Hi, Since the moment I saw first time the F40 it become my "wet dream", when and where it was I don't remember. I'm not sure if I ever could afford to buy one of them, I hope I could. This would after five, ten or maybe 20 years. There is one large issue, at that time it could cost around 2$-3$mil or more. Well, I don't want to wait so long. Same time I can't afford it now. I was start think about my current possibilities how to satisfy my dream and emotions. I think most of people who decide to buy F40, they are buying emotions, feelings etc not a car with four wheels and steering. Actually this is what I'm looking for too. In life it happened that I'm crazy about engineering and cars. As well I thought about investment object and you can call it four or fifth pension level. My idea is to built own F40 but with at least 70-80% OEM parts. I can start Today to work on this project and with every day small steps I will come closer and closer to my dream. I'm entrepreneur and there are always some business issue behind. Maybe it can turn in to something bigger. So, instead to save money in stocks, bonds and other stupid stuff, I decide to invest in F40. That I can afford with time. I'm owner of company what is in the industry of thermal cutting(plasma). I have possibility to do complicated assemblies in Solidworks, I have engineer who know how. My profession is production of non standard metalwork machinery. I'm not educated engineer, but I'm familiar with cnc, servo drive systems, welding etc. I'm looking for individual who would be so kind and help me with technical info of F40. Share or even sell. My first problem is, that it's impossible to buy F40 chassis(mine frame), even crashed. I will have to built it from scratch. Maybe somebody have one and could sell it to me for reasonable money. The rest of stuff, started from nuts till engine can be ordered at distributors or at Ferrari Classiche. I see my project done in 5-10 years. Estimate budget, as many as it will be neccesary. As a gift lot emotions, pain and dose of fun. Also self education process to better understand how to build the sports car.
I couldn't find any information about manufacturing of Ferrari oval tubes. Do they produce by them self or it was outsourced in the 80'? Interesting to find out about some specific technical data. Why particular oval tube sizes was used in the production of F40 chassis? What the science behind it?
They use GILCO for frames or did when my 308GTB was new. Good luck you'd be better off saving up and making wise financial investments. What you will find, is even real F40 owners have difficulty sourcing some parts. Welcome, in any case and your spirit is well placed.
Thanks for info. When I start to research the F40 chassis frame, pictures, forums, etc. I was wondering why it's built from so thin tubes and sheet metal. How does it hold the large stress created by engine torque and aerodynamic down force? It's seems like the F40 chassis is like two bicycle frames welded together side by side. It's probably so strong because the philosophy behind the chassis comes from bicycle, bike frame engineering. That's big step forward. I will speak with local bike folks and try to get more info about science stuff.
Hi, Here it is: http://www.trafiltubi.com/index_eng.htm I wrote an email to them, will see what will be the answer.
Interesting solution for everyone. A Programmer from New Zealand Is 3D Printing a Rare Aston Martin for $5,000 | Motherboard
This is how far I'm with 2D CAD chassis. I have top and front, rear views as well. I'm not sure about some dimensions. But I'm very close. The popular picture of chassis blueprint on the web has lot of mistakes. After finishing the 2D CAD the 3D CAD will be created for manufacturing needs. Image Unavailable, Please Login
It's a space frame with CF and Kevlar shear panels. This reduces weight as instead of triangulating with steel bars, you use the composite panels in shear to take the stress. It looks like it wouldn't be very strong when you look at just the steel frame, and you're right it's not, you have to have the shear panels for the strength. It's very strong and light when done correctly but not easy to make a car the magnitude of an F40 as your first project working with composites. Luckily, composite manufacturing has come a really long way since the F40 was actually made so IMO it would be doable but lots of work and not inexpensive.
