A rare vintage Ferrari, signed off by Enzo Ferrari, has fetched a whooping €4 336 250, or around R82.9m, at RM Sotheby’s Monaco Auction.

Among Ferrari’s “Big Six” lineup, which includes the 288 GTO, F50, Enzo, LaFerrari and F80, the F40 stands out as the final model personally approved by the legendary founder before his death.

This particular F40, chassis number 83620, is among the most authentic and sought-after examples of this seminal supercar. It has had just two private owners from new, was kept in dry storage for nearly 30 years and has covered only 1 799km since leaving the factory.

According to the accompanying history report compiled by marque authority Marcel Massini, this F40 was ordered by its first owner in June 1989 and built between 15 November and 6 December.

From the factory, this car was fitted with air conditioning and manual windows, as opposed to the more basic sliding items. This example rolled out of the Maranello gates without catalytic converters or adjustable suspension.

In October 1992, Ferrari took it off the road and dry stored it for 29 years. Chassis 83620 was acquired by the vendor in October 2021 and recommissioned by long-time Ferrari collaborator and renowned marque expert Michelotto Automobili in Italy.

Every effort was made to preserve the originality of the exterior paint, while all mechanical components were overhauled. The original tyres were retained. Additionally, new engine and gearbox mounts were fitted, as well as fuel tanks, pumps, filters, clutch, and suspension joints.

The turbochargers and braking system were rebuilt, the wheel bearings greased, and the cooling system refreshed. Including a service and belt change, the total cost of the work exceeded €165 000, or approximately R3.2m.

As a reminder, the Ferrari F40’s twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V8 engine is paired with a five-speed gated manual transmission, and produces 352kW and 577N.m of torque. Ferrari claimed the 1 100kg supercar could sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds, before topping out at 324km/h.

Browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag!

The post 1989 Ferrari F40 sold for over R80 million at auction appeared first on CAR Magazine.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.