Michael Contos, Coral Gables, Florida (acquired from the above in 1991)
Ming Collection, Palo Alto, California (acquired from the above in 2000)
Current Owner (acquired from the above)
Coachwork by Scaglietti
Chassis: ZFFMN34A5M0087568
The 105th of Only 213 US-Specification F40s
Delivered to Texas and Collector-Owned from New
Exceptional Example Showing Less than 1,800 Miles when Catalogued
Platinum Award and Ferrari Supercar Cup Winner at the 2020 Cavallino Classic
Retains Original Engine and Gearbox per Ferrari Classiche Red Book
Accompanied by Books, Tool Kit, Massini Report, and Service Records
2,936 CC DOHC V-8 Engine
Twin IHI Turbochargers with Behr Intercoolers
Weber-Marelli Electronic Fuel Injection
478 BHP at 7,000 RPM
5-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Ventilated Disc Brakes
4-Wheel Independent Double-Wishbone Suspension with Coil-Over Shock Absorbers
The F40 is a Ferrari thoroughbred for the track, thinly disguised as a road car. Its spectacular visual presence and breathtaking performance still strike awe in the hearts of car enthusiasts 35 years after being unveiled in Maranello on July 21, 1987. It is entirely fitting that this sensational automobile was the final project overseen by Enzo Ferrari before his passing on August 14, 1988.
The F40 owes its existence to the 288 GTO Evoluzione, which was developed to compete in FIA Group B rallying against its archrival from Stuttgart, the Porsche 959. When the series was cancelled, Maranello chose to redirect the Evoluzione’s development toward the creation of a transcendent road-going supercar to celebrate the marque’s 40th anniversary. In doing so, Ferrari elected to go in an entirely different direction from the state-of-the-art Porsche, eschewing avant-garde technology in favor of absolute simplicity, brute power, and weight savings at all costs.
The Leonardo Fioravanti-designed Scaglietti body was constructed entirely of Kevlar, carbon fiber, and Nomex, a first for any road car. The side and rear windows were Plexiglas and the engine cover was slotted to allow heat to escape from its mid-mounted power unit. Inside, there was no leather or carpet, only raw carbon fiber floors and cloth-covered composite shell seats with a felt-covered dash and tunnel. The driver was greeted by a simple three-spoke MOMO steering wheel and drilled aluminum pedals. There was no radio, glove box, or armrests – just a traditional gated shifter to command the five-speed transaxle. The heart of the beast was a 2.9-liter, four-cam, twin-turbocharged, intercooled, fuel-injected V-8, producing 478 hp and 426 lbs./ft. of torque. Handling was accomplished through a race-tuned, four-wheel, double-wishbone suspension with KONI shock absorbers. Stopping power consisted of massive Brembo four-wheel ventilated disc brakes.
Magazines reported a 0–60 sprint in 3.8 seconds, elapsed quarter-mile times of 11.8 seconds at 124.5 mph, 1.01 g on the skidpad, and 70–0 stopping distances of 218 feet. Meanwhile, Ferrari reported achieving a top speed of 201 mph, a first for any road car. As impressed as they were by the car’s performance, it was the F40’s minimalist approach and visceral driving experience that truly won the day. Initially, Ferrari planned to build 400 examples worldwide; however, demand was so great that 1,311 were built.
Completed on December 21, 1990, this F40, chassis 87568, is the 105th of just 213 examples ever built for the US market. In February 1991, this car was delivered to Classic Ferrari Inc. of Richardson, Texas, and sold that March to its first owner, Dallas real estate developer James M. Brown.
After just a few months, Mr. Brown resold the F40 to Ferrari enthusiast Michael Contos. He reportedly entered the Ferrari in the 35th annual Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance in June 1991, where it was displayed alongside a red Porsche 959 as part of a celebration of modern-day supercars. Remarkably, Mr. Contos did not show the F40 again until January 2000, when he entered it together with his recently acquired F50, in the annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic, where it received a Platinum Award.
Soon after, the F40 was acquired by the Ming Collection, a carefully curated collection of pristine, low-mileage Ferraris. A centerpiece in the Ming Collection for almost two decades, this F40 was regularly serviced on a time-related schedule, regardless of how few miles were accumulated. Since acquiring the F40 in 2019, the current owner has had his in-house, Ferrari-trained technician perform a thorough detailing and assorted service work, including a belt service, in preparation for the highest levels of concours judging. This effort resulted in a Platinum Award in the F40’s debut at the 2019 Ferrari Club of America National Concours in Phoenix. The next showing took place at the 2020 Cavallino Classic in Florida, where the F40 earned another Platinum Award and the prestigious Ferrari Supercar Cup.
Driven sparingly since, the odometer displayed less than 1,800 miles at the time of cataloguing, and the car presents in exceptional condition in all respects. The hallmark characteristics of a well-kept, US-specification F40 are present – from the factory-original ID and data plates down to the correct country code markings on the suspension arms. The Scaglietti body no. 12 is present on both door hinges, as well as the front and rear clamshells, and even the fuel-filler doors are correctly engraved with “DX” and “SX” markings.
Offered today from one of the finest Ferrari collections, this remarkable F40 is accompanied by a proper leather handbook folio – containing the original warranty book, owner’s manual, and US-version supplement – as well as a tool roll, tire inflator, and Ferrari Classiche Red Book. It is also accompanied by documentation that includes a report produced by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, service records, correspondence, recent judging sheets, and CARFAX Vehicle History Report.
A Platinum Award-winning, low-mileage example with a limited roster of careful owners, this outstanding US-specification F40 is among the most rare, exciting, and best-performing sports cars of its era; its impeccable provenance and presentation are sure to impress the most discerning collectors. Gooding & Company is pleased to offer this highly regarded F40 for public sale and recommends it to any collector in search of a truly exceptional Ferrari supercar.
