.

I am not sure what all the fuss is about to begin with, is someone jealous cause roland built a better car ??

Its a FERRARI ... Period!i its a F40 period, they all started just like yours did...

Does that mean that since my Challange car has a GT engine in it, and has been modified to run in the GT series that its not a GT ??Cause cleary from Ferrari, when I did the modifications, that is what it was called. (but they dont sell any GT's directly from the factory) they are all modifications.

I would AGREE 100% with everyone , if and I say IF roland was trying to directly benifit from saying this is a LM from the factory, everyone knows the story of the car, that from his professional racing cdays, wanted a Ferrari F40 LM, but they were not obtainable or iusable due to his size etc..

so he bought a F40, and re-built it up from the ground using the orginal plans, and even consulted with them on things he was changing etc.. He went thru GREAT lengths to make it as close to the original plans, (only changeing the things for him and modernization for driving )

And all he does with the car, is bring happiness to others, like yourself by giving them rides, and allowing them to look at such a car.

Roland doesnt take the car to win Corso's he doenst try to sell it has a LM from the factory or mod shop, he enjoys the car he built which is a FERRARI, and thats it.

Dont get me wrong, I consifder you a freiend as well as I do Roland, I just hate to see bickering over something that doesnt really matter.

If I want to take my 360 and get the plans for a 360LM wheee and then call mine a 360LM, then I am good to go,...
(I wish I could do this haha)

Remember that LM, GTC, etc are for racing protocol, not car collectors, and mods are different, and they are not a licensed issue, noir supported by that name at the factory level.

All factory level support iwill be on the base chassis that the car was manufactured at.

my fews cents, and BTW when do we ride again

-a

 

Aaron you are correct, there are 13 LM's 4 GTE's and 3 GTC's. these are all very specific cars with serial numbers and clear pedigrees.

Everyone does not know the story. I just do not know why he refers to it as an LM when he clearly admits the car is of his own design not Michelotti's.

Anyway, no big deal... he can call it anything he wants....

Lets go race!

 

I am up for racing, cant wait for the seasoin the be back with us...



-a

 

Can I just correct you here. There are 4 GTC's. Also there's lots of talk here about Ferrari delivering to Michelotta the cars. I don't understand this, as the cars are completely different. Even the size of some of the body panels are different. The most amazing, is the weight of the doors. The LM's doors weigh about as much as a corn flakes packet. The road going doors would have to be 10 kilos heavier than the LM. And the front bonnet. Where did Michelotti get that from. An LM is NOT just a road going F40 customized. There's much more to it than that. The rear bonnet is 20 kilos lighter, than the normal F40. In fact I'll go so far as to say, I can't see anything that's the same on the 2 cars. Except the rear perplex cover over the engine bay. They appear to be the same. So what did Ferrari deliver?