1991 Ferrari F40

Mar 18

Written By Katelyn McSherry

Lights: Pop-up Headlights with Halogen Bulbs

Debuting on the 40th anniversary of the Ferrari Corporation in 1987, the F40 was released as the brand’s new flagship car. With pop-up headlights using halogen bulbs, the F40 has an unmistakable and iconic design. Pop-up headlights first appeared in 1936 on the Cord 810 for aerodynamic purposes. They remained popular through the 1980s due to regulations on headlight height, which was higher than the desired height of a low sports car. The hidden headlight design allowed manufacturers to get around the rule, while also raising the headlights to the required level. Pop-up headlights have disappeared on newer vehicles, thanks to a European rule that made the front ends of vehicles more readily deformable, to protect pedestrians in the case of a crash.

This Ferrari F40 is essentially unused and pristine, even without the usually frayed driver’s seat back bolster. 1,312 miles from new. Original and as-delivered throughout, including the factory-fitted tires and balance weights. Ferrari Classiche certified, and instantly identifiable as the standard-setting supercar of its day as the last car developed with oversight from Enzo himself.

Designed as the successor to the company’s GTO supercar with the turbo technology from the 288 GTO, the F40 was built for speed, constructed with the intention to blow past the 200mph barrier. Most people believed that the 1986 Porsche 959 would break this record, but it was actually the F40 that achieved this feat. This speed was achieved with a very lightweight and aerodynamic carbon fiber body and a powerful twin turbo V8. The interior of the car is almost entirely bare, with only air conditioning and heat controls. There is no radio, power windows, or door handles. The doors are opened with a simple cord, further removing excess weight.

The F40 is one of Ferrari’s most important cars, as it is the last car that Enzo oversaw before he died in 1988. This specific F40 has a little over 1,600 miles and is finished in classic Ferrari paint code ‘Rosso Corsa.’