- The firm behind the F40 LM race car upgraded this road-going model with new turbos.
- Significant weight savings were also achieved, stripping 300 lbs (136 kg) from the car.
- RM Sotheby’s expects this tweaked F40 to sell for up to $4.35 million.
The Ferrari F40 is automotive royalty, and with an estimated value that may exceed $4 million, this example is more special than most. Built by the same firm responsible for the legendary F40 LM, this road-going model is one of the most powerful ever built.
The car was ordered new by Jean Sage, the former sporting director of the Renault Formula 1 team. He ran Ferrari’s F40 IMSA program in the United States for two years and, in 1989, ordered an F40 of his own.
Watch: Hamilton Did Donuts In A Ferrari F40 At Tokyo With A Kardashian In The Passenger Seat
In 1994, Sage sent his car to Michelotto, the Italian brand that had developed the F40 LM to go racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As part of the upgrades, the 2.9-liter V8 was fitted with new turbochargers and a lightweight exhaust system, allowing it to deliver 527 hp at 7,000 rpm, 49 hp more than stock, and 626 lb-ft (849 Nm) of torque, or 200 lb-ft (271 Nm) more than a standard F40.
The Car Went On A Diet, Too
Ashley Border/RM Sotheby’s
In addition, Michelotto ditched the car’s heavy air-conditioning system, fitted lighter front and rear clamshells, and installed carbon-fiber seats similar to those of the F40 LM. There are also new 17-inch OZ Racing wheels, Koni adjustable shocks, and a bespoke front splitter. All up, Sage’s F40 weighs 300 lbs (136 kg) less than a typical F40, all while remaining road legal.
Not only was the car driven on the street, but it also competed in several races, including as part of the BPR Global Endurance GT Championship. Sage kept the car until 1996, when it was sold to an individual in the UK. The upgraded turbos were removed, but have since been re-fitted, and the car retains all of its original parts.
RM Sotheby’s is handling the sale of the car at its Woodcote Park Auction in the UK next month. It notes that the car has 22,699 km (14,105 miles) on the clock and expects it to sell for between $3.65 million and $4.35 million.
