In the world of automotive design and manufacturing, the quest for perfection can be driven as much by ego as by the desire to achieve engineering excellence. Such is the case with the Ferrari F40. While its styling was locked in early, opposition developments in the months before the car’s release inspired some mechanical changes designed to place the F40 in elite company. This 1992 F40 is a stunning survivor needing a new home. If it attracts you to the point where you are tempted to join the upcoming bidding war, there’s still time to get your finances in order. It is listed here at Mecum Auctions and will cross the blocks in Kissimmee, Florida, on Saturday, January 14th, as that day’s main attraction. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Araknid78 for spotting this Italian thoroughbred.

If I’m brutally honest, the F40 was not the most attractive car produced by Ferrari. Plenty of previous models are often considered works of art, while later models like the 458 Italia demonstrate elegant styling. However, that doesn’t make the F40 ugly. Its hard-edged lines are purposeful and were penned by Pininfarina to maximize aerodynamic efficiency, downforce, and cooling. Buyers could personalize their new purchase by selecting from several paint shades, although most chose iconic Rosso Corsa. This Ferrari presents well as a preserved survivor, with no evidence of significant paint or panel flaws. Considering the initial purchase price of these classics, some people are shocked by their paint quality. It is common to see the weave pattern of the carbon fiber beneath the paint, but this was intentional. It demonstrated the company’s desire to save weight on every aspect of the vehicle, including shaving a few ounces from the paint applied to each car. The nature of road cars means that most generate aerodynamic lift at high speeds. The enormous front spoiler and rear wing do the opposite by pressing the F40 into the road as speeds reach the magic 200mph mark. These areas show no signs of stone chips or other problems, while the beautiful alloy wheels are flawless.

Designed and built to celebrate the company’s fortieth anniversary, the F40 was the last production model signed off by Enzo Ferrari. The design brief was simple; Create the ultimate production car with unrivaled performance. However, the release of the Porsche 959 forced the company to rethink some of the F40’s mechanical specifications. Mr. Ferrari was initially content to see his new model produce a top speed around the 190mph mark, but when the technologically superior Porsche 959 achieved 197mph, the great man knew his ultimate car had to better that mark. Although hitting 198mph would have seemed logical, Ferrari elected to place an exclamation mark on its achievement by exceeding 200mph. That’s why engineers slaved away to hit 201mph. While Enzo always believed that the best performance engines required twelve cylinders, the company walked a different path with the F40. It features a mid-mounted 2,936cc V8 engine with a pair of IHI turbochargers that churns out 471hp. That power feeds to the road via a five-speed manual transaxle, and while plenty of modern engines offer their drivers more under their right foot, that V8 can push the F40 through the ¼ mile in 11.4 seconds before winding its way to that magic 201mph. This F40 is in excellent mechanical health and comes with a known ownership history. The seller includes a new factory exhaust in its original box, which is a component that costs the equivalent of a new small car! It is ready to hit the road with a new owner behind the wheel the moment the hammer falls at the auction.

No aspect of the F40 better encapsulates the desire for performance and weight-saving than its interior. Upholstered surfaces include the cloth seats and the leather-wrapped wheel. Otherwise, buyers confront acres of carbon fiber and sealing compounds. The quest to shave the last precious ounces from this classic extends to a lack of interior door handles. Occupants exit the vehicle by pulling a cord to open the doors. There is no stereo, no cruise control, and no power windows. The lack of adequate fresh air flowing into the cabin led some buyers to order air conditioning. I’m unsure whether that’s the case with this F40, but even if it is, the system is pretty ineffective. One motoring journalist likened its cooling ability to an asthmatic field mouse exhaling. The seats show no evidence of wear, and the almost indestructible nature of composite materials means the rest of the interior is in as-new condition.

When Enzo Ferrari signed off on the final design for the F40, nobody knew that it would be his last hurrah before passing away in 1988. In a way, it is a fitting tribute to the man and his personality. Those that showed him loyalty were treated like royalty. However, he could be tough and uncompromising, rarely accepting mediocrity from those around him. The F40 is an uncompromising model designed to be the ultimate performance car. The company undertook to produce a limited production run of 400 vehicles, but such was the demand that 1,315 F40s eventually rolled out of the factory. Today, they remain as popular as they were when new. That’s why I expect fierce bidding when this car goes under the hammer.