Hi, I had a deal couple years agou with Arnis Irbens(from Latvia) from comany De-Tris. He made CF rear hood for my 200sx. If someone looking for real composite specialists, you can contact those guys. De-Tris Carbon Fiber Motocross Wheel Composite Whe
Watch the 2 episodes of Fast and Loud on Discovery where they buy a wrecked F40 for $400,000 and rebuild it very interesting and fun. Especially when they crack the $8000 windshield. It is a step by step rebuild including frame straightening
I had an F40 project which I sold a couple of years back. I bought a burned out car from Japan about 4 years ago which had had the chassis number cut out from the frame as I think it should have been crushed after the insurance pay out, but someone had saved it. I mention this because at the same time we had a burned out 308 GTB chassis in the workshop. As soon as we had the F40 stripped down it was immediately obvious that the chassis were very very similar and clearly there wasn't much evolution from 308 to 288 to F40. I mention this because I think you could upgrade a 308 chassis quite easily. Work from how the F40 is done and get a decent race car chassis builder to advise you. I dont want to make you sick but I paid about £12k for the car which included a decent gearbox and rebuildable engine (though the heads needed replacing - Lancia LC30 heads are still available). I also got a brand new F40 engine for about £30k via Sheehan, and a stack of F40 LM parts, Enkei wheels, LM intercoolers, inlet trunking, LM turbos etc etc for about £12k in Switzerland about 3 years ago. Marcel Massini found the original chassis number from the engine and gearbox numbers on the burnt car. You can contact Simpson Motorsport UK who can supply almost everything to build an F40 at reasonable prices, including all the bodywork. Good luck!
I believe Simpsons were involved in the build of this one, using a 355 engine and box Could be the same car as mentioned I have also compared 308/328 and F40 dimensions, the evolution is obvious including not just the chassis but things such as doors, windscreen etc etc. A burned out/crashed 308/328 is a good donor Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
This isn't the project I sold. A customer of Julian Smith who runs Simpsons bought it, and it has been rebuilt as a standard looking F40 rather than the LM style I was thinking of before I thinned out my ridiculous stock of projects.
I keep purchasing projects so know where your coming from. An F40 would have been the last one to go though. The one I showed pics of was being touted by a company called enzo designs, they claimed to be able to build a rep from scratch for around £100k but never seemed to come up with the goods apart from the one quite tatty car. I think they were planning on subbing the work to Simpsons
Since I'm moving forward with CAD file, I don't think I will buy some skew, rusted chassis. Now I have base, I can manipulate with all the possible dimensions. When it comes closer with detailed parts and assemblies. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Somebody was looking at using a 355 as the greenhouse is almost the same and has the same wheelbase and wheel location as the F40 (which a 348 presumably would as well). Then it'd just be a matter of removing all of the body panels, putting a radiator in the front and clothing with F40 panels. The 348 even has a somewhat similar interior. Of course, unless you cut out a ton of steel and replaced it with CF/Kevlar in the tub, it wouldn't be anywhere near as light as a real F40.
My personal opinion about F40 and all that related replica stuff. I think, F40 represent the 20th century historical design heritage. In perfect world this should be respected. However it's not like that. There are plenty cheap so called F40 replicas. F40 was technological innovation of late 80' and still is the symbol of super car. Why not use this unique design and transform in to something even better. So, if the F40 is created as new it should represent today's modern technologies. From such point of view new car shouldn't be cheaper than 500K eur, and this is how it must be. Unfortunately I found just couple of F40 shaped projects with proper budget, attitude, and touch of 21th century.
It's great to see this thread hasn't turned into naysayers trying to put down your dream. However it comes out, you'll learn a lot in the process. My only concern would be the costs of the real parts. You should check out this thread: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/288gto-f40-f50-enzo-laferrari/396915-f40-lm-restoration.html Lots of great pictures which you might be able to extract some useful information.
A couple things. Are you trying to fully copy the F40 down to every detail you possibly can, or are you trying to make a sort of a kit that you enjoy that is very similar? It seems like buying a body is going to be tough for you. Do you guys have the ability to design the bodywork?
Most important issue is how to make it road legal. This is first thing what I have to clarify before I'm starting to do anything. I was contacted Trafiltubi, they ask me to send an email, I did it. But it was on last day before long summer holidays until end of this month.
That depends on what country you're in. In general in the US it's possible to register a built car. If you are copying an existing car then most of the required features should be there, there's probably just some forms and fees etc for their permission to drive the thing on roads without harassment.
