Help In Evaluating An F40

you may have read this already but this book might help...

http://www.ebookmall.com/ebook/180456-ebook.htm

 

Good F40's with no apparent stories or issues should trade in the $350k to $400K range. A major at an authorized dealer is around $8,000 to $10,000. The recalls are alll still valid at authorized dealers and you should insist on them being done before you take possession of the car. Likewise if the major service needs doing have it done before you take possession of the car. The tools are important because missing parts are hard to find, especially the hub socket. The F40 hub nuts are a unique size and the factory replacement is $750 and you may wait months for one to be sourced in Italy. You should also invest in a huge torque wrench as the torque required is over 450 ft/lbs.

The things to look for are hidden accident damage on the bodywork and leaking wheels. They are three piece wheels and if they have been banged around they may go out round resulting in small but bothersome air pressure loss. If the car still has its original tires, they will probably look good, but in fact will be brittle and hard with lots of hairline cracks. I would invest invest in new tires before driving the car at any speed over 50 mph. You can get OEM Pirelli P Zeros from Tire Rack or Discount Tire online.
The seats are quite fragile and break easily, especiallly where they have been subjected to inordinate weight stress (I'm being sensitive to the mass-challenged amongst us).
The hinges on the engine cover where they meet the roof are also subject to warping and stress cracking. On US versions with the motorized seat belts, the latch housing frame on the side of the seat tends to come loose and to fray the seat fabric. If this happens the metal frame on the latch can be pulled right out of the housing when you extend the belt to secure it.

The general look of the car's construction is not very fine and it looks like parts of it were glued together with green plumbers gunk. In very general terms, the later cars were put together better in terms of fit and finish with the 92's being noticeably better than the 80's Euro version and the US 90/91 models.
Im assuming you are looking a factory spec stock car. Many F40's have been highly modified, especially with different turbos and upgraded brake systems. Tread cautiously with cars that have material mods.
The car is pretty bulletproof with a minimum of electronics and is really rewarding to drive hard, and an absolute delight without drama in city driving. Good luck



BTW, who is the dealer? - 30 F40's through one dealer is quite extraordinary.

 

My guess is the service history is more important than the original book - having said that don't most US concours entrants like to show them so perhaps it was recently available

Also is it just Euro cars that should have had their tanks replaced by now ?

 

Euro cars have the flexible fuel cell bladders requiring replacement. US spec cars have a std. aluminum fuel tank.
That said, at this age there are plenty of reasons to remove even those and inspect the pumps and wiring BEFORE they go into melt down phase.

Dave

 

if you are looking a 92 F40, here is one in good condition.

http://www.siliconvalleyautogroup.com/ferrari_stock/ferrari_5244/photo_page.html

But the milliage is 8700.

 

dont know too much outside of whats listed, only that the asking price is $399K. I am also looking for an unmolested example so good luck in your search.

 

The car sold a few days ago (I was also looking at it...) - Tim

 

I know what car you're looking at. I also looked at it. However, when tracing back the car, it seems as though I found the same car at another dealership a few months ago. I bring it up only because the "story" on the car changed as it went from dealership to dealership.

It's possible that the above is actually two different cars, but I doubt it.

Research, research, research. Do NOT take the dealers word for anything that they can't verify in writing...

Tim

 

Happy to help any way i can. PM me if you desire.

 

Keep us updated.

 

S/N...?

 

Carbon has a pretty deep data base. Certainly worth a contact!

 

Always love a plug...

But I just have access to the database - it's not actually mine...