Actively seeking a F40

if you have not done so already, talk to joe sackey

 

For that price, i would suggest bringing a 1988 Euro F40 with some miles. Havent seen
US F40 around that price for a while (Unless a storied chassis or high miles) but maybe there are some left!

 

as said, at that price you should be looking at an early euro. if you want, i can put you in touch with simon kidston - i bought mine through him and i am in contact with him for other stuff.

 

E-mail responded to, thanks.

 

Yes, in theory it can be imported next year, and a Eu car with miles may fit your budget as has already been suggested.

You should speak with a compliance specialist such as these folks http://www.gnkauto.com to see what is required to be able to register the car in your state of Texas, and assure yourself that the car can be imported in the first place.

 

Yes, I have some concern about values. I advise people to do due diligence and act accordingly.

The Eu cars are valued less simply because of numbers - they are more prolific, some 1300 cars. See the USA F40 thread, the USA cars have a unique & different specification, just 211 cars.

 

In my view its realllly either or.

Theres either a bubble, or they are just market correcting. F40's traded like this before, when new so technically they are just now passing their all time highs decades later. There are many people in the USA who want one, and only a smidge over 200 to go around. The math is there for them to spike. Now what will happen when people figure out how to import from the EU? Thats the wild card for a US spec F40 imho.

The winner out of them all is the F50, 5 valves (enzo is four), spider, first true carbon tub, stick, small liter truly F1 derived engine. Not an updated one from an existing car. (599, or F12) only 350 made and thats most likely a true figure.

I should have bought one from Joe when a perfect one went for $800k.

Now an enzo trading well above and beyond these variants??? I think that is a bubble waiting to pop.........

 

If you find a US F40 at or near that price, and are willing to share details, I'd be very curious. Oh, and I think it would be a must buy.

The Euro cars are very intriguing, but quite different and I wonder what the true cost to import and register one is. I think EPA will not be an issue as they get past 25, but I don't know about DOT. I would not be surprised if you had to budget $25K or more to get the car on the ground in the US and driving around.

The car is an icon and unlike the more rare and very gorgeous 288 GTO, the F40 is a huge design departure from prior years, with the basket handle wing, introduction of carbon Kevlar bodywork, and twin turbo power with very good air management for all the coolers and intercoolers. Also, unlike the 288 GTO, at least the F40 has some race history. I think the 288 GTO race potential died with the Gruppe B cars of the era, and I don't recall any racing by F50 or Enzo's of any note.

Finally, those who own one know how inexpensive routine upkeep is. Many wear items are common to the 3x8, and cam belt service is done with the engine in. The engine and transmission are quite robust, and if you don't crash it, it is cheaper to own and operate than a 328. Cost of ownership is always a factor in value. Look at the depressed prices of Ferraris that require routine engine out service.

 

F40, I didn't know they were a relatively easy car to maintain. I think people hear belt service and cringe no matter what.

 

Richard, its pretty simple, remove seats, remove bulkhead cover and you have access without removing the engine. Well thought-out.
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Here's a nice one:

1991 Ferrari F40 | Copley Motorcars

 

First line of the descriptions says "just sold"

 

For 7 figures.

 

I'm guessing the f50 they had also moved along to a new home?

 

That was quite a while back.

 

You really do need a mill nowadays to buy one.... GOOD!

There's still taxes, duty, shipping cost, exchange rate conversion to calculate on top of any euro cars price.

 

nicely above 7 figures from what I heard

 

Not surprise at all for a supposedly well maintained car with this mileage.
Joe, how long was the car on the market for? Willing to bet that it was not too long.

 

I think it was a matter of weeks as opposed to months.

 

i will throw my 2 cents in ... again

the usa cars will always hold a slight premium over the euros - in the usa, because it was a defined specific set of cars for that market. but the gap will narrow considerably as the imports start coming in - on a like for like basis.

as a subset of the 1315 total produced, euro cars probably number around 800 since row took some as well.

but the real issue about euro cars is that they are actually used, and thus the mileage is on average higher. and because of this higher useage, you also get modifications - brakes, wheels, exhausts, seats, etc. and then there are even those that have been or still get tracked.

all of this means euro cars will always be lower priced as a group.

my view on this is that it just makes them more affordable to own and run. the shape is the shape. the performance is more/less the same across the run. there will be the obsessive types who want no miles garage queens, and they will nitpick every car. then there are people like me who are happy enough to be able to look at them in the driveway, and then throw in the bespoke schedonis and drive to monaco for the weekend....i will take my euro spec car with 21k km on the clock any day.

the only issue now is that my insurance costs are going up considerably.